Bee and Butterfly Part 22

"There, Beatrice, that will do for today." Doctor Raymond laid aside his ma.n.u.script with a sigh of satisfaction. "The Purple Emperor is a fitting close for our day's work. I think there is no place in Natural History where rank is of so much importance as among b.u.t.terflies. His Majesty is easily king of the lot."

He picked up the Denton frame in which the insect was mounted, and looked at it smilingly.

"I never see the Emperor," he continued reflectively, "that I do not think of Peter Pindar's Ode to The Emperor of Morocco and Sir Joseph Banks. Of course it is a hit at scientists, but it is amusing for all that. Have either of you read it?"

"Yes;" spoke Bee eagerly. "At least, I have heard it read, father.

Professor Lawrence read it to the cla.s.s one day."

Doctor Raymond frowned. Bee had not yet learned that there are occasions when ignorance is bliss. No one likes to have either his anecdotes or witticisms antic.i.p.ated. She might have said with perfect sincerity:

"Yes, father; but I should like to hear it again."

"Well, I haven't heard it at all," said Adele prettily. "I am not so learned as Bee."

"You will doubtless appreciate it then," spoke the naturalist, turning to her with pleasure apparent in both voice and manner. "Would you care to hear the lines?"

"Nothing would delight me so much, Uncle William."

How beautiful Adele looked with her golden hair; how delicate and pearly was her lovely neck; what sweet eyes were hers, blue as a sky full of sunshine. Doctor Raymond's glance dwelt upon her with admiration.

"What a lovely girl you are!" he exclaimed voluntarily. Adele colored with pleasure.

"I did not think that you saw beauty in anything but your b.u.t.terflies,"

she said archly.

"Indeed I do. I am very susceptible to beauty in any form. But surely you also see beauty in this?" He handed her a frame in which was mounted a gorgeous Scarlet Admiral. "Is not this strikingly beautiful? Note with what a brilliant red the secondaries are bordered, and the velvety blackness of the fore wings. It is among the last of our hibernating b.u.t.terflies to seek its winter quarters, and is most interesting in many ways."

"It is beautiful," cried Adele with enthusiasm. "Oh! it just makes me want to study b.u.t.terflies too when I see such pretty ones."

"I do not wonder that the old Greeks used the b.u.t.terfly as an emblem of the soul," commented the Lepidopterist, well pleased with her appreciation of the insect. "Even as the imago bursts from its chrysalis and, throwing aside the bonds that held it a lowly creeping thing to earth, mounts upward on gauzy wings, so the soul casts off its earth-bound body at length and also mounts upward on wings of hope. The symbol of the b.u.t.terfly is found on all their tombs and monuments."

"It is a pretty thought," commented his niece sweetly, "but you don't know how anxious I am to hear about Sir Joseph Banks and The Emperor."

"To be sure," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Doctor Raymond hastily. "I had forgotten."

Then, in a rich voice of no little charm, he recited the ode. Adele laughed merrily as he finished.

"How can you bear to repeat anything like that when it is a take-off on scientists?" she asked.

"We can appreciate humor even when it is at our expense, child. Now let's go to lunch. You girls may then visit Rachel while I go into the town. I must look after some matters of Henry's. I will join you as you leave the woods coming back from Rachel's. On our way home we will call upon our new neighbors. I am curious about that prodigy of whom Beatrice was speaking. Then, too, I wish to see if they will be pleasant acquaintances for you. If they are it would not be so lonesome for you girls should I be called from home, as it sometimes happens that I am."

Bee sighed as they went to the dining room. He spoke exactly as though Adele was always to be with them. She had felt a little out of things that morning, and perhaps her manner held the slightest tinge of asperity. Adele ran at once to the head of the table.

"I want to pour the coffee today, Bee," she cried, her white hands fluttering among the cups like flower petals.

"No;" spoke Bee emphatically, pushing her to one side. "That is _my_ duty, Adele."

"Beatrice," exclaimed her father, "I am surprised. What difference does it make? If your cousin wishes to pour the coffee, let her do so.

Remember, she is your guest." So he spoke, for no man ever understands all that serving at her own table means to a woman, or girl child.

"I do remember, father. She is the one who forgets. As hostess this is my place, and I will not give it up to any one."

"'Will not' are strong words, my daughter. What if I were to command you?"

"Then I should have to obey you, father." The girl found herself trembling with anger. "But you, sir, would be forgetting what was due to your daughter."

"You are impertinent, Beatrice," he remarked coldly. "There are times when your manner leaves much to be desired."

"I would just as soon sit here, Uncle William," broke in Adele. "It was just a notion of mine. I didn't dream that Bee would care. It does not matter in the least."

"Thank you, my dear." The doctor's eyes softened. He was displeased that his daughter should exhibit such outbursts of temper, as she occasionally gave way to, and his formality toward her during the meal made his disapprobation quite apparent.

Bee was aware that she had placed herself in the wrong by losing her temper, and her hands shook so that she could scarcely hold the cups.

"Oh, I wish I didn't act this way," she thought remorsefully. "It is so hard to do the right thing when he shows his preference so plainly. Why couldn't I have been nicer about this? It really is my place to sit here, but I might have said so without getting mad. Oh, dear, dear!"

The lunch ended, and the girls went upstairs to get ready for the outing. When Bee was nearly dressed Adele came to her softly. She could not bear that anyone should not be pleased with her, and she knew that Bee was hurt and offended. Stepping behind her she put her arms around her waist as Bee stood before the mirror, and bent her head over her cousin's shoulder, partly that she might kiss her cheek, partly also that she might see her face in the gla.s.s and contrast it with that of Bee.

"Don't be cross with me," she said coaxingly. "I am sorry if I have done anything that you did not like."

Beatrice sighed. Adele was irresistible in this mood.

"Perhaps you did not mean it, Adele," she said. "But, honestly! would you like it if someone were to come to your house, and want to take your place with your father and mother?"

"No, I would not," answered Adele candidly. "What's the use of supposing anything of the sort? n.o.body could, you know. Papa and mamma would not let them."

"That is true," agreed Bee thoughtfully. "n.o.body could take your place, Adele. I wish that father were so fond of me that no one could take my place with him."

"Maybe he will when he knows you better," remarked Adele consolingly.

"Only you must not blame me if he likes me best." She loosened her hold on Bee and wandered about the room, looking first at one thing, and then another. Presently she gave a little scream of delight. "What a pretty hat!" she cried. "All white lace and pansies. Oh, Bee! Where did you get it?"

"I got it when I bleached my hair," said Bee in a low tone. "It is a pretty hat. Every one likes it."

"It's lovely," declared Adele, putting it on, and gazing rapturously at her image in the gla.s.s. "Doesn't it become me?"

"Everything becomes you, Adele, but this doesn't look any better on you than your own." Bee reached out her hand for the hat. "We must hurry.

Father doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"Do let me wear it, Bee." Adele danced out of her cousin's reach. "Just see how nice it looks on me."

"I want to wear it myself, Adele. I want to look well when we go to Mrs. Medulla's."

"Don't be so selfish, Bee. You used not to be. You used to let me wear anything of yours that I wanted. What in the world has come to you? It doesn't make any difference what you wear."

"I don't think it's selfish for me to want to wear my own things,"

answered Bee with tears in her eyes. "You are not contented to let me keep anything. You have just as many pretty things as I have; yet you always want mine too."

"You are so superior to such things," remarked Adele, her lip quivering, her face wearing the tiniest aggrieved expression. "n.o.body thinks of what you have on, but a poor little goosey like me has to be so careful.