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"Protarch!" cried Lysander, raising his hands in astonishment; but Phaon nodded to his father approvingly, exchanging a joyous glance with Xanthe. "He has chosen my mother's younger sister," said Leonax. "The younger, yes, but not the youngest," interrupted Protarch. "You must have your wedding in three days, children.
He yielded in order not to grieve her, and, as he became more cheerful and even joined in her merry laugh, Xanthe rejoiced as if she had released him from his sorrow. From that time she claimed his services as eagerly as before, but in her own heart felt as if she were his little mother, and watched all his actions as though specially commissioned to do so.
Whenever Xanthe used it, she insisted upon having her own way, and did what she pleased, while Semestre, who usually never admitted that her hearing was no longer so keen as in former clays, in such cases willingly pleaded her deafness, in order to avoid a retreat. To-day she particularly shrank from irritating the easily-excited girl, and therefore replied: "What did you say?
"My Alciphron has a heart!" cried the house-keeper. "You shall receive from me, on the day of your departure, the same sum and a matron's blue robe," said Lysander. Shortly after the marriage of Xanthe and Phaon, Semestre went to live with her daughter.
"And there stands a maiden who seems to like to hear such uncivil words better than Helen loved Paris's flattering speeches!" exclaimed Phaon's father, first kissing his future daughter's cheek and then his son's forehead. "But now let us go to father," pleaded Xanthe. "Only one moment," replied Protarch, "to look after the boxes the people are bringing.
"No certainly not," added Xanthe, blushing and nestling closely to her lover's side, as she gazed beseechingly first at her uncle, and then at the young visitor from Messina. "Children, children!" cried Protarch, "you spoil my best plans. I had destined Agariste, the rich Mentor's only child, for you, foolish boy, and already had come to terms with the old miser.
The dike by the sea was splendidly repaired without any dispute, for the estate once more belonged to the two brothers in common, and Xanthe found in Praxilla a new, kind mother. The marble seat, on which the young people's fate was decided, was called by the grandchildren of the wedded pair, who lived to old age in love and harmony, "the bench of the question." By Georg Ebers
Xanthe, unobserved by the children, became a witness of this contest between might and right, hastily stepped between the combatants, gave the boy a blow on the shoulder, took the boat away, handed it to the little maiden, and, turning to the latter, said: "Now, play quietly together, and, if Syrus doesn't let you keep the boat and the shells, come to me, poor Stephanion."
"Pardon me if I do so," replied the other, "but I wanted to tell you that I might perhaps know of aid for your father. In my home " "Where is your home?" "In Messina." "Messina!" exclaimed Xanthe, eagerly. "A very experienced physician lives there," interrupted the conjurer. "No one has helped my father." "Yet!" "Then come in and speak to him." "I'm afraid of the cross old woman."
"I don't wish to do so; what is the use of such folly?" replied Xanthe, with flushed cheeks, preparing to go into the house. Her father shrugged his shoulders, and, turning his head, called after her: "Do as you please, but cut a piece from the brown woolen cloth, and bring it to the conjurer." The young girl disappeared in the house.
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