You may go and do it yourself; you may be able to achieve it." "What do you mean ?" asked Mary drawing herself up with a glance of indignant protest.
"Yes--if any one can do it you can!" repeated Demetrius imperturbably.
"I went to-day to seek the images of our forefathers--the venerable images that were clear to our infancy, the portraits of our fathers' fathers and mothers, the founders of the honor of our race.

And where are they?
They have gone with the protectors of our home, the pride and ornament of this house--of the street, of the city--the Hermes and Pallas Athene that you--you flung into the lime-kiln.

Old Phabis told me with tears in his eyes.

Alas poor house that is robbed of its past, of its glory, and of its patron deities!" "I have placed it under a better safeguard," replied Maria in a tremulous voice, and she looked it Marcus with an appeal for sympathy.
"Now, for the last time, I ask you: Will you accede to my demands or will you not ?" "I will not," said Demetrius resolutely.
"Then I must find a new agent to manage the estates." "You will soon find one; but your land--which is our land too--will become a desert.

Poor land! If you destroy its shrines and sanctuaries you will destroy its soul; for they are the soul of the land.