piece
according to her own, rarely wiser, judgment. It was quite plain that
she was refractory under the guidance of this--especially of this
counsellor.

The bystanders could not fail to see the girl's repellent manner and
Orion's eager attempts to propitiate her; and for this reason Neforis
was glad when, just as her husband had finished the third game, and
had pushed the men together on the board with the back of his hand,
his chamberlain reminded him that the Arab was without, awaiting his
pleasure with growing impatience. The Mukaukas answered only by a sign,
drew his long caftan of the finest wool closer around him, and pointed
to the doors and the open roof. The rest of the party had long felt the
chill of the damp night air that blew through the room from the river,
but knowing that the father suffered more from heat than from anything,
they had all willingly endured the draught. Now, however, Orion called
the slaves, and before the strangers were admitted the doors were closed
and the roof covered.

Paula rose; the governor lay motionless and kept his eyes apparently
closed; he must, however, have seen what was going forward through an
imperceptible slit, for he turned first to Paula and then to the other
women saying: "Is it not strange?--Most old folks, like children,
seek the sun, and love to sit, as the others play, in its heat. While
I--something that happened to me years ago--you know;--and it seemed to
freeze my blood. Now it never gets warm, and I feel the contrast between
the coolness in here and the heat outside most acutely, almost as a
pain. The older we grow the more ready we are to abandon to the young
the things we ourselves used most to enjoy. The only thing which we old
folks do not willingly relinquish is personal comfort, and I thank you
for enduring annoyances so patiently for the sake of securing mine.--It
is a terrific summer! You, Paula, from the heights of Lebanon, know what
ice is. How often have I wished that I could have a bed of snow. To feel
myself one with that fresh, still coldness would be all I wish for! The
cold air which you dread does me good. But the warmth of youth rebels
against everything that is cool."

This was the first long sentence the Mukaukas had uttered since the
beginning of the game. Orion listened respectfully to the end, but then
he said with a laugh: "But there are some young people who seem to take
pleasure in being cool and icy--for what cause God alone