and a white lawn "tie" (for him
the symbol of the height of elegance). He carried also his cane, a thin
wand of ebony with a gold head, presented to him by the Improvement Club
in "recognition of services."

"That's right, that's right," said Marcus, with a grin. "I'm takun a
holiday myself to-day. I had a bit of business to do over at Oakland,
an' I thought I'd go up to B Street afterward and see Selina. I haven't
called on----"

But the party uttered an exclamation.

"Why, Selina is going with us."

"She's going to meet us at the Schuetzen Park station" explained Trina.

Marcus's business in Oakland was a fiction. He was crossing the bay that
morning solely to see Selina. Marcus had "taken up with" Selina a little
after Trina had married, and had been "rushing" her ever since, dazzled
and attracted by her accomplishments, for which he pretended a great
respect. At the prospect of missing Selina on this occasion, he was
genuinely disappointed. His vexation at once assumed the form of
exasperation against McTeague. It was all the dentist's fault. Ah,
McTeague was coming between him and Selina now as he had come between
him and Trina. Best look out, by damn! how he monkeyed with him now.
Instantly his face flamed and he glanced over furiously at the dentist,
who, catching his eye, began again to mutter behind his mustache.

"Well, say," began Mrs. Ryer, with some hesitation, looking to Ryer for
approval, "why can't Marcus come along with us?"

"Why, of course," exclaimed Mrs. Heise, disregarding her husband's
vigorous nudges. "I guess we got lunch enough to go round, all right;
don't you say so, Mrs. McTeague?"

Thus appealed to, Trina could only concur.

"Why, of course, Cousin Mark," she said; "of course, come along with us
if you want to."

"Why, you bet I will," cried Marcus, enthusiastic in an instant. "Say,
this is outa sight; it is, for a fact; a picnic--ah, sure--and we'll
meet Selina at the station."

Just as the boat was passing Goat Island, the harness-maker proposed
that the men of the party should go down to the bar on the lower deck
and shake for the drinks. The idea had an immediate success.

"Have to see you on that," said Ryer.

"By damn, we'll have a drink! Yes, sir, we will, for a fact."

"Sure, sure, drinks, that's the word."

At the bar Heise and Ryer ordered cocktails, Marcus called for a "creme
Yvette" in order to astonish the others. The dentist spoke for a glass
of beer.

"Sa