'
'Well,' said Mr. Mohun, 'you must show me a hornet hawking for wasps
before the nest is taken, Phyllis; I suppose you have seen the wasps
catching flies?'
'Oh yes, papa! but they pack them up quite differently. They do not
hang by one leg, but they sit down quite comfortably on a branch
while they bite off the wings and legs.'
'There, Maurice,' said Mr. Mohun, 'I had rather hear of one such
well-observed fact than of a dozen of your hard names and impaled
insects.'
Phyllis looked quite radiant with delight at his approbation.
'But, papa,' said Maurice, 'may I have a piece of plate-glass,
eighteen by twenty?'
'When you observe facts in natural history, perhaps I may say
something to your entomology,' said Mr. Mohun.
'But, papa, all my insects will be spoilt if I may not have a piece
of glass, eighteen by--'
He was interrupted by the arrival of the post-bag, which Jane, as
usual, opened. 'A letter from Rotherwood,' said she; 'I hope he is
coming at last.'
'He is,' said Claude, reading the letter, 'but only from Saturday
till Wednesday.'
'He never gave us so little of his good company as he has this
summer,' said Emily.
'You will have them all in the autumn, to comfort you,' said Claude,
'for he hereby announces the marvellous fact, that the Marchioness
sends him to see if the castle is fit to receive her.
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