132 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



strained^by any principle of honour, but his demeanour 

 was patronising and forbearing, like that of a con- 

 siderate man towards a small boy. 



One amusing feature of the affair was the half- 

 serious and half-jocular manner of Aaron. He did 

 not turn his face to look at his rival as he struck, 

 and the instant the blow was delivered he withdrew 

 his hand as if to avoid being detected. He gave no 

 sign of anger, but made no effort to conceal his 

 jealousy, and the other seemed to be aware of the 

 cause of his disquietude. The smirk of indifference 

 on the little lover s face belied the state of mind that 

 impelled his action, and it was patent to all who 

 witnessed the tilt that Aaron was jealous of his 

 guest. 



From time to time Elisheba would change her 

 seat, when the same scene would ensue. 



The whole affair was comical and yet so real, that 

 one could not repress the laughter it evoked. It 

 was the drama of love's young dream " in real life, 

 in which every man, at some period of his young 

 career, has played each part the same as these two 

 rivals. Every detail of plot and line was the dupli- 

 cate of a like incident in the experience of boyhood. 



Elisheba did not appear to encourage the suit of 

 this simian beau, but she did not rebuff him as a 

 true and faithful spouse should do, and I never 

 blamed Aaron for not liking it. She had no right 

 to tolerate the attentions of a total stranger ; but she 

 was feminine, and perhaps endowed with all the 

 vanity of her sex and fond of adulation. 



