little stream like this. Or is he afraid of wetting
his fine golden-stringed sandals? It is a pity hia
four-footed schoolmaster is not here to carry him
safely across on his back!"

Jason looked round greatly surprised, for he
did not know that any body was near. Bat be-
side him stood an old woman, with a ragged
mantle over her head, leaning on a staff', the
top of which was carved into the shape of a
cuckoo. She looked very aged, and wrinkled,
and infirm; and yet her eyes, which were as
brown as those of an ox, were so extremely large
and beautiful, that, when they were fixed on Ja-
son's eyes, he could see nothing else but them.
The old woman had a pomegranate in her hand,
although the fruit was then quite out of season.

"Whither are you going, Jason?" she now
asked.

She seemed to know his name, you will ob-
serve; and, indeed, those great brown eyes looked
as if they had a knowledge of every thing,
whether past or to come. While Jason was
gazing at her, a peacock strutted forward, and
took his stand at the old woman's side.

"I am going to lolchos," answered the young

[[277]]

p276 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p277w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p278

v?