"As he spoke I gave him the hot needle, which he passed through the insect preparatory to fixing it on the cork. Sir Thomas, who had taken no notice till then, rose and came to the table on which the case of specimens stood. He looked at the spider of Guyana, and an expression of horror passed over his rubicund features.
"'There,' he said, 'is the most hideous work of the Creator. I tremble only to look at it.'
"And, sure enough, a sudden pallor spread over his face.
"'Bah!' said my guardian, 'all that is childish nonsense. You heard your nurse scream at a spider, you were frightened, and the impression has remained. But if you regard the creature with a strong microscope, you would be astonished at the delicacy of its organs, at their admirable arrangement, and even at their beauty.'
"'It disgusts me,' said the commodore, brusquely. 'Pouff!'
"And he walked away.
"'I don't know why,' he continued, 'but a spider always freezes my blood."
"Dr. Weber burst out laughing, but I felt the same as Sir Thomas, and sympathized with him.
"'Yes, cousin, take away that horrid creature,' I cried. 'It is frightful, and spoils all the others.'
"'Little stupid,' said he, while his eyes flashed, 'nobody compels you to look at them. If you are not pleased you can go.'