See if you ca n't guess . '' Ben stared vaguely from earth to sky , and was about to give it up , when a buttercup fell at his feet , and he caught sight of Miss Celia smiling at him from behind her brother , who did not see the flower . `` S'pose you mean this ? I do n't call 'em rhinocerus bulburses , so I was n't sure . '' And , taking the hint as quickly as it was given , Ben presented the buttercup as if he knew all about it . `` You guessed that remarkably well . Now bring me a ` leontodon taraxacum , ' '' said Thorny , charmed with the quickness of his pupil , and glad to display his learning . Again Ben gazed , but the field was full of early flowers ; and , if a long pencil had not pointed to a dandelion close by , he would have been lost . `` Here you are , sir , '' he answered with a chuckle and Thorny took his turn at being astonished now . `` How the dickens did you know that ? '' `` Try it again , and may be you 'll find out , '' laughed Ben . Diving hap-hazard into his book , Thorny demanded a `` trifolium pratense . '' The clever pencil pointed , and Ben brought a red clover , mightily enjoying the joke , and thinking that their kind of botany was n't bad fun . `` Look here , no fooling ! '' and Thorny sat up to investigate the matter , so quickly that his sister had not time to sober down . `` Ah , I 've caught you ! Not fair to tell , Celia . Now , Ben , you 've got to learn all about this buttercup , to pay for cheating . '' `` Werry good , sir ; bring on your rhinoceriouses , '' answered Ben , who could n't help imitating his old friend the clown when he felt particularly jolly . `` Sit there and write what I tell you , '' ordered Thorny , with all the severity of a strict schoolmaster .
Perching himself on the mossy stump , XXXXX obediently floundered through the following analysis , with constant help in the spelling , and much private wonder what would come of it : -- `` Phaenogamous .
Ben Celia Thorny Werry bulburses buttercup hap-hazard pratense rhinoceriouses taraxacum