Chapter 10 BUTTERFLY FARM AGAIN
Dick and Julian went to the glass-houses where the butterflies and caterpillars¹ lived. They peeredthrough the panes², but could see nobody there.
'Mr. Gringle must be in the cottage,' said Julian. 'Let's stand outside and call - he'll come out then. Idon't much like Mrs. Janes.'
So they stood outside the tumble-down cottage and shouted: 'Mr. Gringle! Mr. Gringle!'
Nobody answered. No Mr. Gringle came out, but somebody pulled aside the corner of a windowcurtain upstairs and peeped out. The boys shouted again, waving at the window.
'Mr. Gringle! We've got a rare butterfly for you!'
The window opened and old Mrs. Janes looked out, seeming more witch-like than ever.
'Mr. Gringle's away!' she mumbled³.
'What about his friend Mr. Brent - the one we didn't see?' shouted Dick. 'Is he in?'
The old woman stared at them, mumbled something else, and then disappeared very suddenly indeedfrom the window.
Dick looked at Julian in surprise.
'Why did she go so suddenly? Almost as if somebody pulled her roughly away? Julian, I don't like it.'
'Why? Do you think that son of hers is here - the one she said was cruel to her?' asked Julian, whowas puzzled, too.
'I don't know,' said Dick. 'Let's snoop round a bit. Perhaps Mr. Gringle is somewhere about, whateverold Mrs. Janes says!'
They went round the corner of the house and peered into a shed. Nobody there. Then they heardfootsteps and turned round hurriedly. A man was coming towards them, small and thin, with apinched-looking face, and dark glasses. He carried a butterfly net, and nodded at the two boys.
'My friend Gringle is away,' he said. 'Can I do anything for you?'
'Oh - you're Mr. Brent, then?' said Dick. 'Look - we've found a rare butterfly. That's why we came!'
He undid⁴ the box in which the butterfly was peacefully resting, having found a tiny grain of sugar tofeed on. Mr. Brent looked at it through his dark glasses.
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'Hm! Hm!' he said, peering closely at it. 'Yes, very fine indeed. I'll buy it off you for five shillings.'
'Oh, you can have it for nothing,' said Dick. 'What is it?'
'Can't say without examining it closely,' said Mr. Brent, and took the box and put the lid on again.
'But isn't it some kind of Fritillary?' asked Julian. 'We thought it was.'
'Quite likely,' said Mr. Brent, and suddenly produced two half-crowns and shoved them at Dick.

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