'Gently does it Lad, don't want to alarm them' Archibold was supervising Stephanotis as he carefully nudged the furry caterpillars into his basket. 'The trick is to collect lots of branches of their favourite leaves to take back with them, that way we can keep them happy until they rest up to grow their wings'.
Because Stephanotis was his young apprentice, Arichbold had let him into the secret about his show stopping finale for the Midsummer Revels. Every year, after Isabel had sung The Song of Spring, Archibold would secretly release a cloud of butterflies from under the podium. This year he was going to have the assistance of Stephanotis, so he was even more excited than usual about his project. 'We can make a good show this year, but we have to keep an eye on them, very temperamental butterflies - if not happy with their conditions'.
They carefully carried the basket between them back to camp, Archibold had apologised to Stephanotis about being over excited in the boat and had firmly resolved to teach his young apprentice with the utmost care and thoughtfulness for his age and experience. Even so he couldn't resist saying ' See, if we hadn't come this far down the river, we would never have found so many and such unusual caterpillars - alls well that ends well!' Stephanotis grinned, he had heard Hortensia make a comment or two about Archibold's enthusiasms! Still their main mission for the trip had been accomplished and they settled down by their fire for a warming supper and a good night's sleep.
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