Such useless cruelty, said Emily.
Useless! said Maurice. Pray how is any one to make a collection of natural objects without killing things?
I do not see the use of a collection, said Lily; you can examine the creatures and let them go.
Such a young ladys tender-hearted notion, said Reginald.
Who ever heard of a man of science managing in such a ridiculous way?
Man of science! exclaimed Lily, when he will have forgotten by next Christmas that insects ever existed.
It was not convenient to hear this speech, so Maurice turned an empty flower-pot over his prisoner, and left it in Janes care while he went to fetch the means of destruction, probably choosing the lawn for the place of execution, in order to show his contempt for his sisters.
Fair damsel in boddice blue, said Lily, peeping in at the hole at the top of the flower-pot, I wish I could avert your melancholy fate. I am very sorry for you, but I cannot help it.
You might help it now, at any rate, muttered Claude.
No, said Lily, I know Monsieur Maurice too well to arouse his wrath so justly. If you choose to release the pretty creature, I shall be charmed.
You forget that I am in charge, said Jane.
There is a carriage coming to the front gate, cried Ada. Emily, may I go into the drawing-room? Oh, Jenny, will you undo my brown holland apron?
That is right, little mincing Miss, said Reginald, with a low bow; how fine we are to-day.
How visitors break into the afternoon, said Emily, with a languid turn of her head.
Jenny, brownie, called Maurice from his bedroom window, I want the sulphuric acid.
Jane sprang up and ran into the house, though her sisters called after her, that she would come full upon the company in the hall.
They shall not catch me here, cried Reginald, rushing off into the shrubbery.
Are you coming in, Claude? said Emily.
Send Ada to call me, if there is any one worth seeing, said Claude
They will see you from the window, said Emily.
No, said Claude, no one ever found me out last summer, under these friendly branches.
The old butler, Joseph, now showed himself on the terrace; and the young ladies, knowing that he had no intention of crossing the lawn, hastened to learn from him who their visitors were, and entered the house. Just then Phyllis came running back from the kitchen garden, and without looking round, or perceiving Claude, she took up the flower-pot and released the captive, which, unconscious of its peril, rested on a blade of grass, vibrating its gauzy wings and rejoicing in the restored sunbeams.
Fly away, fly away, you pretty creature, said Phyllis; make haste, or Maurice will come and catch you again. I wish I had not given you such a fright. I thought you would have been killed, and a pin stuck all through that pretty blue and black body of yours. Oh! that would be dreadful. Make haste and go away! I would not have caught you, you beautiful thing, if I had known what he wanted to do. I thought he only wanted to look at your beautiful body, like a little bit of the sky come down to look at the flowers, and your delicate wings, and great shining eyes. Oh! I am very glad God made you so beautiful. Oh! there is Maurice coming. I must blow upon you to make you go. Oh, that is rightup quite high in the airquite safe, and she clapped her hands as the dragon-fly rose in the air, and disappeared behind the laurels, just as Maurice and Reginald emerged from the shrubbery, the former with a bottle in his hand.
Well, where is the Libellulla? said he.
The dragon-fly? said Phyllis. I let it out.
Sold, Maurice! cried Reginald, laughing at his brothers disaster.
Upon my word, Phyl, you are very kind! said Maurice, angrily. If I had known you were such an ill-natured crab
Oh! Maurice dear, dont say so, exclaimed Phyllis. I thought I might let it out because I caught it myself; and I told you I did not catch it for you to kill; Maurice, indeed, I am sorry I vexed you.
What else did you do it for? said Maurice. It is horrid not to be able to leave ones things a minute
But I did not know the dragon-fly belonged to you, Maurice, said Phyllis.
That is a puzzler, Mohun senior, said Reginald.
Now, Redgie, do get Maurice to leave off being angry with me, implored his sister.
I will leave off being angry, said Maurice, seeing his advantage, if you will promise never to let out my things again.
I do not think I can promise, said Phyllis.
O yes, you can, said Reginald, you know they are not his.
Promise you will not let out any insects I may get, said Maurice, or I shall say you are as cross as two sticks.