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T HE M ONASTERY ΟΙ· TROODITISSA. XII.] 325 mountains, with a most lovely face that would have charmed Murillo as a subject, with an extreme perfection of features, a bronzed complexion, but hardly the soft expression required for a sacred picture ; in fact Vathoo was a perfect little gipsy beauty, with perhaps more devil than angel in her impulsive character. Then came the real gentle little face with gazelle-like eyes, " Baraksu, " about eight years old : followed by a minimum shepherdess, " Athena, " of nearly five years old, who climbed the rocks, shouted, and threw stones at her refractory flock, as though an experienced goatherd of forty. The youngest was just able to stand ; with a pair of the biggest black eyes, and a natural instinct for gorging itself with unripe fruits and hard nuts, Avhich, added to its "maternal sustenance that it was still enjoying, proved the mill-like character of its infantine digestion. For two months we thought this young Hercules was a promising boy, until by an accident we discovered it was a " young lady " Linobambaki ! When we arrived at Trooditissa these children were in rags and filth, but under the tutelage of my wife they quickly changed, and the neverfailing fountain, assisted by a cake of soap supplied occasionally, effected a marked improvement in all complexions. They were remarkably well-mannered after the first natural shyness had worn away, and formed a contrast to children of a low class in England in never misbehaving when intimate. All these little creatures were employed in cleaning and improving the place ; even the minute Athena might be seen carrying a great stone upon her small shoulder, adding her mite to the work, and rubbing the galled spot as she threw down her load. The bright threepenny pieces were in great

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