may the gods grant thee ever! I am about
to pray at thy hands a boon.'

'Oh! what can I do for thee?' said Nydia, clasping her hands.

'Listen,' said Glaucus, 'and young as thou art, thou shalt be my
confidant. Hast thou ever heard the name of Ione?'

The blind girl gasped for breath, and turning pale as one of the statues
which shone upon them from the peristyle, she answered with an effort,
and after a moment's pause:

'Yes! I have heard that she is of Neapolis, and beautiful.'

'Beautiful! her beauty is a thing to dazzle the day! Neapolis! nay, she
is Greek by origin; Greece only could furnish forth such shapes. Nydia,
I love her!'

'I thought so,' replied Nydia, calmly.

'I love, and thou shalt tell her so. I am about to send thee to her.
Happy Nydia, thou wilt be in her chamber--thou wilt drink the music of
her voice--thou wilt bask in the sunny air of her presence!'

'What! what! wilt thou send me from thee?'

'Thou wilt go to Ione,' answered Glaucus, in a tone that said, 'What
more canst thou desire?'

Nydia burst into tears.

Glaucus, raising himself, drew her towards him with the soothing
caresses of a brother.

'My child, my Nydia, thou weepest in ignorance of the happiness I bestow
on thee. She is gentle, and kind, and soft as the breeze of spring. She
will be a sister to thy youth--she will appreciate thy winning
talents--she will love thy simple graces as none other could, for they
are like her own. Weepest thou still, fond fool? I will not force thee,
sweet. Wilt thou not do for me this kindness?'

'Well, if I can serve thee, command. See, I weep no longer--I am calm.'

'That is my own Nydia,' continued Glaucus, kissing her hand. 'Go, then,
to her: if thou art disappointed in her kindness--if I have deceived
thee, return when thou wilt. I do not give thee to another; I but lend.
My home ever be thy refuge, sweet one. Ah! would it could shelter all
the friendless and distressed! But if my heart whispers truly, I shall
claim thee again soon, my child. My home and Ione's will become the
same, and thou shalt dwell with both.'

A shiver passed through the slight frame of the blind girl, but she wept
no more--she was resigned.

'Go, then, my Nydia, to Ione's house--they shall show thee the way. Take
her the fairest flowers thou canst pluck; the vase which contains them I
will give thee: thou must excuse its unworthiness. Thou shalt take,
too, with thee the lute that I gave thee ye