The Life of the Spider 



little nearer. More sudden flights, followed 

 by fresh approaches, each time nigher than 

 before. This restless running to and fro is 

 the declaration of the enamoured swain. 



Perseverance spells success. The pair are 

 now face to face, she motionless and grave, he 

 all excitement. With the tip of his leg, he 

 ventures to touch the plump wench. He has 

 gone too far, daring youth that he is ! Panic- 

 stricken, he takes a header, hanging by his 

 safety-line. It is only for a moment, however. 

 Up he comes again. He has learnt, from cer- 

 tain symptoms, that we are at last yielding to 

 his blandishments. 



With his legs and especially with his palpi, 

 or feelers, he teases the buxom gossip, who 

 answers with curious skips and bounds. Grip- 

 ping a thread with her front tarsi, or fingers, 

 she turns, one after the other, a number of 

 back somersaults, like those of an acrobat on 

 the trapeze. Having done this, she presents 

 the under-part of her paunch to the dwarf and 

 allows him to fumble at it a little with his 

 feelers. Nothing more : it is done. 



The object of the expedition is attained. 

 The whipper-snapper makes off at full speed, 

 as though he had the Furies at his heels. I/ 

 298 



