"Well, sweetheart," said Roger, "shall we go and see what sort
of rooms the hotel has?"

"I can think of something better than that," said I.  "Let's
go up to Mr. Kane and have him marry us.  Then we can get back
to Sabine Farm afterward, and give Andrew a surprise."

"By the bones of Hymen!" said Roger.  "You're right!"

It must have been ten o'clock when we turned in at the red
gate of Sabine Farm.  The rain had stopped, but the wheels
sloshed through mud and water at every turn.  The light was
burning in the sitting-room, and through the window I could
see Andrew bent over his work table.  We climbed out, stiff
and sore from the long ride.  I saw Roger's face set in a
comical blend of sternness and humour.

"Well, here goes to surprise the Sage!" he whispered.

We picked our way between puddles and rapped on the door.
Andrew appeared, carrying the lamp in one hand.  When he saw
us he grunted.

"Let me introduce my wife," said Roger.

"Well, I'll be damned," said Andrew.

But Andrew isn't quite so black as I've painted him.  When
he's once convinced of the error of his ways, he is almost
pathetically eager to make up.  I remember only one remark in
the subsequent conversation, because I was so appalled by the
state of everything at Sabine Farm that I immediately set
about putting the house to rights.  The two men, however, as
soon as Parnassus was housed in the barn and the animals under
cover, sat down by the stove to talk things over.

"I tell you what," said Andrew--"do whatever you like with
your wife; she's too much for me.  But I'd like to buy that
Parnassus."

"Not on your life!" said the Professor.

[End.]
.