to be pulled about."

Smith translated; but it is doubtful if the women understood or even
heard. There was a babble of soft voices. They were discussing eagerly
the strange garments of the English lady.

Stephanos spoke again, gravely, gently.

"It is in my mind," so Smith translated, "that one of our daughters
should be the servant of the English lady; seeing that she has no
maidens of her own people round about her. Kalliope is the fairest and
the deftest. If it be the good pleasure of the English lady Kalliope
shall serve her day and night, doing in all things the bidding of the
Queen wherein if Kalliope fail by one hair's breadth of perfect
service, I, Stephanos the elder, her grandsire, will beat her with
pliant rods fresh cut from the osier trees until the blood of full
atonement flows from her."

"My!" said the Queen. "After that I shan't dare say a word to Kalliope
even if she steals the last hairpin I own."

"Tell that high priest," said Donovan, "that I admire his loyalty. He
may trot out the young woman. You must have a maid of some sort,
Daisy, and I expect Kalliope will do her darnedest with that threat
hanging over her."

Stephanos the elder was an old gentleman of quick apprehension. He did
not wait for Smith to translate what Donovan said. He turned to the
women crowded below him. He raised one hand. Their babbling ceased at
once. Through the silence Stephanos the elder spoke.

"Kalliope."

A young girl, perhaps eighteen or nineteen years of age, came forward.
Bowing low at each step she mounted, she climbed slowly towards the
flagstaff. Her bowing suggested profound humility, but her eyes, when
she raised them, sparkled, and her lips were parted in a gay smile.
She was evidently in no fear of an immediate beating with fresh-cut
osier rods. Yet Kalliope had some cause to be afraid. It was she who
had endeavoured to explore to their source the clocks on the Queen's
stockings.

Stephanos the elder spoke to her briefly but very solemnly. Kalliope
remained unimpressed. She took quick glances at the Queen's face and
her eyes were full of laughter and delight. Stephanos took her by the
hand, led her forward and formally presented her to the Queen.
Kalliope immediately fell on her knees and kissed the toes of the
Queen's shoes.

"Tell the high priest," said Donovan, "that I'll pay the girl the same
wages that I undertook to give to the pampered English maid who went
on strike this morning."

K