s the very thing. Your new
butterfly will turn the scale I'll go and tell my brother you have a
matter of importance to communicate, and wish to make further
explanations. Wait a moment."

In three minutes she returned. "I think it will be all right," she
whispered. "Go and see him. Straight through the passage you will find
a door open, on the right. I'll wait here."

Horace went forward and came to the half-open door. The Professor, who
had changed his loose, yellow, alpaca coat for a black one of the same
material, sat by a reading-lamp. He wore now his gold-rimmed
spectacles, in lieu of the blue "goggles." He looked clean, and pink,
and comfortable, though a trifle severe--the passion of the afternoon
had vanished from his face. Horace spoke the first word. "I have again
to reiterate Professor, how vexed I am to have disturbed your
collecting-ground. I had not the smallest intention of doing it.
Indeed, my plans lay farther north. It was the pure accident of meeting
my old school-friend, Marley, that led me here. In order to convince
you of my sincere regret, I have here a new butterfly--evidently a
scarce and unknown _Eurema_--which I discovered a few days since, near
here. My discovery is at your service. Here is the butterfly. I trust
you will consider it some slight set-off for the vexation I have
unwittingly given you."

At sight of the butterfly, which Horace took from his box, the
Professor's eyes gleamed with interest. He took the insect, looked at
it very carefully, then returned it.

"Mr Maybold," he said, rising and holding out his hand, "I believe I
did you an injustice this afternoon. I lost my temper, and I regret it.
I understand from my sister and daughter that they are acquainted with
you, and that they were fully aware of your original intention to travel
to the Orange River. Your offer of the new butterfly, which is, as you
observe, a new and rare species, is very handsome, and I cry quits. I
trust I may have the pleasure of seeing you to-morrow at breakfast, and
accompanying you to the habitat of your very interesting and remarkable
discovery."

Before breakfast next morning there was a very pleasant and even tender
meeting between Horace Maybold and Rose Vanning; and, when Mrs Stacer
joined them, there was a merry laugh over the adventures of yesterday.

After breakfast--they all sat down together, the Professor in his most
genial mood--Horace and the old gentleman at