When you crave a teacher you have only to come to him--and I know he will not have long to wait." Gorgo looked thoughtfully at the old man as he went away and then went with Constantine to see his parents.

It was in total silence that they made their way along the short piece of road to the house of Clemens.
Lights were visible in the viridarium and the curtains of the doorway were drawn back; as they reached the threshold Constantine pointed to a bier which had been placed in the little court among the flower-beds; his parents were on their knees by the side of it.
Neither he nor Gorgo ventured to disturb their wordless devotions, but presently the ship-master rose, drawing his fine, stalwart figure to its full height; then turning his kind, manly, grave face to his wife, who had also risen to her feet, he laid one hand on her still abundant white hair and held out the other which she took in hers.

Mariamne dried her eyes and looked up, in her husband's face as he said firmly and calmly: "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away!' She hid her face on his shoulder and responded sadly but fervently: "Blessed be the name of the Lord!" "Yea--Blessed!" repeated Clemens emphatically but he passed his arm across his eyes.

"For thirty-two years hath He lent him to us; and in our hearts...." and he struck his broad breast, "in here, he will never die for you or for me.

As for the rest--and there was a deal of property of our own and of other folks in these wood-piles--well, in time we shall get over that.