d the visitor she nodded pleasantly, though with
a certain touch of condescension, and rose from her stool, but
instantly dropped back on it again, instead of going forward to meet the
new-comer. Then she planted herself still more firmly on her seat, and,
instead of uttering a friendly greeting, coughed and muttered a few
unintelligible words.

"Give me a little corner by your fire, it's a cold morning," cried the
old man in a deep voice. "Helios freezes his people before he comes,
that they may be doubly grateful for the warmth he bestows."

"You are right," replied Semestre, who had only understood a few of the
old man's words; "people ought to be grateful for a warm fire; but
why, at your age, do you go out so early, dressed only in your chiton,
without cloak or sandals, at a season when the buds have scarcely
opened on the trees. You people yonder are different from others in many
respects, but you ought not to go without a hat, Jason; your hair is as
white as mine."

"And wholly gone from the crown," replied the old man, laughing. "It's
more faithful to you women; I suppose out of gratitude for the better
care you bestow. I need neither hat, cloak, nor sandals! An old
countryman doesn't fear the morning chill. When a boy, I was as white
as your master's little daughter, the fair-faced Xanthe, but now head,
neck, arms, legs, every part of me not covered by the woolen chiton, is
brown as a wine-skin before it's hung up in the smoke, and the dark hue
is like a protecting garment, nay better, for it helps me bear not only
cold, but heat. There's nothing white about me now, except the beard on
my chin, the scanty hair on my head, and, thank the gods, these two rows
of sound teeth."

Jason, as he spoke, passed his hard, brown finger over the upper and
then the under row of his teeth; but the housekeeper, puckering her
mouth in the attempt to hide many a blemish behind her own lips,
answered:

"Your teeth are as faithful to you as our hair is to us, for men know
how to use them more stoutly than women. Now show what you can do. We
have a nice curd porridge, seasoned with thyme, and some dried lamb for
breakfast. If the girl hurries, you needn't wait long. Every guest, even
the least friendly, is welcome to our house."

"I didn't come here to eat," replied the old man; "I've had my
breakfast. There's something on my mind I would like to discuss with the
clever house-keeper, nay, I ought to say the mistress of this