[_Enters garden-gate._] I have had my dismissal--but I'm not going without saying good-bye to Mrs. Herdal.
Dr. Herdal would disapprove--you really must not, Mr. Kalomel. And, besides, Mrs. Herdal is not at home. She is in the town buying me a reel of cotton. _Dr._ Herdal is in. He is making real rainbow powders for regenerating everybody all round. Won't _that_ be fun?
_Making_ powders? Ha! ha! But you will see he won't _take_ one himself. It is quite notorious to us younger men that he simply daren't do it.
[_With a little snort of contempt._] Oh, I daresay--that's so likely! [_Defiantly._] I know he _can_, though. I've _seen_ him!
There is a tradition that he once--but not now--he knows better. I think you said Mrs. Herdal was in the town? I will go and look for her. I understand her so well. [_Goes out by gate._
[_Calls._] Dr. Herdal! Come out this minute. I want you--awfully!
[_Puts his head out._] Just when I am making such wonderful progress with the powder. [_Comes down and leans on a table._] Have you hit upon some way of giving it to Aline? I thought if you were to put it in her arrowroot----?
No, thanks. I won't have that now. I have just recollected that it is a rule of mine never to injure anybody I have once been formally introduced to. Strangers don't count. No, poor Mrs. Herdal mustn't take that powder!
[_Disappointed._] Then is nothing to come of making rainbow powders, after all, Hilda?
[_Looks hard at him._] People say you are afraid to take your own physic. Is that true?
Yes, I am. [_After a pause--with candour._] I find it invariably disagrees with me.
[_With a half-dubious smile._] I think I can understand _that_. But you did _once_. You swallowed your own pills that day at the _table d'hôte_, ten years ago. And I heard a harp in the air, too!
[_Open-mouthed._] I don't think that _could_ have been me. I don't play any instrument. And that was quite a special thing, too. It's not every day I can do it. Those were only _bread_ pills, Hilda.
[_With flashing eyes._] But you rolled them, you took them. And I want to see you stand once more free and high and great, swallowing your own preparations. [_Passionately._] I _will_ have you do it! [_Imploringly._] Just _once_ more, Dr. Herdal!