reckon that's the way with me, Zephania, come to
think about it. I suppose keeping busy at something you like doing comes
just as near to spelling happiness as anything can, eh?"

"Yes sir."

"By the way, Zephania, do you wear a hat?"

"Why, yes, sir, of course!"

"Oh! Well, I didn't know; I never saw you with one on. How would you
like me to send you a hatpin, then, with a nice little gold nugget for a
head?"

"I'd love it! But--but what is a nugget, Mr. Herrick?"

"Oh, a little--a little lump."

"Do you mean real gold?" asked Zephania, awedly.

"Yes, real gold, virgin gold, just as it comes out of the ground, you
know."

"Wouldn't it be worth a good deal, though?" asked Zephania, doubtfully.

"Oh, a few dollars; ten or fifteen. Why?"

"I'd almost be afraid of losing it, Mr. Herrick. Would you please see
that it wasn't a very big nug--nug--"

"Nugget'? All right," he laughed. "I'll see that it's only about as big
as your thumbnail."

"Thank you, sir; I'd think a great deal of it. Will you have some more
tea?"

"No, no more tea, Zephania. No more anything. You may take the things
out."

Later in the evening came Doctor Crimmins, very regretful and full of
arguments in favor of postponing action. When twilight passed they went
out onto the porch with their pipes and glasses. They talked as friends
talk on the eve of parting, often of trivial things, with long pauses
between. The moon came up over the tree tops, round and full, and
flooded the garden with silver.

"'The moon, serene in glory, mounts the sky,'" murmured the Doctor.
"'The wandering moon'--how does it go? I'm thinking of some lines of
Milton's. Let me see; ah!"

"'The wandering moon,
Riding near her highest noon,
Like one that has been led astray
Through the heaven's wide pathless way.'"

Later, when the lights of the village had disappeared one by one under
the tranquil elms, the Doctor returned to the attack.

"Take another week to think it over, Herrick," he urged. "Who knows what
may happen in a week, eh? Women's minds have been known to change before
this, my friend."

"Hers won't," answered Wade, convincedly. "Her note left little doubt
as to that."

"But don't you think you ought to see her again?"

"Yes, I shall call in the morning to say good-by."

"H'm, yes," muttered the other, doubtfully. "I know what such a call is
like. You go into the parlor and Miss Eve and Miss Mullett come in
together