XVII. 

 OLIVES. 



" Why has no lover of Nature discovered 

 the ' cipher ' by which to read the hieroglyph- 

 ics on these olives ? " said Miss Bremely, after 

 expressing her admiration for those glossy and 

 finely polished shells. 



" There is an exquisite pleasure in holding 

 them in my hand and in hearing the rhythmic 

 sound they make touching against each other. 

 I have always been fond of them and always 

 wished there might be such a thing as a clew 

 to their pretty ' picture writing.' " 



"Perhaps they are tablets of the Nereids, 

 and report their calls, engagements, and con- 

 quests," suggested the doctor. 



"Accept me as your oracle," he added, 

 taking an Olwa scripta from her hand. "I 

 will be a mouth to it. Its long-locked secrets 

 shall speak to your heart. 



" I affirm and declare this to be an ancient 

 tablet from his Majesty Oceanus to her Royal 



145 



