.
"We have no money, and I should like to know the man who would lend us
any more."

The steward's younger daughter looked doubtfully at the tips of her
fingers and was silent, but her eyes swimming in tears betrayed what she
felt. Keraunus was rejoiced at the silent consent which Arsinoe seemed
to accord to his desire to let her take part in the display at whatever
cost. He forgot that he had just reproached her for her low sentiments,
and said:

"The little one always feels what is right. As for you, Selene, I beg
you to reflect seriously that I am your father, and that I forbid you to
use this admonishing tone to me; you have accustomed yourself to it with
the children and to them you may continue to use it. Fourteen hundred
drachmae certainly, at the first thought of it, seems a very large sum,
but if the material and the trimming required are bought with judgment,
after the festival we may very likely sell it back to the man with
profit."

"With profit!" cried Selene bitterly, "not half is to be got for old
things-not a quarter! And even if you turn me out of the house--I will
not help to drag us into deeper wretchedness; I will take no part in the
performances."

The steward did not redden this time, he was not even violent; on the
contrary, he simply raised his head and compared his daughters as they
stood--not without an infusion of satisfaction. He was accustomed to
love his daughters in his own way, Selene as the useful one, and Arsinoe
as the beauty; and as on this occasion all he cared for was to satisfy
his vanity, and as this end could be attained through his younger
daughter alone, he said:

"Stay with the children then, for all I care. We will excuse you on the
score of weak health, and certainly, child, you do look extremely pale.
I would far rather find the means for the little one only."

Two sweet dimples again began to show in Arsinoe's cheeks, but Selene's
lips were as white as her bloodless cheeks as she exclaimed:

"But, father--father! neither the baker nor the butcher has had a coin
paid him for the last two months, and you will squander seven hundred
drachmae!"

"Squander!" cried Keraunus indignantly, but still in a tone of disgust
rather than anger. "I have already forbidden you to speak to me in
that way. The richest of our noble youths will take part in the games;
Arsinoe is handsome and perhaps one of them may choose her for his wife.
And do you call it squandering, when a fathe