I went up to him, and put my arms around his neck.

'Dear uncle,' I said, 'what is troubling you to-night ?' 'Nothing,' he answered, and he half tried to take my arms away.

Then he said, 'I was thinking how soon I was to go back to Alexandria.' 'To Alexandria!' I cried, and I was just going to clap my hands when I thought that, although Alexandria was a far nicer place than Rome, you could not go with us, and so I felt very sorry.

Then Pratinas spoke again in a hard, cold voice he has never used to me before.
'Artemisia, I must tell you now the truth about yourself.

I have let you call me uncle, and have tried to be kind to you.