"It is always so," said the Professor, "after——"
"After what?" asked Tom.
"After the sun comes from behind the clouds," said the Professor.
"Toney, my dear fellow, I want to speak to you," said Tom, taking Toney by the arm and leading him aside.
"I knew it," muttered the Professor to himself. "The gates of Doubting Castle are wide open. He is out. How happy he looks! I wonder if it always makes a man feel so happy? I wish I could find Dora. I'd risk another negative."
Tom told Toney his secret. He had walked with Ida in the Widow Wild's garden, and had told the young lady how—— But this ought not to be repeated. He and Ida had exchanged vows of eternal fidelity, and Miss Somers had promised to become Mrs. Seddon at some future period not yet clearly designated. This was a profound secret between Toney and Tom, and the latter was confident that the Professor did not even guess at it, as was evident from the very grave manner with which he remarked, as they came where he stood,—
"Toney, it is about time for me to go home and prepare for the exhibition. You will be there to-night?"
"Yes, Tom and I will be there, and bring the ladies."
The Professor proceeded to his lodging, while Toney and Tom walked to the residence of the Widow Wild, and sat on the porch with Rosabel and Ida.
Joseph Boneskull, the learned phrenologist, was to make a public examination of heads, and, as a sort of afterpiece, the Professor had promised to make some experiments in biology. This he did merely as an amateur, and for the entertainment of his friends. The profits of the exhibition inured to the benefit of Boneskull.