My father, who drew the sword against oppression and violence, was robbed of liberty, and your brother-in-law, in payment for his honest courage, met an early death.
Is the story which is told of you here true?
I heard that soon after the poor fellow's burial the slaves in the brick-kiln refused to obey his widow.

There were a dozen rebellious brick-moulders, and you--one can forgive you much for it--you, the weak girl----" "I am not weak," interrupted Ledscha proudly.

"I could have taught three times twelve of the scoundrels who was master.

Now they obey my sister, and yet I wish I had stayed in Tennis.

Our Taus," she continued in a more gentle tone, "is still so young, and our mother died when she was a little child; but I, fool, who should have warned her, left her alone, and if she yielded to Hermon's temptations the fault is mine, wholly mine." During this outburst the light of the fire, which old Tabus had fed with fresh straw and dry rushes, fell upon the face of the agitated girl.