128 THE WALES ABROAD OF 



this very day, in the flagrant misdemeanour of ento- 

 mology, and this too under the fallacious pretext of 

 giving to the insects a necessary cleansing which 

 they still await." 



Kene*, reddened at this direct attack, but he met it 

 thus 



" It is not my fault ; Le'on is in the habit of study- 

 ing animals in our native.tongue. He makes as little 

 use as possible of those long words that seem to have 

 been invented on purpose to provoke. It is he, and he 

 alone, that should be reproached." 



" Or rather congratulated, and this I do most heartily. 

 Pass me the sugar-basin, if you please." 



Uncle Bob selected a lump, but as he was putting 

 it in his cup he suddenly made a gesture of annoyance. 



"These detestable creatures again," he muttered. 

 " My instructions have been neglected." 



The kitchen and dining-room of the cottage were, 

 in fact, infested by ants by those large red ants that 

 intrude themselves wherever provisions are to be 

 found active, and apparently countless, coming one 

 knows not whence, and returning, eagerly occupied, 

 incessantly seeking supplies. 



If a bowl of milk were left for only ten minutes on 

 the kitchen table, one might have been sure of finding 

 at least three or four of these adventurers struggling 

 haif-drowned in the useful liquid, like the famous 

 Duke of Clarence in his butt of Malmsey wine. 



