thought she’d better teach him Latin.

Chapter 8. Oxygen

Marvin finally accepted Grein’s invitation and abandoned the study of fuels. He was getting nervous about the achievements of German chemists. Those laborious beasts, themselves sixty percent oxygen, were uniting atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen with alarming results. They had placed the German farmer beyond fear of famine and the German army beyond fear of ammunition shortage. All they needed now to conquer the world was to capture the heat hidden in atomic nuclei. Suppose they should stumble on the secret while studying lead!

Grein was able to supply him with a variety of radioactive minerals, and he plunged into the analysis of them to find out how lead derived from radioactives differs from ordinary lead.

In September he was interrupted by a letter from Jimmy, who wrote that he was spending several months in getting acquainted with the Ferry plant. It was halfway out to a place called Warrenville, which Marvin perhaps knew.

Marvin read the letter with pride. He did not know Warrenville, but he knew Jimmy, and was delighted that Asher Ferry was sizing him up correctly. But Jimmy had not seen Gratia. She and her mother had been out of town all summer, and she had now returned to Eglantine.

Thus reminded, Marvin bought his car and drove out to Wickford. He first went to Mrs. Hogg, and told her that he was going over to Eglantine to take Miss Coggeshall and Miss Ferry driving. He said that there was plenty of room and that he should feel honored if she would make one of the party. Mrs. Hogg courteously thanked him and remained on her porch.

But at Eglantine his welcome was different. Gratia was greatly pleased that he had bought a car, and knew that he had done so for the purpose of enjoying her company. Thereafter, every Saturday afternoon at four o’clock precisely, she knew that he was turning in through the sweetbrier, smiling and handsome and ready for nonsense unless she mentioned Germans.

Miss Kate always went with them and always sat alone. Gratia did most of the talking. Being good in arithmetic but not so good in college algebra, she saved up puzzles for him. She would read off her problem and wait. Marvin would smile ahead at the autumnal road, perhaps dodge a stray hen, and speak the answer. After that she was ready to discuss the country, and would turn round to ask about the estates. Finally she would tell about her week, and ask 

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