"which
is the fellow who once kicked the other fellow downstairs?"

Venus laughed immoderately.

"The other fellow is my husband, the poor dear who made room for you
just now. The fellow that kicked him down is Jupiter--there!"

"Good old Jupiter!" said Magnus. "I'd like to see you do it again. Did
you do it with a place-kick, or a drop, or a punt?"

"It's no use speaking to my husband," said Juno, "he can't hear; and if
he could, he's too ignorant to understand. He's getting old."

"You must be getting on yourself," said Magnus. "I remember hearing my
grandfather say he knew you very well when he was a boy."

Juno bridled up angrily at this, which was the signal for a round of
laughter from every one else, and a scene might have ensued had not
Apollo at the moment struck up his lyre and drowned everybody's voice.
He wasn't a particularly good player, and his instrument was of a cheap
make. But the noise served to keep the peace, which was all that was
ever wanted.

Presently the meal ended, and the two boys were very glad to get up and
stretch their legs. After the heavy supper they had had, they felt
bound to be moderately civil; and some of the ladies and gentlemen--
especially the former--made themselves agreeable enough. But they could
not get on at all with some of the men. Mars, the fellow in armour, was
one of these. He was a horribly conceited snob, they agreed, and only
wore his armour because it was a new suit, and he thought he looked well
in it.

"Well, my little men," said he, grandly, as they came up, "so you have
come to see the great god of war? I will not hurt you. Try to lift my
spear. It weighs two hundredweight and some odd pounds. You have
heard, no doubt, of some of my achievements?"

"Oh yes," said Magnus minor; "you were the chap that got a hiding
outside Troy from Diomed, and yelled enough to bring the roof down."

"Ha, ha! Good old Diomed!" said Joe.

Mars turned red and white with anger, and said that if it were not too
much trouble he would like to knock their two impudent heads together,
at which they and every one else laughed all the more.

"You boys," said Venus, coming up opportunely at this point, "here is a
friend I know you will like to meet. He's just the sort of person boys
admire. He's not one of our regular party, you know; but we ask him in
to dessert now and then--don't we, Hercules?"

"How do you do?" said Magnus, holding out his hand to a great