l private supplies to supplement the cold mutton, ham,
bread, and light claret which Antoine and two porters had carried in
their knapsacks. Captain Wopper had brought a supply of variously
coloured abominations known in England by the name of comfits, in
Scotland as sweeties. These, mixed with snow and water, he styled
"iced-lemonade." Emma tried the mixture and declared it excellent,
which caused someone to remark that the expression of her face
contradicted her tongue. Lewis produced a small flask full of a rich
dark port-winey liquid, which he said he had brought because it had
formerly been one of the most delightful beverages of his childish
years. It was tasted with interest and rejected with horror, being
liquorice water! Emma produced a bottle of milk, in the consumption of
which she was ably assisted by the Professor, who declared that his
natural spirits required no artificial stimulants. The Professor
himself had not been forgetful of the general good. He had brought with
him a complex copper implement, which his friends had supposed was a new
species of theodolite, but which turned out to be a scientific
coffee-pot, in the development of which and its purposes, as the man of
science carefully explained, there was called into play some of the
principles involved in the sciences of hydraulics and pneumatics, to
which list Lewis added, in an under-tone, those of aquatics, ecstatics,
and rheumatics. The machine was perfect, but the Professor's natural
turn for practical mechanics not being equal to his knowledge of other
branches of science, he failed properly to adjust a screw. This
resulted in an explosion of the pot which blew its lid, as Lewis
expressed it, into the north of Italy, and its contents into the fire.
A second effort, using the remains of the scientific pot as an ordinary
kettle, was more successful.

"You see, my friends," said the Professor, apologetically, "it is one of
the prerogatives of science that her progress cannot be hindered. Her
resources and appliances are inexhaustible. When one style of
experiment fails we turn at once to another and obtain our result, as I
now prove to you by handing this cup of coffee to Miss Gray. You had
better not sweeten it, Mademoiselle. It is quite unnecessary to make
the very trite observation that in your case no sugar is required. Yes,
the progress of science is slow, but it is sure. Everything must fall
before it in time."

"Ah, just