“Oh, not at all.  I’ve put you in one.  I told them you were the brother of an old classmate, stopping over in town for a day, and that you were to look me up.”

“Did I know you well when you were in college?”, he smiled.

“I didn’t intend to have you know me well, but Jarvis showed such unexpected interest in you that you are suspected of having known me rather well.”

“Sort of an old affair?”

“Sort of,” she laughed up at him.

“I get the idea.  Have I your permission to play the role in my own way?”

“Yes, only don’t betray me.  The ‘Twins’ will only be around at lunch-time.  After that, we can talk book.”

“Good!  I’ll play up with my best amateur theatrical manner,” he responded, as they entered the garden.  “This is the arithmetical garden,” he said “It’s true.  Why, it’s just like an ’Alice in Wonderland’ experience, coming into something I have known in some other state of consciousness.”

“Oh, yes, it’s true.  That’s all I am, a sort of a camera.”

“What a picture-book house!” he added.  “It’s just right for you.”

As they went into the screened porch Jarvis arose, slowly, from the hammock.  Mr. Strong stopped, really amazed, as the splendid figure, with its Apollo head, advanced.  Bambi, too, was struck with some new alive quality in Jarvis that was compelling.

“This is Mr. Strong, Jarvis.”  The two men measured each other swiftly.

“I am glad to meet you,” said Jarvis, with determined politeness.

“Thank you.  It’s a pleasure to meet Mrs. Jocelyn’s husband.”

Bambi laughed.

“Mrs. Jocelyn’s husband is a new role for Jarvis,” said she.

“I understand you and Mrs. Jocelyn are old friends,” said Jarvis, perfunctorily.

“We are indeed old and dear friends.”

“It has been some years since you met?”

“Yes, although I couldn’t realize it this morning.  There is a vivid quality about Mrs. Jocelyn which makes it impossible to forget anything about her.  Don’t you think so?”

Jarvis looked at Bambi, who grinned.

“Do you find me vivid, Jarvis?”

“You are certainly highly coloured.”

“Ugh!  That sounds like a Sunday supplement.”

Conversation limped along like a tired cab horse.  Even Bambi could not prod it into a semblance of life.  Besides, she was choked with laughter at the picture of Jarvis sitting up, during his sacred work hours, full of bromides and manners.  A discussion of New York almost released him.  He thundered against modern cities with force.  New York, discovered to be the home of Strong, became anathema to his host.  It was the Goliath of Tyranny, Wealth, Degeneration, against which, David-like, he aimed his sling.  Strong led him on, interested in his personality.

“Mrs. Jocelyn does not share your opinion of New York?”

“There are many of my opinions in which Mrs. Jocelyn does not share.”