Ferry returned the pressure heartily.  “I saw you,” he answered.

“You did?  I was away back by the door.”

“My eyes are pretty good.  And it’s easy to see a friend, you know.”

“I’ll be glad to have you call me that,” said Jarvis.

“I’ve wanted to since I saw you first,” replied Ferry, with the simplicity of manner which won him confidence and warm liking wherever he went.

He was in a holiday mood.  He insisted on carrying all the pails, and juggled with them, producing a clash of sound which echoed through the meadows.  In his gray flannels and flowing blue tie, he looked much more like a college boy than a member of the most dignified of professions.

“How strong and healthy he looks!” observed Jarvis to Sally, as they led the way toward the blackberry pasture.  “He couldn’t have got his education without spending more or less time in-doors, but he must have put in every spare minute in the open air.  The sight of him makes me feel more than ever that I was a fool to dig away as I did, ruining my eyes for the sake of doing two years’ work in one.  Gained a lot, didn’t I?  Do you realize it’s more than a year since I took my degree?  And not a blessed thing since but idle around, waiting for these eyes to get back into shape.”

“It must have seemed a long year,” agreed Sally, sympathetically.  “But haven’t you made things worse by using your eyes every now and then against orders?”

“Guilty.  The sight of a book is like cheese to a mouse, to me.  Just after a visit to Doctor Meyer I’m meek and obedient as a lamb; then I pass a book-shop, look in at the windows, glance round to see if any oculists or mothers observe me, dodge in, get into a corner with some book—­and an hour is gone before I think I’ve done more than inspect the table of contents.”

“I knew you must be breaking rules, when you had so many relapses, after Jo had said the eyes were better.  It’s a pity you live in a stone block, instead of a place like this, where there is out-doors enough to keep any one busy.”

“It is a pity.  I wish we lived on a farm like this.  I’d like nothing better than trying my hand at scientific farming.  If I’m going to be everlastingly handicapped by these eyes I might as well look round for an out-door job.  You can’t think how I wish now I’d put in my time studying civil engineering.”

“I thought scientific farming called for lots of reading.”

“It does, properly.  I should have to have a partner to do the studying.  But it also calls for plenty of open-air work, and that—­well, it’s getting to have more and more attraction for me.  Look up the pasture there.  Isn’t that a beautiful scene at this hour of day, even through blue glasses?”

“If Max only felt as you do!  But don’t you think he’s looking better since he’s been sleeping out here?  He actually owned this morning that he was sorry he couldn’t get back in time for the blackberry picking.”