h her mother and father, and Bearwarden, whom they knew very
well.

"How are the exams getting on, Miss Preston?" Bearwarden asked.

"Pretty well," she replied, with a smile. "We had English literature
yesterday, and natural history the day before. Next week we have
chemistry and philosophy."

"What are you taking in natural history?" asked Bearwarden, with
interest.

"Oh, principally physical geography, geology, and meteorology," she
replied. "I think them entrancing."

"It must be a consolation," said Ayrault, "when your best hat is
spoiled by rain, to know the reason why. Your average," he continued,
addressing Sylvia, "was ninety in the semi-annuals, and I haven't a
doubt that the finals will maintain your record for the year."

"Don't be too sure," she replied. "I have been loafing awfully, and
had to engage a 'grind' as a coach."

After dinner they went to the play, where they saw a presentation of
Society at the Close of the Twentieth Century, which Sylvia and Ayrault
enjoyed immensely.

A few days after the Delmonico dinner, while Bearwarden, Cortlandt, and
Ayrault sat together discussing their plans, the servant announced
Ayrault's family physician, Dr. Tubercle Germiny, who had been
requested to call.

"Delighted to see you, doctor," said Ayrault, shaking hands. "You know
Col. Bearwarden, our President, and Dr. Cortlandt--an LL. D., however,
and not a medico."

"I have had the pleasure," replied Dr. Germiny, shaking hands with both.

"As you may be aware, doctor," said Ayrault, when they were seated, "we
are about to take a short trip to Jupiter, and, if time allows, to
Saturn. We have come to you, as one familiar with every known germ,
for a few precautionary suggestions and advice concerning our
medicine-chest."

"Indeed!" replied Dr. Germiny, "a thorough knowledge of bacteriology is
the groundwork of therapeutics. It is practically admitted that every
ailment, with the exception of mechanical injuries, is the direct
result of a specific germ; and even in accidents and simple fractures,
no matter what may be the nature of the bruise, a micro-organism soon
announces its presence, so that if not the parent, it is the
inseparable companion, in fact the shadow, of disease. Now, though not
the first cause in this instance, it has been indubitably proved, that
much of the effect, the fever and pain, are produced and continued by
the active, omnipresent, sleepless sperm. Either kill the mi