more devoted to the common weal of Hellas than the Athenian orator.

Hermippus at least was convinced of this. The Eleusinian had settled at
Troezene on the Argive coast, a hospitable city that received many an
outcast Athenian. He found his daughter's resistance to another marriage
increasingly unreasonable. Was not Glaucon dead for more than a year?
Ought not any woman to bless Hera who gave her so noble, so eloquent, a
husband as Democrates--pious, rich, trusted by the greatest, and with the
best of worldly prospects?

"If you truly desire any other worthy man, _makaira_," said Hermippus,
once, "you shall not find me obstinate. Can a loving father say more? But
if you are simply resolved never to marry, I will give you to him despite
your will. A senseless whim must not blast your highest happiness."

"He ruined Glaucon," said Hermione, tearfully.

"At least," returned Lysistra, who like many good women could say
exceeding cruel things, "_he_ has never been a traitor to his country."

Hermione's answer was to fly to her chamber, and to weep--as many a time
before--over Phoenix in the cradle. Here old Cleopis found her, took her in
her arms, and sang her the old song about Alphaeus chasing Arethusa--a song
more fit for Phoenix than his mother, but most comforting. So the contest
for the moment passed, but after a conference with Hermippus, Democrates
went away on public business to Corinth unusually well pleased with the
world and himself.

It was a tedious, jangling conference held at the Isthmus city. Mardonius
had tempted the Athenians sorely. In the spring had come his envoys
proffering reparation for all injuries in the wars, enlarged territory,
and not slavery, but free alliance with the Great King, if they would but
join against their fellow-Hellenes. The Athenians had met the tempter as
became Athenians. Aristeides had given the envoys the answer of the whole
people.

"We know your power. Yet tell it to Mardonius, that so long as Helios
moves in the heavens we will not make alliance with Xerxes, but rather
trust to the gods whose temples he has burned."

Bravely said, but when the Athenians looked to Sparta for the great army
to hasten north and give Mardonius his death-stroke, it was the old
wearisome tale of excuses and delay. At the conference in Corinth
Aristeides and Democrates had passed from arguments to all but threats,
even such as Themistocles had used at Salamis. It was after one of these
fr