Keraunus put on his most dignified
attitude and said ponderously.

"My child."

The girl dropped the heated tongs and calmly asked. "Well"--fully
prepared to hear one of the wonderful propositions which Selene was wont
to oppose.

"Listen to me attentively."

Now, what Keraunus was about to say had only occurred to him an hour
since when he had spoiled his slave's desire to go out; but as he said
it he pressed his hand to his forehead assuming the expression of a
meditative philosopher.

"For a long time I have been considering a very important matter. Now I
have come to a decision and I will confide it to you. We must buy a new
manslave."

"But father!" cried Arsinoe, "think what it will cost you. If we have
another man to feed--"

"There is no question of that," replied Keraunus. "I will exchange the
old one for a younger one that I need not be ashamed to be seen with.
Yesterday I told you that henceforth we shall attract greater attention
than hitherto, and really if we appear with that black scarecrow at our
heels in the streets or elsewhere--"

"Certainly we cannot make much show Sebek," interrupted Arsinoe, "but we
can leave him at home for the future."

"Child, child!" exclaimed Keraunus reproachfully, "will you never
remember who and what we are. How would it beseem us to appear in the
streets without a slave?"

The girl shrugged her shoulders, and put it to her father that Sebek was
an old piece of family property, that the little ones were fond of him
because he cared for them like a nurse, that a new slave would cost a
great deal and would only be driven by force to many services which the
old one was always ready and willing to fulfil.

But Arsinoe preached to deaf ears. Selene was not there; secure from her
reproaches and as anxious as a spoiled boy for the thing that was denied
him, Keraunus adhered to his determination to exchange the faithful old
fellow for a new and more showy slave. Not for a moment did he think of
the miserable fate that threatened the decrepit creature, who had grown
old in his house, if he were to sell him; but he still had a feeling
that it was not quite right to spend the last money that had chanced to
come into the house, on a thing that really and truly was not in any way
necessary. The more justifiable Arsinoe's doubts seemed to be and
the more loudly did an inward voice warn him not to offer this fresh
sacrifice to his vain-gloriousness, the more firmly and des