Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/371

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
XXI]
THE PROFESSOR'S LECTURE.
333

bottle in front of the other Things, "is——that is, it is called——" here he took it up, and examined the label again, as if he thought it might have changed since he last saw it, "is called Aqua Pura——common water——the fluid that cheers——"

"Hip! Hip! Hip!" the Head-Cook began enthusiastically.

"——but not inebriates!" the Professor went on quickly, but only just In time to check the "Hooroar!" which was beginning.

"Our second Specimen," he went on, carefully opening a small jar, "is——" here he removed the lid, and a large beetle instantly darted out, and with an angry buzz went straight out of the Pavilion, "——is——or rather, I should say," looking sadly into the empty jar, "it was——a curious kind of Blue Beetle. Did any one happen to remark——as it went past——three blue spots under each wing?"

Nobody had remarked them.

"Ah, well!" the Professor said with a sigh. "It's a pity. Unless you remark that kind of thing at the moment, it's very apt to get over-looked! The next Specimen, at any rate, will