"Oh no, as you said, Sir Matthew Fleet mistrusts anything entirely
new, and the professor is never sanguine. I am almost glad they are
so stupid, it will make our pleasure all the sweeter."

"You silly little bird, if you sit on that egg it will be sure to be
addled. If it should come to any good, probably it will take longer
than our life-time to work into people's brains."

"No," said Carey, "I know the real object is the relieving pain and
saving life, and that is what you care for more than the honour and
glory. But do you remember the fly on the coach wheel?"

"Well, the coach wheel means to stand still for a little while. I
don't mean to try another experiment till my brains have been turned
out to grass, and I can come to it fresh."

"Ah! 'tis you that really need the holiday," said Carey, wistfully;
"much more than any of us. Look at this great crow's foot," tracing
it with her finger.

"Laughing, my dear. That's the outline of the risible muscle. A
Mother Carey and her six ridiculous chickens can't but wear out
furrows with laughing at them."

"I only know I wish it were you that were going, and I that were
staying at home."


"'You shall do my work to-day,
And I'll go follow the plough,'"