think? And here," coolly pushing back her sleeve and plunging a
plump, white arm into the water, "this, you know--just a frog! See
how tame! And people call them ugly! That's all they know about it.
Look at his beautiful skin and his honest eye! Isn't he handsome,
now? Here are some lizards, but they are not so interesting; quite
pleasant, you know, but not fascinating, like frogs and snakes.
Yes, my lad, I dare say you will be wanting to see the snakes. Here
they are. They are as tame as they are beautiful."

"She isn't going to take _them_ out in her hands, is she?"
Mrs. Morris whispered to her English friend.

"She always does," was the placid answer. "See!"

Lady Margaret had made a bracelet of a snake and was holding out
her arm. One by one she added the others while Mrs. Morris, having
interposed her friend between her and the spectacle, controlled her
nerves as best she could. "They are quite harmless, quite, I assure
you," said Lady Margaret, making a reassuring gesture with her arm,
on which it happened two snakes were coiled. "Now, look, my lads,
I'll put this one back; he is a well-meaning snake but rather
stupid. _This_ one I'll lay on the table."

Mrs. Morris rapidly retreated towards the fire, stepping on the
hound's tail by the way, and naturally bringing out a deep growl
which sent her back again.

Unconscious of her guest's alarm, Lady Margaret continued: "His
name is Marcus Aurelius; I call him that after the great Roman
emperor, because he is so sweet-tempered and intelligent. See what