nds,
yet what ardent passion he had seen glow in her eyes! The model so long
sought in vain he had found in Ledscha, who in so many respects resembled
Arachne. Fool that he was to have yielded to a swift and false ebullition
of feeling!

Since Myrtilus was again near him Hermon had devoted himself with fresh
eagerness to his artistic task, while a voice within cried more and more
loudly that the success of his new work depended entirely upon Ledscha.
He must try to regain her as a model for the Arachne! But while pondering
over the "how," he felt a rare sense of pleasure when Daphne spoke to him
or her glance met his.

At first he had devoted himself eagerly to his father's old friends, and
especially to Thyone, and had not found it quite easy to remain firm
when, in her frank, kindly, cordial manner, she tried to persuade him to
accompany her and the others to Pelusium. Yet he had succeeded in
refusing the worthy couple's invitation. But when he saw Philotas, whose
resemblance to the King, his cousin, had just been mentioned by one of
the officers, become more and more eager in his attentions to Daphne, and
heard him also invited by Philippus to share the nocturnal voyage, he
felt disturbed, and could not conceal from himself that the uneasiness
which constantly obtained a greater mastery over him arose from the fear
of losing his friend to the young aristocrat.

This was jealousy, and where it flamed so hotly love could scarcely be
absent. Yet, had the shaft of Eros really struck him, how was it possible
that the longing to win Ledscha back stirred so strongly within him that
he finally reached a resolution concerning her?

As soon as the guests left Tennis he would approach the Biamite again. He
had already whispered this intention to Myrtilus, when he heard Daphne's
companion say to Thyone, "Philotas will accompany us, and on this voyage
they will plight their troth if Aphrodite's powerful son accepts my
sacrifice."

He involuntarily looked at the pair who were intended for each other, and
saw Daphne lower her eyes, blushing, at a whisper from the young
Macedonian.

His blood also crimsoned his cheeks, and when, soon after, he asked his
friend whether she cared for his companionship, and Daphne assented in
the most eager way, he said that he would share the voyage to Pelusium.
Daphne's eyes had never yet beamed upon him so gladly and graciously.
Althea was right. She must love him, and it seemed as if this co