p with but just one fellow: that was in my college
days, and I have his note for one hundred dollars as a memento. I might
have been keener, I dare say; but one of the transcendentally lovely
things of youth is its perfect faith. These preternaturally wise and
prudent young people come into the world mentally gray-headed. But I do
it now with my eyes wide open; and, when you are a rich man, I have
another scheme I want to take through, a sort of home or hospital of my
own planning: so don't fancy I shall let you off easy."

They held each other's hands in a long, lingering clasp. Beside the
warmth and magnetism that was a component part of Dr. Maverick's nature
when he chose to use it, which was not nearly always, there was a
steadfast kindliness, the vigor of a true and pure manhood, that made a
clear atmosphere about him, in which insincerity, weakness, and
selfishness seemed to flicker into pale shadows, and shrink away from
the intense mental light he turned upon them.

And just here the vision of the boy face came back to Jack, the
strangling arms about his neck, the fluttering breath and quivering
lips, and the sound of the rather thin, childish voice,--"You are _my_
King Arthur, and I shall love you my whole life long."

The sadness in the smile was for the old ideal.

CHAPTER XIII.

"THE telegram!" exclaimed Maverick ten days later, striding down the
garden where Jack was at work in the strawberry-bed.

Jack Darcy flushed like a girl, through the other fine coloring of
labor. He had hardly dared to believe in and hold to Maverick's promise.
Manlike, neither had spoken of it since that night.

"'Thursday, at four, at the Westminster.' That is to-morrow. We must be
on time, or she would never have any faith in us; and, though my credit
may be _nil_, yours must be"--

"As I hope to keep it through my life," was the grave reply. "You will
take the morning train?"

"Yes. It will give us a trifle of spare time, which won't be bad for a
couple of overworked fellows like us. But I must look after a lot of
people this afternoon, and if I can I will drop in this evening."

Jack went back to his strawberries. He had been making a mental
calculation about an acre, and the profits thereon, moved to it by
something Jane Morgan had said. Twenty miles below them, on Swanston
Bay, which was quite a summer-resort, the hotel-keepers had paid
twenty-five cents per quart for nice large berries. On their little
pa