Pha. But, father, why——
Pel. Nay, that's my secret. Not for little birds.
[Exit upper left. Phania waits until he disappears, then turns flying, and vanishes lower right. Archippe and Sachinessa enter, middle left]
Sac. Blest be Athene, there's nobody here!
The house is overrun, and Pelagon
Has twenty shadows, one at every door.
Out, in,—in, out,—with ears like aprons held
For every whisper! Here we're safe to talk.
Arc. O, dearest Sachinessa, what's to do?
Sac. We'll go to Philon. If he says confess——
Arc. Confess? I'll never do it! I will take
What way he will but that, though 't be the one
Leads out of life. You do not know my lord!
Sac. Your Stesilaus is no god, Archippe.
I'll tell you that.
Arc. If it should come to him
We never changed our daughters! If he learns
That twenty years I've made him wear the hood,
His roof no more would shade me. Nay! Confess?
Oh, Sachinessa, I should lose him quite!
Sac. That could be borne, I think.