The man lay in perfect content, nibbling leaves.

"This surely is a treat," he said. "No wonder you find good hunting
here. There seems to be foliage for almost every kind of caterpillar.
But I suppose you have to exchange for northern species and Pacific
Coast kinds?"

"Yes. And every one wants Regalis in trade. I never saw the like. They
consider a Cecropia or a Polyphemus an insult, and a Luna is barely
acceptable."

"What authorities have you?"

Elnora began to name text-books which started a discussion. Mrs.
Comstock listened. She cleaned dandelions with greater deliberation than
they ever before were examined. In reality she was taking stock of the
young man's long, well-proportioned frame, his strong hands, his smooth,
fine-textured skin, his thick shock of dark hair, and making mental
notes of his simple manly speech and the fact that he evidently did
know much about moths. It pleased her to think that if he had been a
neighbour boy who had lain beside her every day of his life while she
worked, he could have been no more at home. She liked the things he
said, but she was proud that Elnora had a ready answer which always
seemed appropriate.

At last Mrs. Comstock finished the greens.

"You are three miles from the city and less than a mile from where we
live," she said. "If you will tell me what you dare eat, I suspect you
had best go home with us and rest until the cool of the day before you