ushed and his languid eyes brightened up.

"I know no good reason as an apology, dear friend. Be assured, however,
that the apparent neglect does not arise from any coolness toward you
and your esteemed family." And he drew marks in the sand with his cane.

"Perhaps your father took offence at your visits to us?"

"Oh! no. No; I alone am to blame."

Siegwart gave a searching glance at the pale face of the young man who,
broken-spirited, stood before him, and whose mental condition he did
not understand, although he had a vague idea of it.

"I will not press you further," said he cheerfully. "But, as a
punishment, you must now come with me. I received yesterday a fresh
supply of genuine Havanas, and you must try them."

He took Richard by the arm, and the latter yielded to the friendly
compulsion. They went through the vineyard. Frank broke from a twig a
folded leaf.

"Do you know the cause of this?"

"Oh! yes; it is the work of the vine-weevil," answered Siegwart. "These
mischief-makers sometimes cause great damage to the vineyards. Some
years I have their nests gathered and the eggs destroyed to prevent
their doing damage."

"You consider every thing with the eyes of an economist. But I admire
the art, the foresight, and the intelligence of these insects."

"Intelligence--foresight of an insect!" repeated Siegwart, astonished.
"I see in the whole affair neither intelligence nor foresight."

"But just look here," said Richard, carefully unfolding the leaf. "What
a degree of considerate management is necessary to fix the leaf in such
order. The ribs of this leaf are stronger than the force of the beetle.
Yet he wished to fold the eggs in it. What does he do? He first pierces
the stem with his pincers; in consequence of this, the leaf curls up
and becomes soft and pliable to the frail feet of the insect. This is
the first act of reflection. The piercing of the stem had evidently as
its object to cause the leaf to roll up. Then he begins to work with a
perfection that would do honor to human skill. The leaf is rolled up in
order to put the eggs in the folds. Here is the first egg; he rolls
further--here is the second egg, some distance from the first, in order
to have sufficient food for the young worm--again an act of reflection;
lastly, he finishes the roll with a carefully worked point, to prevent
the leaf from unfolding--again an act of reflection."

Siegwart heard all this with indifference. What Richard