stout
gentleman, who wore a rug over his shoulders and carried a club in his
hand. "Done all your jobs--swabbed out those stables yet?"

The stout gentleman flushed up a little at this allusion, and said
something in Greek which fortunately the boys did not understand.

"Been having any more lessons on the sewing machine lately--eh, old
chap?" inquired Joe. "We know all about you, Magnus minor and I.
There's fellows at our school could lick you into a cocked hat. You
come to our sports one day and see."

Hercules, a good deal ruffled, used a considerable amount of idiomatic
Greek, and made for the boys with his club.

Fortunately for them, Minerva's shield happened to be lying on the
ground close by, and Joe, with great presence of mind, recalling his
classics for the occasion, took it up and presented it at the giant.

Naturally, he turned to stone on the spot; and as at that particular
moment he had one foot off the ground, his club above his head, and his
mouth wide open, the effect was striking.

They amused themselves for a short time playing Aunt Sally at him; and
then, getting rather tired of the whole affair, looked about them for
some way of escaping.

They met Cupid, the boy that belonged to Venus, prowling about with his
bow and arrow.

"Hullo, kid!" said Magnus. "Here you are--three shots a penny, and
twopence if you hit me at twenty yards!"

Cupid aimed and missed, and then very foolishly began to cry.

"What are you blubbering at?" asked Joe. "You young soft!"

Cupid said he was miserable. Everybody up there bullied him, and he
couldn't hit anything nowadays with his bow and arrows.

"Jack it up then, and come to our school," said Magnus, slapping him on
the back. "Lots of larks there. You can wear Etons and a topper, and
chum in our study--can't he, Joe?"

"Yes, if he likes to do his share of the fagging," said Joe.

"I don't much mind what I do, as long as I get away from this lot."

"All serene; come down with us. We're hanging out at Llandudno for the
holidays. My mater will take you in, I'm certain."

"Ah, yes, and by the way," said Joe, once more making a brilliant dive
into his classics, "there's a friend of yours, you know, called what's-
her-name, only a few doors off. Isn't there, Magnus?"

"Rather!" said Magnus, who had not a notion what was being referred to.

"You don't mean to say Psyche--"

"That's her--the very article; rather a wonner, too. Magnus is spoo