“That’s right, that’s right,” said Marcus, with a grin.  “I’m takun a holiday myself to-day.  I had a bit of business to do over at Oakland, an’ I thought I’d go up to B Street afterward and see Selina.  I haven’t called on——­”

But the party uttered an exclamation.

“Why, Selina is going with us.”

“She’s going to meet us at the Schuetzen Park station” explained Trina.

Marcus’s business in Oakland was a fiction.  He was crossing the bay that morning solely to see Selina.  Marcus had “taken up with” Selina a little after Trina had married, and had been “rushing” her ever since, dazzled and attracted by her accomplishments, for which he pretended a great respect.  At the prospect of missing Selina on this occasion, he was genuinely disappointed.  His vexation at once assumed the form of exasperation against McTeague.  It was all the dentist’s fault.  Ah, McTeague was coming between him and Selina now as he had come between him and Trina.  Best look out, by damn! how he monkeyed with him now.  Instantly his face flamed and he glanced over furiously at the dentist, who, catching his eye, began again to mutter behind his mustache.

“Well, say,” began Mrs. Ryer, with some hesitation, looking to Ryer for approval, “why can’t Marcus come along with us?”

“Why, of course,” exclaimed Mrs. Heise, disregarding her husband’s vigorous nudges.  “I guess we got lunch enough to go round, all right; don’t you say so, Mrs. McTeague?”

Thus appealed to, Trina could only concur.

“Why, of course, Cousin Mark,” she said; “of course, come along with us if you want to.”

“Why, you bet I will,” cried Marcus, enthusiastic in an instant.  “Say, this is outa sight; it is, for a fact; a picnic—­ah, sure—­and we’ll meet Selina at the station.”

Just as the boat was passing Goat Island, the harness-maker proposed that the men of the party should go down to the bar on the lower deck and shake for the drinks.  The idea had an immediate success.

“Have to see you on that,” said Ryer.

“By damn, we’ll have a drink!  Yes, sir, we will, for a fact.”

“Sure, sure, drinks, that’s the word.”

At the bar Heise and Ryer ordered cocktails, Marcus called for a “creme Yvette” in order to astonish the others.  The dentist spoke for a glass of beer.

“Say, look here,” suddenly exclaimed Heise as they took their glasses.  “Look here, you fellahs,” he had turned to Marcus and the dentist.  “You two fellahs have had a grouch at each other for the last year or so; now what’s the matter with your shaking hands and calling quits?”

McTeague was at once overcome with a great feeling of magnanimity.  He put out his great hand.

“I got nothing against Marcus,” he growled.

“Well, I don’t care if I shake,” admitted Marcus, a little shamefacedly, as their palms touched.  “I guess that’s all right.”