“How can you tell, auntie?”
“I judge by the color and size. When this caterpillar is very young it is greenish, but as it grows older it casts its skin several times; each time it grows brighter and weighs more.”
“Why, how can it ever cast off its skin?” questioned Neva in astonishment.
Aunt Doris smiled as she replied: “Wait until it is ready to become a chrysalis and you will see.”
Neva kept close watch of her new pet after that, she was so afraid some change might take place that she did not see. When bedtime came her aunt let her take the box up to her room and put it on the dresser that she might look at it the first thing in the morning.
“Why can’t we have a name for this creature?” Neva asked while she was getting ready for bed. “I mean a real name spelled with a capital, like mine?”
“When it gets to be a butterfly it will have a name,” replied her aunt.
“What will it be?” asked Neva.
“Danais,” replied Aunt Doris.
“Danais,” repeated Neva, “That’s a pretty name, let’s call it that now. There isn’t any last name to it, is there?”