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and not a labourer； not a sailor； was visible。 Beyond the breakwater little
tufts of silvery foam flashed on the rollers； and a solitary steamer steered
steadily for the horizon。 He could see the Greek flag at her stern； and his
eyes filled with tears。 Ah； how little his friends in Athens thought of the
man who had come to find fame and fortune in the far…off East！ He sat
down on the parapet and watched the vessel until she became a tiny speck
on the horizon； and then he recommenced his search for work。 His heart
was braver for a moment because of its pangs； he swore he would show
these countrymen of his who dwelt at home； and who in three days would
see the very ship he had been gazing at arrive in Grecian waters； that he
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was worthy of his country and his kinsfolk。
But resolutions were useless； tenacity of purpose was useless。 For two
long hours he wandered by the harbour； but met no one。
At last the sun fell behind the western waves； and the windows of the
khedive's palace glowed like a hundred flaming eyes； the flags fell from
the masts of the vessels； on the city side was a sudden silence； save for the
melancholy voices of the muezzins； then the day died； the bright stars；
suddenly piercing the heavens； mocked him with their brilliance and told
him that his useless search for bread was over。
Gregorio went back slowly to his home。 Already the Rue des Soeurs
was crowded。 The long street rang with music and laughter； and instead of
blinds covering the windows merry women leaned upon the sills and
laughed at the crowds below。
Gregorio； when he reached his house； would have liked to go straight
to bed。 But it was not to be； for as he entered the tiny room he heard his
wife trying to persuade the hungry infant into sleep； and his footsteps
disturbed her tears。 He had to calm them as best he could； and as he
soothed her he noticed the child had a crust in his hand which he gnawed
half contentedly。 At the same moment the dim blue figure of an Arab
passed by the opposite wall； and had almost gained the door ere Gregorio
found words。
〃Who are you？〃
〃It is Ahmed；〃 his wife answered； gently； placing her trembling hand
upon his shoulder； 〃he too has children。〃
Gregorio scowled and muttered； 〃An Arab；〃 and in that murmur none
of the loathing was hidden that the pseudo…West bears for the East。
〃The child is starving；〃 said Ahmed。 〃I have saved the child； maybe
some day I shall save the father。〃 And Ahmed slipped away before
Gregorio could answer him。
For a while neither he nor his wife spoke； they stood silent in the
moonlight。 At last Gregorio asked huskily； 〃Have you had food？〃
〃Not to…day；〃 was the answer； and the sweet voice was almost
discordant in its pathos as it continued； 〃nor drink； and but for Ahmed the
boy had died。〃
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Gregorio could not answer； there was a lump in his throat that blocked
words； opening the gate for sobs。 But he choked down his emotion with an
effort and busied himself about the room。 Xantippe sat watching him
anxiously； smoothly with nervous fingers the covering of her son's bed。
As the night advanced the heat increased； and all that disturbed the
silence of the room was the echo of the streets。 Gregorio walked to the
window and looked out。 Below him he saw the jostling crowd of men and
women。 These people； he thought； were happy； and two miserables only
dwelt in the cityhis wife and himself。 And whenever he asked himself
what was the cause of his misery； the answer was ever the same poverty。
He glanced at his son； tossing uneasily in his bed； he looked at his wife；
pale and haggard in the moonlight； he remembered his own sufferings all
day long in the hot cruel streets； and he spoke unsteadily：
〃Xantippe？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I have thought over things。〃
〃And I too。〃
〃We are starving；you are starving； and I am starving；and all day
long I tramp these cursed streets； but gain nothing。 So it will go on； day in；
day out。 Not only we ourselves； but our son too must die。 We must save
him。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Xantippe； quietly； repeating her husband's words as she
kissed the forehead of her child； 〃we must save him。〃
〃There is only one way。〃
〃Only one way；〃 repeated Xantippe； dreamily。 There was a pause； and
then； as though the words had grown to have a meaning to her that she
could not fathom； she queried； 〃What way； Gregorio？〃
〃That；〃 he said； roughly； as he caught her by the wrist； and； dragging
her to the window； pointed to the women in the street beneath。
Xantippe hid her face on her husband's breast and cried softly； while
she murmured； 〃No； no； I will never consent。〃
〃Then the child will die；〃 answered the Greek； curtly； flinging her from
him。
And the poor woman cast herself upon the bed beside her boy； and
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when her tears ceased for a moment stammered； 〃When？〃
〃To…morrow；〃 was the answer； cruel and peremptory。 And as Gregorio
closed the lattice； shutting out the noise of song and laughter； the room
echoed with the mighty sobbing of a woman who was betrayed； and who
repeated hysterically； while kissing the face of her child； 〃To…morrow； to…
morrow there will be food for you。〃
And Gregorio slept peacefully； for the danger of starvation was over；
he would yet live to see his son become rich。
And the woman？
He kissed her before he slept； and women always cry。
IV CONCERNING TWO WOMEN
Gregorio felt a little bit ashamed of himself next morning。 The
excitement had passed； and the full meaning of his words came back to
him and made him shudder。 The sun； already risen； sent shafts of light
between the lips of the wooden lattice。 A faint sound of life and movement
stole upward from the street below。 But Xantippe and the boy still
slumbered； though the woman's form shook convulsively at times； for she
sobbed in her sleep。
Gregorio looked at the two for a minute and then raised himself with
an o