mian kissed him tenderly. Yet, even as she did so, she
thought of the young swallows hacked to death in his mother's galley,
and a chill ran through her veins.

Just at that moment voices were heard calling Alexander from a neglected
spot behind the dainty little house built for the children, and the boy
exclaimed peevishly:

"There, now, I showed you the little nest, so I forgot. Agatha fell
asleep and Smerdis went away, so we were alone. Then they sent me to
Horus, the gate-keeper, to get some of his spelt bread. He never says
no to anything, and it does taste so good. We're peasants, and have been
using the axe and the hoe, so we want something to eat. Have you seen
our house? We built it ourselves. Selene, Helios, Jotape, my future
wife, and I--yes, I! They let me help, and we finished it alone,
all alone! Everything is here. We shall build the shed for the cow
to-morrow. The others mustn't see it, but I may show it to you."

While speaking, he drew her forward again, and Charmian obediently
followed. The twins and little Jotape, who had been chosen for the
future bride of the six-year-old Prince Alexandera pretty, delicate,
fair-haired child of his own age, the daughter of the Median king, who
had been betrothed to the boy after the Parthian war, and now remained
as a hostage at Cleopatra's court--welcomed her with joyous shouts.
With the exception of the little Median princess, Charmian had witnessed
their birth, and they all loved her dearly.

The little royal labourers showed their work with proud delight, and it
really was well done.

They had toiled at it for weeks, paying no heed to the garden and all
its costly rarities. They pointed with special pride to the two planks
which Helios, aided by Alexander, had fished out of the sea after the
last storm, when they were left alone, and to the lock on the door which
they had secretly managed to wrench from an old gate. Selene herself had
woven the curtain in front of the door. Now they were going to build a
hearth too.

Charmian praised their skill, while they--all talking merrily
together--told her how they had conquered the greatest difficulties.
Their bright eyes sparkled with pleasure while describing the work of
their own hands, and they were so absorbed in eager delight that they
did not notice the approach of a man until startled by his words:
"Enough of this idle sport now, your Highnesses. Too much time has
already been wasted on it."

Then, turn