The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

Look to it , or he will slip through your fingers as slip t Carrillus . " "Bring him to his knees ? " asked Phryne in accents of supreme contempt . " HOAV can I do so , when you never give an opportunity . My father plies him at the board , Avhile you keep pourino- out for him o-oblet after s oblet of the Chian

wine . He does not thank you for yonr attention . " " You think he would rather have you for his -Ganymede . Tush , girl , I could take him from you as easily as a wine cup from the table . "

Phryne burst out into a fit of prolonged and scornful laughter , which dro \ e the roses from the -cheeks of Lais , and made her eyes sparkle with a deadly rage . " Thou ! then take him from me . Why ! disgust

in his every action shows itself towards you . He ¦ dislikes you , for his noble nature—and he has a noble nature , too good for almost any woman—¦ cannot hate . Thou ! he would as lief touch a toad -as thee !"

" Be not so sure of that , " said Lais , again by a mighty effort controlling her rage . " What matters it this arguing . Give me but the chance , and I will fetch this singing nightingale into my lure , and Lais' self Avill not take

him thence . " " Do you love him then , Phryne ?" " Love him , " said Phryne , in accents of exceeding bitterness , " do you ask me if I love him ? By the gods if I did so , I would tell him the

miequity of this house . I could not marry a man I loved ; shame would choke me on my wedding -day . " " Then why do you Avish to marry him ?" 0 simple Lais , innocent child of the world , do

you ask me such a question ? I love his fame , his rank , his gold . Think you that I pant to spend my days for ever in these halls , till death to run in the same groove with you and my father ?"

" True , beloved child , " ansAvered Lais with intense bitterness , " the young spread their wings and fly from the parent nest . We will mourn her loss deeply , Murtius . A string round her neck however will bring her back at our pleasure . Not

that thou art over young , my Phryne , indeed thou groAvest old , and 'tAvere time thou hadst some habitation of thine OAVU , where securely perched , thou coukVst afford to smile at fate , although not at ns . "

Phryne half sprang from the couch on Avhich she Avas reclining , her cheeks red with the purple flush of passion , her eyes blazing with a terrible ire , and her whole fz-ame quivering Avith uncontrollable fury . She gazed at Lais Avith looks of

such concentrated hate that the bold heart , callous and cold , quivered for an instant in fear , and her eyes fascinated by the baleful beauty of Phryne ' s , glared and grew dim . " Thou , thou darest to strike so ! " cried Phryne ,

the Avords issuing from her lips in gasps , " thou , my father ' s minion . Nay , gave thyself no airs , for I knoAV thee well . Art thou not my aunt , and something nearer to my sister Myra than these proud and virtuous Ramans deem thee ?"

" Silence , for mercy sake , Phryne , ' cried Murtius starting up and pitching the manuscript from him . "Why recall these scenes of misery , these hours of sin and trouble ; Avhy not confide them to oblivion , or if thou will not , stiike here , here , "

and he convulsively smote his breast , stab me to the heart , -and with a patricidal MOAV end my woes , and deepen thine own . " A brief silence ensued , Avhich was at length broken by Lais , in a hoarse voice , for the words of Phryne had touched the raw spot in her heart .

" Peace , peace , let us have peace , an end to these bickerings . Phryne , we knoAV each other well . It is not , it cannot be either of our interests to quarrel , and perchance set the wide eared world agape with tales of our OAVU dishonour , of the tidings of deeds

which they little dream of , and Avhich would send us forth upon the vrorld , homeless wanderers to be the scoff and scorn of men . What I am , thou and thy father knowest too Avell ; but Avhat thou truly art , I alone . Therefore let us have peace , and do

not let a whisper reach Myra ' s ears . Let her at least be in our house one pure thing . " '' A knock at the gate , AA'I IO comes hither ?" " Go , then , Murtius , and see . " Adrian and Caius on arriving at the house of

Murtius , the latter raised the huge brazen knocker , and struck twice upon the sounding plate . The Ostiarius , or door keeper , receiving their names , ushered them into the atrium or court , while he despatched a slave to inform his master of the

approach of the visitors . Murtius vras speedily with them , and on his introduction to Adrian , said , " Welcome , most Avelcome to my poor house , Adrian , thou art most welcome . NOAV that thy feet have crossed my threshold , let not the grass grow there for Avant of thy treading . "