When Irene stood face to face with the anchorite, and had told him quickly and in a low voice what she had done, and that her sister Klea was even now waiting for her return, Serapion laughed aloud, and then said in a low tone, but gaily, as a father teases his daughter: 

“She has eaten enough for two, and here she stands, on her tiptoes, reaching up to my window, as if it were not an over-fed girl that stood in her garments, but some airy sprite.  We may laugh, but Klea, poor thing, she must be hungry?”

Irene made no reply, but she stood taller on tiptoe than ever, put her face up to Serapion, nodding her pretty head at him again and again, and as she looked roguishly and yet imploringly into his eyes Serapion went on: 

“And so I am to give my breakfast to Klea, that is what you want; but unfortunately that breakfast is a thing of the past and beyond recall; nothing is left of it but the date-stones.  But there, on the trencher in your hand, is a nice little meal.”

“That is the offering to Serapis sent by old Phibis,” answered the girl.

“Hm, hm—­oh! of course!” muttered the old man.  “So long as it is for a god—­surely he might do without it better than a poor famishing girl.”

Then he went on, gravely and emphatically, as a teacher who has made an incautious speech before his pupils endeavors to rectify it by another of more solemn import.

“Certainly, things given into our charge should never be touched; besides, the gods first and man afterwards.  Now if only I knew what to do.  But, by the soul of my father!  Serapis himself sends us what we need.  Step close up to me, noble Scipio—­or Publius, if I may so call you—­and look out towards the acacias.  Do you see my favorite, your cicerone, and the bread and roast fowls that your slave has brought him in that leathern wallet?  And now he is setting a wine-jar on the carpet he has spread at the big feet of Eulaeus—­they will be calling you to share the meal in a minute, but I know of a pretty child who is very hungry—­for a little white cat stole away her breakfast this morning.  Bring me half a loaf and the wing of a fowl, and a few pomegranates if you like, or one of the peaches Eulaeus is so judiciously fingering.  Nay—­you may bring two of them, I have a use for both.”

“Serapion!” exclaimed Irene in mild reproof and looking down at the ground; but the Greek answered with prompt zeal, “More, much more than that I can bring you.  I hasten—­”

“Stay here,” interrupted Publius with decision, holding him back by the shoulder.  “Serapion’s request was addressed to me, and I prefer to do my friend’s pleasure in my own person.”