SYRA. 
103 
out there on the afternoon of my arrival, in company with two 
English gentlemen. Nothing remains of the fountain, except 
the water, which it is but reasonable to suppose is of modern 
formation. The location perhaps is the same as it was in 
the time of the Nymphse, who, according to the Greek his¬ 
torians, were in the habit of bathing there. It is more than 
the Greeks themselves, who live in the vicinity, are in the 
habit of doing at the present date—if one may judge by their 
appearance. While we were looking for some more portable 
relic of antiquity than the water, and enjoying the pleasure 
of being stared at by some scores of ragged women and chil¬ 
dren, who were waiting for their pitchers to get filled, a very 
little old man, with a thin and withered face, and a very 
sharp pair of eyes, came out through a doorway in the wall 
near the fountain; and making a profound bow to us all, said 
in English, or something intended for English, that he was 
the proprietor of that establishment; it was his own property, 
and he hoped we would make ourselves at home, and look 
at it as long as we pleased. He was always happy to meet 
the countrymen of Melor Beeron, because Melor Beeron and 
himself were intimate friends. They had traveled together 
through Greece; had fought together in the wars against the 
Turks; had sailed together among the Greek islands ; had 
lived and loved together in Athens ; in short for many years 
they were inseparable. He was Melor Beeron’s friend. Me¬ 
lor Beeron was his friend. He was Melor Beeron’s drago¬ 
man, guide, interpreter, courier, and valet, as occasion re¬ 
quired ; and Melor Beeron was his master—a very kind 
master too; sat up rather late, but good pay. He remem¬ 
bered Melor Beeron’s personal appearance as if he had only 
seen him yesterday; very tall, very large man; red hair, 
blue eyes, raw-boned figure; great man to fight; very fine- 
looking man; wrote poetry about Greece and was author of 
a book called the History of England. He had read them in 
the Greek language, and considered them very fine. Hoped 
our honors would excuse him, but thought we would like to 
see a friend of Melor Beeron, who was acquainted with him 
personally and could tell us all about him. Was in very re- 
