'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.