GOLDEN ORIOLE. 137 



There was some cause for his surprise. Dick was as brown 

 as a berry. His form was upright and full of vigour, and his 

 handsome face was bright with the smile of health. A greater 

 contrast to the pale-faced delicate boy, who some months 

 before had aroused his father's anxiety, could not well be seen. 



"I am glad you have enjoyed yourself, dear," said Mrs. 

 Merivale to Frank, " but I have been very anxious about you, 

 and it has seemed. a long time." 



Frank laughed merrily, as he put his arm round his mother, 

 and kissed her with all a lover's devotion. 



" You are like Martha, mother, who troubled herself about 

 many things. But where is Florrie ? " 



" Oh," said Mary, " she can't leave her room. She got a 

 little black hairy caterpillar for you, and it has stung her. At 

 least she has a rash all over her, and nasty little red lumps, and 

 she suffers so much." 



" That must be a mistake, Mary, about the caterpillar," said 

 Frank. 



" No, it is not, Frank," said Dick ; " I was reading the other 

 day about urticating caterpillars. . The caterpillars of some 

 moths will affect some people like that." 



" We have the creature in a glass, and you can see it, and 

 try it, if you like, Frank," said Mary. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Golden Oriole. Landrail. House-martins in trouble. Siskin. Peacock 

 and Red Admiral Butterflies. Winchat's Nest. Bitten by a Viper. 

 Viper and Snake. Slow-worm. 



" FRANK," said Mary at breakfast the next morning, " I have 

 seen the most beautiful bird about the orchard and the wood 

 next to it. It is about as big as a thrush, and is a bright 

 yellow all over, except the wings, which are black. What can 

 it be?" 



" By Jove," said Frank, " there is only one bird that is like 



