Polemo replied by a compliment; he said it was Socrates visiting Aspasia. There had always been women above the standard of their sex, and they had ever held an intellectual converse with men of mind. He saw one such before him.

Callista felt it would be plunging her soul still deeper into shadows, when she sought realities, if she must take part in such an argument. She remained silent.

“Your sister has not the fit upon her?” asked Polemo of Aristo aside, neither liking her reception of him, nor knowing what to say. “Not at all, dear thing,” answered Aristo; “she is all attention for you to begin.”

“Natives of Greece,” at length said he, “natives of Greece should know each other; they deserve to know each other; there is a secret sympathy between them. Like that mysterious influence which unites magnet to magnet; or like the echo which is a repercussion of the original voice. So, in like manner, Greeks are what none but they can be,” and he smelt at his rose and bowed.

She smiled faintly when he mentioned Greece. “Yes,” she said, “I am fonder of Greece than of Africa.”

“Each has its advantages,” said Polemo; “there is a pleasure in imparting knowledge, in lighting flame from flame. It would be selfish did we not leave Greece to communicate what they have not here. But you,” he added, “lady, neither can learn in Greece nor teach in Africa, while you are in this vestibule of Orcus. I understand, however, it is your own choice; can that be possible?”

“Well, I wish to get out, if I could, most learned Polemo,” said Callista sadly.

“May Polemo of Rhodes speak frankly to Callista of Proconnesus?” asked Polemo. “I would not speak to every one. If so, let me ask, what keeps you here?”

“The magistrates of Sicca and this iron chain,” answered Callista. “I would I could be elsewhere; I would I were not what I am.”

“What could you wish to be more than you are?” answered Polemo; “more gifted, accomplished, beautiful than any daughter of Africa.”

“Go to the point, Polemo,” said Aristo, nervously, though respectfully; “she wants home-thrusts.”

“I see my brother wants you to ask how far it depends on me that I am here,” said Callista, wishing to hasten his movements; “it is because I will not burn incense upon the altar of Jupiter.”

“A most insufficient reason, lady,” said Polemo.

Callista was silent.