ot think it is a profession for a
well-born man, but then--I'm not my brother. He went to Rome to study
medicine, and now he's First Doctor of a Legion in Egypt--at Antinoe, I
think, but I have not heard from him for some time.

'My eldest brother came across a Greek philosopher, and told my Father
that he intended to settle down on the estate as a farmer and a
philosopher. You see'--the young man's eyes twinkled--'his philosopher was a
long-haired one!'

'I thought philosophers were bald,' said Una.

'Not all. She was very pretty. I don't blame him. Nothing could have
suited me better than my eldest brother's doing this, for I was only too
keen to join the Army. I had always feared I should have to stay at home
and look after the estate while my brother took _this_.'

He rapped on his great glistening shield that never seemed to be in his
way.

'So we were well contented--we young people--and we rode back to Clausentum
along the Wood Road very quietly. But when we reached home, Aglaia, our
governess, saw what had come to us. I remember her at the door, the torch
over her head, watching us climb the cliff-path from the boat. "Aie! Aie!"
she said. "Children you went away. Men and a woman you return!" Then she
kissed Mother, and Mother wept. Thus our visit to the Waters settled our
fates for each of us, Maiden.'

He rose to his feet and listened, leaning on the shield-rim.

'I think that's Dan--my brother,' said Una.

'Yes; and the Faun is with him,' he replied, as Dan with Puck stumbled
through the copse.

'We should have come sooner,' Puck called, 'but the beauties of your
native tongue, O Parnesius, have enthralled this young citizen.'

Parnesius looked bewildered, even when Una explained.

'Dan said the plural of "dominus" was "dominoes," and when Miss Blake said
it wasn't he said he supposed it was "backgammon," and so he had to write
it out twice--for cheek, you know.'

Dan had climbed into Volaterrae, hot and panting.

'I've run nearly all the way,' he gasped, 'and then Puck met me. How do
you do, Sir?'

'I am in good health,' Parnesius answered. 'See! I have tried to bend the
bow of Ulysses, but----' He held up his thumb.

'I'm sorry. You must have pulled off too soon,' said Dan. 'Puck said you
were telling Una a story.'

'Continue, O Parnesius,' said Puck, who had perched himself on a dead
branch above them. 'I will be chorus. Has he puzzled you much, Una?'

'Not a bit, except--I didn't know