198
DORIS LESSIN6
butterflies," said Maryrose, doing so. They were extraordinarily
beautiful.
As
far as we could see, the blue air was graced with white
wings. And looking down into a distant vlei, the butterflies were a
white glittering haze over green grass.
"But my dear Maryrose," said Paul, "you are doubtless imagin–
ing in that pretty way of yours that these butterflies are celebrating
the joy of life, or simply amusing themselves, but such is not the case.
They
are merely pursuing vile sex, just like these ever-so-vulgar
grasshoppers."
"How do you know?" enquired Maryrose, in her small voice,
very earnest; and Paul laughed
his
full-throated laugh which he knew
was so attractive, and fell back and came beside her, leaving Jimmy
alone in front. Willi, who had been squiring Maryrose, gave way to
Paul and came to me, but I had already moved forward to Jimmy,
who was forlorn.
"It really
is
grotesque," said Paul, sounding genuinely put out.
We looked where he was looking. Among the army of grasshoppers
were two obtrusive couples. One was an enormous powerful-looking
insect, like a piston with its great spring-like legs, and on its back a
tiny ineffectual mate, unable to climb high enough up. And next
to it, the position reversed: a tiny bright pathetic grasshopper was
straddled by, dwarfed, almost crushed by an enormous powerful
driving insect. "I shall try a small scientific experiment," announced
Paul. He stepped carefully among the insects to the grasses at the
side of the road, laid down
his
rifle, and pulled a stem of grass. He
went down on one knee in the sand, brushing insects aside with an
efficient and indifferent hand. Neatly he levered the heavy-bodied
insect off the small one. But it instantly sprang back to where it was
with a most surprisingly determined single leap. "We need two for
this operation," announced Paul. Jimmy was at once tugging at a
grass-stem, and took
his
place beside him, although
his
face was
wrenched with loathing at having to bend down so close to the swarm.
The two young men were now kneeling on the sandy road, operating
their grass-stems. I and Willi and Maryrose stood and watched.
Willi was frowning. "How frivolous," I remarked, ironical. Although,
as usual, we were not on particularly good terms that morning,
Willi allowed himself to smile at me and said with real amusement:
"All the same, it is interesting." And we smiled at each other, with
