"I should certainly not have looked for anything of the kind, Miss Grey. But there is unfortunately so much of evil mixed up with all——"
"So there is. I was going to tell you that as I came here and passed through the garden, my attention was directed—is not that the proper way to put it?"
"To put it, Miss Grey?"
"Yes; my attention was directed to a large, heavy, respectable blue-bottle fly. He kept flying from flower to flower, and burying his stupid head in every one in turn, and making a ridiculous noise. I watched his movements for a long time. It was evident to the meanest understanding that he was trying to attract attention and was hoping the eyes of the world were on him. You should have seen his pretence at enjoying the flowers and drinking in sweetness from them—and he stayed longest on the wrong flowers!"
"Dear me! Now why did he do that?"
"Because he didn't know any better, and he was trying to make us think he did."
"But, Miss Grey—a fly—a blue-bottle! Now really—how did you know what he was thinking of?"
"I watched him closely—and I found him out at last. Have you not guessed what the meaning of the whole thing was?"
"Well, Miss Grey, I can't say that I quite understand it just yet; but I am sure I shall be greatly interested on hearing the explanation."
"It was simply the imposture of a blue-bottle trying to pass himself off as a bee! It was man's affectation put under the microscope!"