E F Benson

David Blaize E F Benson

The others poured out into the sunshine, but David lingered behind with Bags and FerrersMajor, and began burrowing in his locker to find the box belonging to his two stag-beetles. Theywere male and female, as the lady's absence of long horns testified, and it was hoped that even inconfinement she might some day be confined. Indeed, there were several bets on, as to which formthe babies would take-whether they would be eggs or some sort of caterpillar, or minute but fullydeveloped stag-beetles. The box in question was a small cardboard oblong, of cramped dimensions;but really it was no more than their saloon travelling-carriage, for they lived in David's washingbasin at night, since it had been ascertained that the sides of it were too steep and slippery to allowtheir escape, and at other times had the run of his desk in school-hours, and were allowed quantitiesof healthy exercise when their owner was unoccupied and could look after their wayward steps. Butnow, since after chapel David would not come back to the class-room, it was necessary to put themin their travelling-carriage, which was pierced with holes, so that such air as there might happen tobe in David's pocket should penetrate to them. A few slips of grass and leaves would be sufficient tosustain them until they were regaled with bits of cake and a strawberry or two from the tea whichwas to be provided for the first form after chapel. The lady was lying on her back, as good as gold, waving her legs slowly in the air, havingprobably fallen down on some climbing expedition about the roof of the locker, but the stag himself(called "The Monarch of the Glen") could not at once be found. But a little careful rummagingdisclosed him sitting morosely in a crevice between a grammar and a geography book."I say, I don't believe the Monarch's well," said David."Shouldn't think so, living in your fuggy desk," said Bags, strolling out of the room. Suddenly David perceived, as by a special revelation, that he must kick Bags. Bags had thrownan inky dart at him, and though, in the depression of the Bible-lesson, that had been forgotten, itstarted into prominence again in his mind. Further, Bags had added insult to injury by saying that hisdesk was fuggy. Certainly he must kick Bags, just once, juicily, and call it all square. David gingerly took the Monarch by the waist, so that his pincers nipped the empty air, and puthim and his spouse into their travelling carriage.