"No interest?" cried Benedict, at once warmed into enthusiasm; "why, are they not the very orthoptera that roused the imprecations of Virgil and Horace? Are they not closely allied to the Periplaneta orientalis and the American Kakerlac, which inhabit-"
"I should rather say infest," interrupted the captain.
"Easy enough to see, sir," replied Benedict, stopping short with amazement, "that you are not an entomologist!"
"I fear I must plead guilty to your accusation," said the captain good-humouredly.
"You must not expect every one to be such an enthusiast in your favourite study as yourself." Mrs. Weldon interposed; "but are you not satisfied with the result of your explorations in New Zealand?"
"Yes, yes," answered Benedict, with a sort of hesitating reluctance; "I must not say I was dissatisfied; I was really very delighted to secure that new staphylin which hitherto had never been seen elsewhere than in New California; but still, you know, an entomologist is always craving for fresh additions to his collection."
While he was speaking, Dingo, leaving little Jack, who was romping with him, came and jumped on Benedict, and began to fawn on him.
"Get away, you brute!" he exclaimed, thrusting the dog aside.
"Poor Dingo! good dog!" cried Jack, running up and taking the animal's huge head between his tiny hands.
"Your interest in cockroaches, Mr. Benedict," observed the captain, "does not seem to extend to dogs."