he was
accustomed to retire to bed.

By the time the father and daughter reached the palace it was already
tolerably late, for, after Arsinoe had quitted the stage, suitable
representatives of parts had been selected for three other scenes from
the life of Alexander, by the light of torches, lamps and tapers; and
before the assemblage broke up, Plutarch's guests were entertained with
wine, fruit, syrups, sweet cakes, oyster pasties, and other delicacies.
The steward had fallen with good will on the noble drink and excellent
food, and when he was replete, he was wont to be in a better humor, and
after a modicum of wine, in a more cheerful mood than usual. Just now
he was content and kind, for although he had done all that lay in his
power, the entertainment had not lasted long enough, for him to arrive
at a state of intoxication which could make him surly, or to overload
his digestion. Towards the end of their walk, he turned thoughtful and
said:

"To-morrow the council does not sit on account of the festival, and that
is well; all the world will congratulate me, question me, and notice me,
and the gilding on my circlet is quite shabby; and in some places the
silver shines through. Your outfit will now cost nothing, and it is
quite necessary that before the next meeting I should go to a goldsmith
and exchange that wretched thing for one of real gold. A man should show
what he is."

He spoke the words pompously, and Arsinoe eagerly acquiesced, and
only begged him, as they went in at the open door, to leave enough for
Selene's costume; he laughed quietly to himself, and said:

"We need no longer be so very cautious. I should like to know who the
Alexander will be who will be the first to ask for my Roxana as his
wife. Rich old Plutarch's only son already has a seat in the council,
and has not yet taken a wife. He is no longer very young, but he is a
fine man still."

The radiant father's dream of the future was interrupted by Doris, who
came out of the gate-house and called him by his name. Keraunus stood
still. When the old woman went on:

"I must speak with you."

He answered, repellently: "But I shall not listen to you--neither now
nor at any time."

"It was certainly not for my pleasure," retorted Doris, "that I called
to you; I have only to tell you that you will not find your daughter
Selene at home."

"What do you say?" cried Keraunus.

"I say that the poor girl with her damaged foot could at last walk