14 THE GLASS-CASE. 



The glass-case was certainly then a cage for Lady-birds, and 

 the old gentleman must be, it followed, a brother entomologist. 

 We had just arrived at this conclusion when the parlour door 

 re-opened and in came our stranger friend, followed by a Hebe 

 in curl-papers, bearing on a tea-tray a smoking jug, a pint 

 bottle, and two capacious goblets of different shapes and sizes. 

 " The gentleman must take something warm as an antidote 

 against taking cold." There was no rejecting the proffer 

 without wounding the kindly spirit, perhaps also the pride 

 of the offerer. \Vc attempted indeed something about the 

 storm being now over; but partly against our will and partly 

 with it, (for we were curious to know what sort of observation 

 our brother naturalist Mas making upon Lady-birds,) we found 

 ourselves reseated by the checquered table our entertainer's 



i * , ,/ / * J O 

 r/-i f / , ( O 



During the process of compounding the elements, and before 

 the starting of another subject, we pointed to the glass- case. 

 "' Xo doubt, Sir, an entomologist ? 13 A shake of the head 

 overset at once our previous conclusion. " Beg pardon, Sir 

 I thought from that, that like rnvself you were fond of 



CJ / / 



studying the habits of Insects : but most likely you have some 

 little friend perhaps some favourite grandchild, for whose 



amusement " Xo," said the old gentleman, " No I 



have no one I am a solitary old man. But indeed, Sir," 

 he added with a melancholy smile, " you are not the first who 

 has wondered at my foolish fancy for keeping those little 



