with a flash of his white tail.

"Talking of rabbits," said I, "they are quite a pest in Australia,
I believe, and are exterminated by the thousand; I have often
wondered if a syndicate could not be formed to acquire the skins
- this idea, so far as I know, is original, but you are quite
welcome to it if - "

Mr. Selwyn rose abruptly to his feet.

"I once in my boyhood possessed a rabbit - of the lop-eared
variety," I continued, "which overate itself and died. I remember
I attempted to skin it with dire results - "

"Sir." said Mr. Selwyn. "I beg to inform you that I am not
interested in rabbits, lop-eared or otherwise, nor do I propose to
become so; furthermore - "

But at this moment of my triumph, even as he turned to depart,
something small and white fluttered down from the branches above,
and the next moment Selwyn had stooped and picked up a lace
handkerchief. Then, while he stared at it and I at him, there
came a ripple of laughter and Lisbeth peered down at us through
the leaves.

"My handkerchief-thank you," she said, as Selwyn stood somewhat
taken aback by her sudden appearance.

"The trees hereabouts certainly bear very remarkable, not to say
delightful fruit," he said.