"Do you know," said Arsinoe, after a short pause, as she twisted the last lock in the freshly-heated tongs, "I thought it all over last night again.

If we cannot succeed any way in scraping together the money for my dress, we can still--" "Well ?" "Even Selene can say nothing against it." "Against what ?" "But, you will be angry!" "Speak out." "You pay taxes like the rest of the citizens." "What has that to do with it ?" "Well then, we are justified in expecting something from the city." "What for ?" "To pay for my dress for the festival which is got up for the Emperor, not by an individual, but by the citizens as a body.

We could not accept alone, but it is folly to refuse what a rich municipality offers.

That is neither more nor less than making them a present." "You be silent," cried Keraunus, really furious, and trying in vain to remember the argument with which, only yesterday, he had refused the same suggestion.

"Be silent, and wait till I begin to talk about such matters." Arsinoe flung the tongs on the hearth with so much annoyance that they fell on the stone with a loud clatter; but her father quitted the kitchen and returned to the sitting-room.