"I do not know to what you refer in particular; but I can truthfully deny trouble on general principles." "Really, haven't you been laughing at me, all this time? You must have known how utterly hopeless a sketch-book and water-colours would be in such a place. I think I'll try botany instead. That appeals to me as more attainable." Firmstone looked at his watch. "I must go on. You are quite sure you won't get tired waiting? I have put your lunch with your sketch-book. I'll be back by two o'clock, anyway." Miss Hartwell assured him that she would not mind the waiting, and Firmstone went on his way. Miss Hartwell gathered a few flowers, then opened her botany, and began picking them to pieces that she might attach to each the hard name which others had saddled upon it. At first absorbed and intent upon her work, at length she grew restless and, raising her eyes, she saw Élise. On the girl's face curiosity and disapprobation amounting almost to resentment were strangely blended. Curiosity, for the moment, gained the ascendency, as Miss Hartwell raised her eyes. "What are you doing to those flowers?" Élise pointed to the fragments. "I am trying to analyse them." "What do you mean by that?" "Analysis?" Miss Hartwell looked up inquiringly; but Élise made no reply, so she went on. "That is separating them into their component parts, to learn their structure." "What for?" Élise looked rather puzzled, but yet willing to hear the whole defence for spoliation. "So that I can learn their names." "How do you find their names?" It occurred to Miss Hartwell to close the circle by simply answering "analysis"; but she forebore. "The flowers are described in this botany and their names are given. By separating the flowers into their parts I can find the names." "Where did the book get the names?" If Miss Hartwell was growing impatient she concealed it admirably. If she was perplexed in mind, and she certainly was, perplexity did not show in the repose of her face. Her voice flowed with the modulated rhythm of a college professor reciting an oft-repeated lecture to ever-changing individuals with an unchanging stage of mental development. If her choice of answer was made in desperation nothing showed it. "Botanists have studied plants very carefully. They find certain resemblances which are persistent. These persistent resemblances they classify into families. There are other less comprehensive resemblances in the families. These are grouped into genera and the genera are divided into species and these again into varieties, and a name is given to each." Élise in her way was a genius. She recognised the impossible. Miss Hartwell's answers were impossible to her. "Oh, is that all?" she asked, sarcastically. "Have you found the names of these?" Again she pointed to the torn flowers. Miss Hartwell divided her prey into groups.