“Not if I’m strong enough to run, Aunt Sally.  I’m going to have forty-eight hours’ vacation if I starve to death the rest of my life.”

Rose Farrell had told him that Mrs. Owen was entertaining the Elizabeth House girls in installments, and he was not surprised to find the veranda filled with young women.  Some of them he knew and Sylvia introduced him to the others.

“When’s Rose coming up?” asked Sylvia, balancing herself on the veranda rail.  “You know she’s expected.”

“Do I know she’s expected?  Didn’t I have a note from you, Aunt Sally, ordering me to send her up?  She’s coming just as soon as I get back, but I think of staying forever.”

“A man has come and he’s come to stay forever,” murmured one of the young women.

“Oh, you’re an event!” laughed Sylvia.  “But don’t expect us to spoil you.  The sport for to-morrow is tomato pickles, and the man who skipped to-day left because Aunt Sally wanted him to help scald and peel the tomats.  Your job is cut out for you.”

“All right,” he replied humbly.  “I’ll do anything you say but plough or cut wood.  My enchanted youth on the farm was filled with those delights, and before I go back to that a swift Marathon runner must trip me.”

He was aware presently that one by one the girls were slipping away; he saw them through the windows settling themselves at the round table of the living-room, where Mrs. Owen was reading a newspaper.  Not more than a quarter of an hour had passed when he and Sylvia found themselves alone.

“I haven’t scarlet fever or anything,” he remarked, noting the flight with satisfaction.

“I suppose we might go inside, too,” suggested Sylvia obtusely.

“Oh, I came up for the fresh air!  Most of my nights lately have been spent in a hot office with not even a June bug for company.  How are the neighbors?”

“The Bassetts?  Oh, Mrs. Bassett is not at all well; Marian is at home now; Blackford is tutoring and getting ready to take the Annapolis examinations the first chance he gets.”

“I saw Allen to-day,” he remarked carelessly.

She said nothing.  He moved his chair nearer.

“He told me things that scared me to death—­among others that he and Marian are engaged.”

“Yes, Marian told me that.”

“Ah!  She really takes it seriously, does she?”

“Yes, she takes it seriously; why shouldn’t she?”

“It’s the first time she ever took anything seriously; that’s all.”

“Please don’t speak of her like that, Dan.  You know she and I are friends, and I thought you and she were friends too.  She always speaks of you in the very kindest way.  Your leaving Mr. Bassett didn’t make any difference with her.  And you are the greatest of Blackford’s heroes next to Nelson and Farragut.”

Dan laughed.

“So it isn’t Napoleon, and Grant and Custer any more?  I’m glad he’s settled down to something.”