“Why don’t you speak to your mother?” she said.
“Ah, no, no! Mother will not venture to help me. She wants only what my father desires.”
Ninus was silent a moment.
“Yet there is no other way,” she said. “You must either go to your mother or do what Doris advises.”
“Follow Doris’ advice?” cried the veiled figure impetuously. “No, never, never! What are you asking? I should die with shame.”
How eagerly Hipyllos listened. Here was something he did not understand.
“True,” replied Ninus, “it must be torture to a respectable girl. Yet to him....”
The muffled figure hastily interrupted her.
“Yes,” she said, “I know whom you mean.”
A faint smile flitted over Ninus’ pallid features.