"I am afraid that I troubled you with a useless burden," she said.

"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 Elise. 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?" Elise pointed to the fragments.

"I am trying to analyse them."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Analysis?" Miss Hartwell looked up inquiringly; but Elise made no
reply, so she went on. "That is separating them into their component
parts, to learn their structure."

"What for?" Elise 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