opposite direction.

'Let him go,' said Wulf, as he stalked up the steps. 'Let the boy
go. I never set my heart on any man yet,' he growled to himself in
an under voice, 'but what he disappointed me--and I must not expect
more from this fellow. Come, men, ashore, and get drunk!'

Philammon, of course, now that he had leave to go, longed to stay--
at all events, he must go back and thank his hosts. He turned
unwillingly to do so, as hastily as he could, and found Pelagia and
her gigantic lover just entering a palanquin. With downcast eyes he
approached the beautiful basilisk, and stammered out some
commonplace; and she, full of smiles, turned to him at once.

'Tell us more about yourself before we part. You speak such
beautiful Greek--true Athenian. It is quite delightful to hear
one's own accent again. Were you ever at Athens?'

'When I was a child; I recollect--that is, I think--'

'What?' asked Pelagia eagerly.

'A great house in Athens--and a great battle there--and coming to
Egypt in a ship.'

'Heavens!' said Pelagia, and paused .... 'How strange! Girls, who
said he was like me?'

'I'm sure we meant no harm, if we did say it in a joke,' pouted one
of the attendants.