Nothing could have suited me better than my eldest brother 's doing this , for I was only too keen to join the Army . I had always feared I should have to stay at home and look after the estate while my brother took this . ' He rapped on his great glistening shield that never seemed to be in his way . ` So we were well contented -- we young people -- and we rode back to Clausentum along the Wood Road very quietly . But when we reached home , Aglaia , our governess , saw what had come to us . I remember her at the door , the torch over her head , watching us climb the cliff-path from the boat . `` Aie ! Aie ! '' she said . `` Children you went away . Men and a woman you return ! '' Then she kissed Mother , and Mother wept . Thus our visit to the Waters settled our fates for each of us , Maiden . ' He rose to his feet and listened , leaning on the shield-rim . ' I think that 's Dan -- my brother , ' said Una . ` Yes ; and the Faun is with him , ' he replied , as Dan with Puck stumbled through the copse . ` We should have come sooner , ' Puck called , ` but the beauties of your native tongue , O Parnesius , have enthralled this young citizen . ' Parnesius looked bewildered , even when Una explained . ` Dan said the plural of `` dominus '' was `` dominoes '' , and when Miss Blake said it was n't he said he supposed it was `` backgammon '' , and so he had to write it out twice -- for cheek , you know . ' Dan had climbed into Volaterrae , hot and panting .
` I 've run nearly all the way , ' he gasped , ` and then XXXXX met me .
Aie Dan Faun Mother Puck Una Volaterrae backgammon copse dominoes