king her reception of him, nor knowing what to say. "Not at all,
dear thing," answered Aristo; "she is all attention for you to begin."

"Natives of Greece," at length said he, "natives of Greece should know
each other; they deserve to know each other; there is a secret sympathy
between them. Like that mysterious influence which unites magnet to
magnet; or like the echo which is a repercussion of the original voice.
So, in like manner, Greeks are what none but they can be," and he smelt at
his rose and bowed.

She smiled faintly when he mentioned Greece. "Yes," she said, "I am fonder
of Greece than of Africa."

"Each has its advantages," said Polemo; "there is a pleasure in imparting
knowledge, in lighting flame from flame. It would be selfish did we not
leave Greece to communicate what they have not here. But you," he added,
"lady, neither can learn in Greece nor teach in Africa, while you are in
this vestibule of Orcus. I understand, however, it is your own choice; can
that be possible?"

"Well, I wish to get out, if I could, most learned Polemo," said Callista
sadly.

"May Polemo of Rhodes speak frankly to Callista of Proconnesus?" asked
Polemo. "I would not speak to every one. If so, let me ask, what keeps you
here?"

"The magistrates of Sicca and this iron chain," answered Callista. "I
would I could be elsewhere; I would I were not what I am."

"What could you wish to be more than you are?" answered Polemo; "more
gifted, accomplished, beautiful than any daughter of Africa."

"Go to the point, Polemo," said Aristo, nervously, though respectfully;
"she wants home-thrusts."

"I see my brother wants you to ask how far it depends on me that I am
here," said Callista, wishing to hasten his movements; "it is because I
will not burn incense upon the altar of Jupiter."

"A most insufficient reason, lady," said Polemo.

Callista was silent.

"What does that action mean?" said Polemo; "it proposes to mean nothing
else than that you are loyal to the Roman power. You are not of those
Greeks, I presume, who dream of a national insurrection at this time? then
you are loyal to Rome. Did I believe a Leonidas could now arise, an
Harmodius, a Miltiades, a Themistocles, a Pericles, an Epaminondas, I
should be as ready to take the sword as another; but it is hopeless.
Greece, then, makes no claim on you just now. Nor will I believe, though
you were to tell me so yourself, that you are leagued with any obscure,
fanatic se