"Can't you stay with me any part of the day?
Sometimes I get very lonely." "Ah! my dear," said Pratinas, smoothly, "if I could do what I wished, I would never leave you.

But business cannot wait.

I must go and see the noble Lucius Calatinus on some very important political matters, which you could not understand.

Now run away like a good girl, and don't become doleful." Artemisia left the room, and Pratinas busied himself about the fine touches of his toilet.

When he held the silver mirror up to his face, he remarked to himself that he was not an unhandsome man.