aborers and slaves
whom she had flown past on her way, and who stared at her with as much
alarm as if she were possessed.

Pollux did not disturb her. His heart was softened as he watched the
tears running down the cheeks of this light-hearted child, and he could
not help reflecting that goodness was indeed well rewarded when it could
win such tender and enduring love as was cherished for the poor dead
mother on the pedestal before him.

After looking for some time at the sculptor's work Arsinoe grew calmer,
and turning to Pollux she asked:

"Did you make it?"

"Yes," he replied, looking down.

"And entirely from memory?"

"To be sure."

"Do you know what?"

"Well."

"This shows that the Sibyl at the festival of Adonis was right when she
sang in the Jalemus that the gods did half the work of the artist."

"Arsinoe!" cried Pollux, for her words made him feel as if a hot spring
were seething in his heart, and he gratefully seized her hand; but she
drew it away, for her sister Selene had come out on the balcony and was
calling her.

It was for his elder playfellow and not for Arsinoe that Pollux had set
his work in this place, but, just now, her gaze fell like a disturbing
chill on his excited mood.

"There stands your mother's portrait," he called up to the balcony in an
explanatory tone, pointing to the bust.

"I see it," she replied coldly. "I will look at it presently more
closely. Come up Arsinoe, father wants to speak to you."

Again Pollux stood alone.

As Selene withdrew into the room, she gently shook her pale head, and
said to herself:

"'It was to be for me,' Pollux said; something for me, for once--and even
this pleasure is spoilt."

CHAPTER IX.

The palace-steward, to whom Selene had called up his younger daughter,
had just returned from the meeting of the citizens; and his old black
slave, who always accompanied him when he went out, took the
saffron-colored pallium from his shoulders, and from his head the golden
circlet, with which he loved to crown his curled hair when he quitted the
house. Keraunus still looked heated, his eyes seemed more prominent than
usual and large drops of sweat stood upon his brow, when his daughter
entered the room where he was. He absently responded to Arsinoe's
affectionate greeting with a few unmeaning words, and before making the
important communication he had to disclose to his daughters, he walked up
and down before them for some time, puffing