nt,
it flashed upon her that she had made another discovery, not of a
genius, but of a philosopher. But she must be cautious. He might have a
treatise ready for the publisher. She sighed a regret that the doctor
was not present to hear the exalted talk of this gifted man. How dim his
eyes were, with groping in the dusk, looking for the learning of the
ancients! In such wisdom there must be sincerity. But it was not wise to
swallow with too keen a show of relish. She would dally with this
delicious food.

"Oh," she laughed, "it is so easy for a man to pay a compliment."

"Madam, I admit that a studied art may become a careless grace, witness
the Frenchman and the Spaniard; but the blunt Anglo-Saxon must still
depend upon truth for his incentive--the others taste dainty viands; he
feeds upon blood-dripping meat."

She did not know exactly what he meant, but it sounded well, and bowing
thoughtfully, she said: "How true!"

Some one raised a clamor for a song from Mrs. Stuvic. She was as ready
to sing as to dance. Her accomplishments belonged to her boarders. And
she sang a song popular in her day:

"Pretty little Miss, don't stand on beauty,
That's a flower that must soon decay,
Reddest rose in yonder's garden,
Half an hour will fade away.
No, no, no, sir, no; all the answer she made was no."

Milford was called upon for a story. He refused, but the girl's eyes
implored him, and he told a story of heroism in a blizzard. The
Professor was then called out for a speech. The Liberty of the American
was his theme; the glory of every man having a castle, his climax.
Milford smiled to think of the road leading from the Professor's castle,
of the portcullis that had come near falling on him. He saw the mistress
of the castle standing with her hands on her hips.

"He has so many fine words," said Gunhild. "Why don't they send him to
the Congress?"

"Because they've got too many fine words there already, I guess,"
Milford answered.

"But is he not a very smart man?"

"Oh, yes, smart enough, I guess. That's what's the matter with him--too
smart."

"But how can a man be too smart?"

"I give it up. But it seems as if it takes a fool to make a success of
life; the hogs of the business world root up money."

"I do not understand. You are making some fun of me."

"No, I'm giving it to you straight. The successful business man wears
bristles on his back."

She laughed at this. She said that she knew he