Mr. Achilles

areful sponging and pressing of his best suit, the purchase of a new hat, and cuffs and collars of the finest linen-nothin

ne castles lifted themselves sombrely in the soft day. Grim or flaunting, they faced the lake-castles from Germany, castles from France and castles from Spain. Achilles eyed them with a little smile as his swift, thin feet traversed the long stones. There were turrets and towers and battlements frowning upon the peaceful, workaday lake. Minarets and flowers in stone, and heavy marble blocks that gripped the earth. Suddenly Achilles's foot slackened its swift pace. His eye dropped to the silver tag on the music-roll in his hand, and lifted itself again to a gleaming red-brown house at the left. It

aunches resting at royal ease. In the original plan these lions had not appeared. But in their place had been two steers-wide-flanked and short-horned, with lifted heads and nostrils snuffling free-something crude, brusque, perhaps, but full of power and quick onslaught.

it. The man had liked it all-steers and red-brown stone and all-but the wife had objected. She had

e a house that fitted the swift life out of which it came, a wind-swept place in which it stood, and all the stirring, troublous times about it. There it rose in its spirit of lightness, hea

le possessed him. It was as if a hand had touched him lightly on the shoulder, in a crowd, staying him. A quick breath escaped his lips as he replaced his hat

close of itself. Only something in the poise of Achilles's head, a lo

eyes deepened. "I am called-Miss Elizabeth Ha

.... Then there was the music-roll. It took the blundering grammar and the music-roll to keep the door open-and then it opened wide and Achilles entered, following the butler's statel

tler paused, holding back the soft drapery with

t his. "My name is Achilles A

ses of his being. Plain Mr. Alexander would have had small effect upon him; but Achille

rned a little puzzled frown upo

's a furriner," he said, addressing t

a look of pleasure. "Ask Miss Ston

elf out and depart

ing and fine-grained, appeared

aid the woman, w

s lifted eyebrows

eek-I t

s of Greek history were in it, and long rows of tombs and temples-the Parthenon of gods and godd

cision. "He has asked for Betty and

b," said Miss Sto

nutes." Her brow wrinkled.

said Miss St

e. She would be heart-broken-You drive

three," repea

and unassuming dignity, and a few ancestors. The country had been searched for a lady-so much the lady that she had never given the matter a thought. Miss Stone was the result. If Betty

rand lady-beautiful to look upon-the piece of bronze, or picture, that went with the house; but Miss

He was only a wise man whom she was to meet for a few minutes, before she and Miss Stone went for their drive. The day was full of light outside-even in the hea

now, both hands out-stretched, fluttering a little in the quick surprise and joy. Then the hands stayed themselves, and she adv

ed herself beside him, her eyes on his face, her little feet crosse

bit of tissue from his pocket, undoing it fold

ith pleased glance. Her e

ue-grey-blue like-" His eye travelled about the elaborate room. He shook his head slowly. Then his glance fell on the grey gown of Miss Stone as it fel

y to this fruit-peddler who had seemed, for days and weeks, to be tumbling all Greek civilisation about her head. The child was chatting with him as if she had known him always. They had turned to each other again, and were absorb

t, and little thoughts that met the child's and laughed. "They are two children together," thought Miss Stone, as she watched them. "I have never seen the child so happy. She