aps you would like to see it in manuscript? I have not shown it to
any one outside my own household. You are the first I have talked to
in this way about my work. Nell! Nan!" he called.

"What is it, father?" Nell asked, as she at that instant appeared
carrying a large tray in her hands.

"Bring the work, Nell. I want to show it to Mr. Handyman."

"Suppose you wait until after supper, father," his daughter suggested.
"Everything is all ready, and when we are through, you can show it to
Mr. Handyman."

"But I need it now."

"Very well, then," and Nell gave the order to Nan.

It took but a few minutes to spread the white cloth upon the grass and
arrange the dishes.

"I am afraid this is a very humble supper," Nell apologised, as she sat
down upon the ground and began to pour the tea.

"Surely you do not call this humble!" Douglas replied. "It has been a
long time since I have seen such bread and cake. And what delicious
strawberries!"

"They are Nell's," the professor proudly explained. "She is the
gardener here."

"What about Nan, father? You must give her some credit."

"Oh, I don't count, especially when it comes to farming," and Nan gave
her pretty head a slight toss. "I'm willing to let Nell take all the
credit."

Douglas felt perfectly at home now. It was such a bright and happy
time, and he was sorry when the meal was finished. He could not
understand the mystery surrounding the visit of the professor and his
daughter to the city, begging on the streets for money. Why had they
done it? he asked himself, when they seemed to have everything that
they needed.

"Now, Nan, bring me my box of cigars," her father ordered when supper
was over.

"Cigars!" the girl exclaimed in surprise. "Why, daddy, you have been
keeping them as if they were precious jewels."

"I know it, dear. But jewels must be used sometime, and so must
cigars. I have kept them for rare days, and this is one of them.
Since my old friend Dr. Royden visited me, I have had no one to take a
keen interest in my work until to-day. When he sent me those cigars
the following Christmas, he wrote that they were extra good ones, and
were to be kept for special occasions. My old pipe will serve when I
am alone, but to-day we must have cigars."

Douglas noticed that Nell was much pleased to see her father in such
excellent spirits. She touched the match to his cigar, and watched him
as he blew the smoke into the air with consi