"Yes," said John, "it is very cold--traditional Christmas weather. Could
not be finer, in fact, could it?"

"No--it could not be finer," echoed Mrs. Goddard, suppressing a smile.
Then as though to help him out of his embarrassment by giving an impulse
to the conversation, she added, "By the bye, Mr. Short, while we are
warming ourselves why do not you let me hear one of your odes?"

She meant it kindly, thinking it would give him pleasure, as indeed it
did. John's heart leaped and he blushed all over his face with delight.
Mrs. Goddard was not quite sure whether she had done right, but she
attributed his evident satisfaction to his vanity as a scholar.

"Certainly," he said with alacrity, "if you would like to hear it. Would
you care to hear me repeat the Greek first?"

"Oh, of all things. I do not think I have ever heard Greek."

John cleared his throat and began, glancing at his hostess rather
nervously from time to time. But his memory never failed him, and he went
on to the end without a break or hesitation.

"How do you think it sounds?" he asked timidly when he had finished.

"It sounds very funny," said Mrs. Goddard. "I had no idea Greek sounded
like that--but it has a pleasant rhythm."

"That is the thing," said John, enthusiastically. "I see you really
appreciate it. Of course nobody knows how the ancients pronounced Greek,
and if one pronounced it as the moderns do, it would sound all wrong--but
the rhythm is the thing, you know. It is impossible to get over that."

Mrs. Goddard was not positively sure what he meant by "getting over the
rhythm;" possibly John himself could not have defined his meaning very
clearly. But his cheeks glowed and he was very much pleased.

"Yes, of course," said Mrs. Goddard confidently. "But what does it all
mean, Mr. Short?"

"Would you really like to know?" asked John in fresh embarrassment. He
suddenly realised how wonderfully delightful it was to be repeating his
own poetry to the woman for whom it was written.

"Indeed yes--what is the use of your telling me all sorts of things in
Greek, if you do not tell me what they mean?"

"Yes--you will promise not to be offended?"

"Of course," said Mrs. Goddard; then blushing a little she added, "it is
quite--I mean--quite the sort of thing, is not it?"

"Oh quite," said John, blushing too, but looking grave for a moment. Then
he repeated the English translation of the verses which, as they were
certainly not so good