"Frederick, look at those immense latania leaves. It is easy to understand now that in India five or six leaves are enough to cover a cabin." "And mother, look, there is the beautiful passion-vine Captain Cook speaks of. I recognised it at once by the flowers; they look like little openwork china baskets, and yet you and I used to accuse the poor captain of inventing impossible flowers." "M. de Pont Brillant must spend most of his time in this enchanted garden when he is at home," Marie Bastien remarked to the superintendent. "M. le marquis is like the late marquis, his father," replied the gardener. "He doesn't care much for flowers. He prefers the stable and kennels." Madame Bastien and her son gazed at each other in amazement. "Then, why does he have these magnificent conservatories, monsieur?" inquired the young woman, ingenuously. "Because every castle must have its conservatories, madame," replied the functionary, proudly. "It is a luxury every self-respecting nobleman owes to himself." "So it is purely a matter of self-respect," Marie remarked to her son in a whispered aside. "But all jesting aside, in winter, when the days are so short, and the snow is flying, what delightful hours one could spend here, safe from the frost." At last the doctor was obliged to interfere. "My dear madame, we shall have to spend at least a couple of days in the conservatory, at this rate," he exclaimed, laughing. "That is true, doctor," replied Madame Bastien, smiling; then, with a sigh of regret, she added: "Come, let us leave the tropics,--for some other part of the world, I suppose, as you told me this was a land of wonders, M. Dufour." "You thought I was jesting. Well, you shall see. If you are very good, I will now take you to China." "To China?" "Certainly, and after remaining there a quarter of an hour we will make a little excursion to Switzerland." "And what then, doctor?" "Well, when there are no more foreign lands to visit, we will inspect all the different eras from the Gothic age down to the days of Louis the Fifteenth, and all in an hour's time." "Nothing can surprise me now, doctor," replied Madame Bastien, "for I know for a certainty, now, that we are in fairy-land. Come, Frederick." And the visitors followed M. le chef of the gardens and conservatories, who smiled rather superciliously at the plebeian amazement of M. Dufour's friends. Though the wonders of the conservatory had made Frederick forget his bitter feelings for a time, the lad followed his mother with a less buoyant step than usual, for the bitterness returned as he thought of the young Marquis de Pont Brillant's indifference to the beauties that would have given such joy and delight and congenial occupation to the many persons capable of appreciating the treasures collected here at such prodigious expense. CHAPTER IV.