Maurice and Reginald had agreed to defer their onslaught on the wasps till Lord Rotherwood’s arrival, and the war was now limited to attacks on foraging parties.  Reginald most carefully marked every nest about the garden and farm, and, on his cousin’s arrival on Saturday evening, began eagerly to give him a list of their localities.  Lord Rotherwood was as ardent in the cause as even Reginald could desire, and would have instantly set out with him to reconnoitre had not the evening been rainy.

Then turning to Claude, he said, ’But I have not told you what brought me here; I came to persuade you to make an expedition with me up the Rhine; I set off next week; I would not write about it, because I knew you would only say you should like it very much, but—­ some but, that meant it was a great deal too much trouble.’

‘How fast the plan has risen up,’ said Claude, ’I heard nothing of it when I was with you.’

’Oh! it only came into my head last week, but I do not see what there is to wait for, second thoughts are never best.’

‘Oh!  Claude, how delightful,’ said Lily.

Claude stirred his tea meditatively, and did not speak.

‘It is too much trouble, I perceive,’ said Lord Rotherwood; ’just as I told you.’

‘Not exactly,’ said Claude.

Lord Rotherwood now detailed his plan to his uncle, who said with a propitious smile, ’Well, Claude, what do you think of it?

‘Mind you catch a firefly for me,’ said Maurice.

‘Why don’t you answer, Claude?’ said Lilias; ’only imagine seeing Undine’s Castle!’

‘Eh, Claude?’ said his father.

‘It would be very pleasant,’ said Claude, slowly, ‘but—­’

‘What?’ said Mr. Mohun.

‘Only a but,’ said the Marquis.  ’I hope he will have disposed of it by the morning; I start next Tuesday week; I would not go later for the universe; we shall be just in time for the summer in its beauty, and to have a peep at Switzerland.  We shall not have time for Mont Blanc, without rattling faster than any man in his senses would do.  I do not mean to leave any place till I have thoroughly seen twice over everything worth seeing that it contains.’

’Then perhaps you will get as far as Antwerp, and spend the rest of the holidays between the Cathedral and Paul Potter’s bull.  No, I shall have nothing to say to you at that rate,’ said Claude.

’Depend upon it, it will be you that will wish to stand still when I had rather be on the move,’ said the Marquis.

’Then you had better leave me behind.  I have no intention of being hurried over the world, and never having my own way,’ said Claude, trying to look surly.

’I am sure I should not mind travelling twice over the world to see Cologne Cathedral, or the field of Waterloo,’ said Lily.

‘Let me only show him my route,’ said Lord Rotherwood.  ’Redgie, look in my greatcoat pocket in the hall for Murray’s Handbook, will you?’