CHAPTER VIII.
They made their tea under the shadow of the farm-building, which consisted of a loft above, and a large dark room on the ground floor, which was filled with the flat strawberry-baskets, full and ready for market.
Lucy found the little festa delightful, though all that the ladies had to do was to make an audience for Aristodemo and Manisty.

The handsome dare-devil lad began to talk, drawn out by the Englishman, and lo! instead of a mere peasant they had got hold of an artist and a connoisseur! Did he know anything of the excavations and the ruins?
Why, he knew everything! He chattered to them, with astonishing knowledge and shrewdness, for half an hour.

Complete composure, complete good-humour, complete good manners--he possessed them all.

Easy to see that he was the son of an old race, moulded by long centuries of urbane and civilised living! A little boastful, perhaps.

He too had found the head of a statue, digging in his father's orchard.