nted us among the gorse-bushes that made us laugh. Then she'd say
she'd get us whipped. She never did, though, bless her! Aglaia was a
thorough sportswoman, for all her learning.'

'But what lessons did you do--when--when you were little?'

'Ancient history, the Classics, arithmetic and so on,' he answered. 'My
sister and I were thick-heads, but my two brothers (I'm the middle one)
liked those things, and, of course, Mother was clever enough for any
six. She was nearly as tall as I am, and she looked like the new statue
on the Western Road--the Demeter of the Baskets, you know. And funny!
Roma Dea! How Mother could make us laugh!'

'What at?'

'Little jokes and sayings that every family has. Don't you know?'

'I know we have, but I didn't know other people had them too,' said Una.
'Tell me about all your family, please.'

'Good families are very much alike. Mother would sit spinning of
evenings while Aglaia read in her corner, and Father did accounts, and
we four romped about the passages. When our noise grew too loud the
Pater would say, "Less tumult! Less tumult! Have you never heard of a
Father's right over his children? He can slay them, my loves--slay them
dead, and the Gods highly approve of the action!" Then Mother would prim
up her dear mouth over the wheel and answer: "H'm! I'm afraid there
can't be much of the Roman Father about you!" Then the Pater would roll
up his accounts, and say, "I'll show you!" and then--then, he'd be worse
than any of us!'

'Fathers can--if they like,' said Una, her eyes dancing.

'Didn't I say all good families are very much the same?'

'What did you do in summer?' said Una. 'Play about, like us?'

'Yes, and we visited our friends. There are no wolves in Vectis. We had
many friends, and as many ponies as we wished.'

'It must have been lovely,' said Una. 'I hope it lasted for ever.'

'Not quite, little maid. When I was about sixteen or seventeen, the
Father felt gouty, and we all went to the Waters.'

'What waters?'

'At Aquae Solis. Every one goes there. You ought to get your Father to
take you some day.'

'But where? I don't know,' said Una.

The young man looked astonished for a moment. 'Aquae Solis,' he
repeated. 'The best baths in Britain. just as good, I'm told, as Rome.
All the old gluttons sit in hot water, and talk scandal and politics.
And the Generals come through the streets with their guards behind them;
and the magistrates come in their chairs with th