352 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



"You have a good variety. How have you con- 

 trived to collect so many in this remote locality ? " 



"They were collected for me by — a friend — many 

 years ago." 



" A very painstaking friend, I should say," said 

 Mr. Nemo, fixing his eyes upon Miss Ingath, who 

 turned away blushing like a school-girl. She could 

 not have told what brought the tell-tale colour to her 

 face. The plants had been brought to her in a very 

 commonplace manner, and had been arranged unddr 

 her directions in practical fashion, and she had known 

 that the " friend " who gathered them had dreamed 

 many pretty dreams when so employed. We know 

 she had not listened to much of the sailor lad's 

 confession, so what he might have said about his 

 dreams and her flowers was never said. Yet she 

 looked guilty of some soft recollection when the new 

 laird of Orgert alluded to the friend who had been so 

 thoughtful of her tastes. 



" Does he still collect for you ? " Mr. Nemo 

 asked. 



" Oh, no ! I have not seen him for years. He was 

 a humUe friend, the son of my good old nurse. He 

 went abroad and died years ago." 



" Oh ! " spoken indifferently, for Mr. Nemo was not 

 interested in Ole Harrison, since he found that Miss 

 Ingath's interest was slack. 



"You are fond of dogs, I see," he presently 

 remarked. 



She was at that moment patting a Newfoundland, 



