e, Beatrice. If we work well it will be
but a few weeks until our task is done. The last of August will see all
of my specimens out of their cocoons; then--"

"Then what, father?" she asked anxiously.

"I don't quite know yet. I am considering several things before deciding
upon my plans for the future. The main point is to attend to the duty in
hand. Shall we resume our work?"

The next few days were happy ones for Beatrice. She worked with her
father every morning while Adele went to Aunt Rachel's with the
delicacies which Bee provided. In the afternoon they walked together,
and in the evening visited Percival and his mother, or were visited by
them. They were bright, happy days despite the presence of Adele. Some
way Beatrice felt that she was gaining ground with her father, and the
knowledge made her put forth her best efforts to please him.

In fact, she threw herself into the work with so much fervor that one
day she found herself too tired and indisposed to take the accustomed
walk with her father and cousin, and remained indoors for rest. After
lying down for a time, she rose and began to dress.

"I do believe that father forgot to put that sorrel grass in the
laboratory for the larvae of the Chrysophanus Americanus," she exclaimed
suddenly, pausing in the act of brushing her hair. "I'll run right down
to see."

The sorrel had been forgotten sure enough, and Beatrice ran out for some
to take into the laboratory. The afternoon was extremely warm. As a
usual thing the door between the study and the laboratory was kept
closed, but today because of the heat Bee left it open, thinking to be
in the room but a moment.

She arranged the sorrel grass in the cage where the larvae were feeding
and turned to leave the room when her attention was caught by a
brilliant bit of color on a twig near a window.

"Oh!" she cried, as going close to it she discovered that it was a
butterfly newly escaped from its chrysalis. "Oh, oh! it's father's
rarest specimen! It's the Teinopalpus Imperialis! How delighted he will
be. I wonder how soon it will fly!"

As the words left her lips the beautiful creature rose and circled the
room majestically in its first flight.

"What a beauty!" cried Bee with enthusiasm. "Won't fath--Oh, the door!"

She ran toward it quickly, but she was too late. Through it sailed the
butterfly into the study and out through the open window. Catching up
her net Bee jumped through the window, and dashed