"He will not again be in a hurry to stir up a wounded lion." "That is the very word," said Melissa, and her large eyes sparkled.

"At the fight in the Circus, I could not help thinking of my father, when the huge king of the desert lay with a broken spear in his loins, whining loudly, and burying his maned head between his great paws.

The gods are pitiless!" "Indeed they are," replied the youth, with deep conviction; but his sister looked up at him in surprise.
"Do you say so, Alexander?
Yes, indeed--you looked just now as I never saw you before.

Has misfortune overtaken you too ?" "Misfortune ?" he repeated, and he gently stroked her hair.

"No, not exactly; and you know my woes sit lightly enough on me.