Bart nodded.
“I shouldn’t wonder.”
She looked at him searchingly.
“Why should they fear him?” she asked. “Hasn’t a man a right to his own peculiar ways? He built this lodge here in the grove in order to have a private laboratory where he could continue his experiments and investigations undisturbed. He says the neighbors were very curious about it, and used to come prying round till he was forced to find ways of frightening them off. Then they took a dislike to him and said he was queer.”
“Elsie,” said Bart seriously, “I am afraid Doctor Lincoln is not just right in his upper story.”
“Oh, you misjudge him!” she whispered. “I am sure you do! He is very kind in the house. He’s simply original.”
“There are hundreds of men in the country with his original ways who are spending their days in lunatic asylums,” murmured Bart, whose feelings had changed greatly. He escorted Elsie to the house, Doctor Lincoln following them at a distance, and giving them a chance to talk quite freely. Bart found that he had suspected Frank without the least cause, and he saw that his jealousy was groundless and foolish as far as he had thought Frank meant to turn to Elsie again.
But still within him was the feeling that Elsie still cared for Merry, and that was gall and wormwood to him. He longed to tell her everything, but resolved to see Frank and talk with him again before doing so. Just then Hodge fancied that he was in need of advice, and who was better able to advise him than Frank?
Elsie told Bart that Mrs. Parker had asked the doctor to have a house-party of college men and young ladies at Whitney Hill, and he had agreed.