Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/45

 a matter of brain-work, fully as much as the labors of the physician or analyst in your days."

Meanwhile we had turned into a by-road, narrower, indeed, than that by which we had travelled so far, but with quite as smooth a surface, and bordered by fine trees. At frequent intervals,—so frequent, indeed, as to suggest the idea of a populous suburban district,—pathways branched off, leading to villa-like abodes embosomed amid trees of secular age. Yet another turn, this time into a pathway little more than wide enough for the passage of our vehicle, and we come to a halt beneath a porch projecting from the spacious veranda that surrounded the house.

The appellation veranda must not suggest a flimsy structure of wood, constructed in a style of art that well matches the shabby material. Here slender moresque columns supported a light entablature of the same general style. On this, again, was reared a similar structure, the colonnade of the second story being of somewhat less width than that below. A parapet of open, carved work, surmounting the whole, enclosed the universal flat roof. All was of stone, which, though in perfect repair, presented marks of great antiquity.

On a mat near the door lay a magnificent Persian cat, which scarcely deigned to honor us with a glance from her sleepy eyes. But not so a small dog of breed unknown to me. At sight of his master he gave vent to a clamorous demonstration of joy that manifestly rendered needless any other announcement of our arrival.