I do not suppose, Amense, he will be pleased at fault being found
with his son, but that we cannot help. Parents cannot expect others
to see their offspring with the same eyes that they do. I should
certainly feel no offense were I to propose for a wife for Chebron to
receive as an answer that he lacked some of the virtues the parents
required in a husband for their daughter. I might consider that
Chebron had those virtues, but if they thought otherwise why should I
be offended?"

"It is not everyone who sees matters as you do, Ameres, and no one
likes having his children slighted. Still, if it is your wish that I
should tell Nicotis that you have a personal objection to her son, of
course I will do so."

"Do not put it that light, Amense. It is not that I have a personal
objection to him. I certainly do not like him, but that fact has
nothing to do with my decision. I might like him very much, and yet
consider that he would not make Mysa a good husband; or, on the other
hand, I might dislike him personally, and yet feel that I could safely
intrust Mysa's happiness to him. You will say, then, to Nicotis that
from what I have seen of Plexo, and from what I have learned of his
character, it does not appear to me that a union between him and Mysa
would be likely to conduce to her happiness; and that, therefore, I
decline altogether to enter into negotiations for the bringing about
of such a marriage."

Amense was well pleased, for she felt that this message, given in her
husband's name, would be a great rebuff for her rival, and would far
more than counterbalance the many triumphs she had gained over her by
the recital of the number of banquets and entertainments in which she
had taken part.

Had Amense been present when Nicotis informed Ptylus of the refusal of
their proposal for the hand of Mysa, she might have felt that even the
satisfaction of mortifying a rival may be dearly purchased.

"You know the woman, Ptylus, and can picture to yourself the air of
insolence with which she declined our proposal. I wished at the moment
we had been peasants' wives instead of ladies of quality. I would have
given her cause to regret her insolence for a long time. As it was, it
was as much as I could do to restrain myself, and to smile and say
that perhaps, after all, the young people were not as well suited for
each other as could be wished; and that we had only yielded to the
wishes of Plexo, having in our mind another allian