40 ORCHID HYBRIDS. 



he could arrange, he could contract for, but the dread of 

 those ghouls as he termed them hovering over his 

 herbarium, that drove the sweet blessing of peace from 

 his eye-lids. What was it, this act of his to solder up 

 the treasures committed to his care? Call it criminal, 

 call it foolish, call it small or call it dirty: it stands there 

 monumentalizing the most contemptible act of any 

 scientist that ever could be committed. Let us be mer- 

 ciful with him, let us call it childish, and let us condemn 

 those who accepted the undignified, sordid duty of 

 carrying out his wish. He feared his scientific brethren 

 might turn out to be above such trickery; and well 

 guarded against such rejection was the iron-clad will. 

 They should have refused and refused again, that con- 

 clave of adherents of international science, until the lot 

 reverted where it belonged, to the island whence the 

 bulk of material came under his care. It hurt me at 

 the time to be forced to believe that magnanimity 

 amongst scientists was not as great by far as it might, 

 as it should be. He hoped we could not get along with- 

 out it, and would clamor over the loss he afflicted us 

 with. 



11 But I tell thee, grinning spirit of the deep, the day 

 " those boxes will be unsoldered will not be disturbed 

 11 by any more eclat than would be excited by the re- 

 " moval of the corpse of some long-forgotten, medieval 

 " highway robber from an inconvenient vault to the 

 " eternal resting-place along the castle's wall. Investi- 

 " gating scientists may look for relics of past times in 

 11 his coffin. So will they rake through your leaves to 

 " settle some minor question. But to him, as to the 

 " contents of your baking-tins, will not be paid the re- 

 " spect they would readily concede the almshouse 

 " inmate when he is boxed up at the county's expense. 



