；　for　the　flocks　of　young　men　who　swarmed2　about　her　sisters　offered　them　jewels　and　roses；　lace　and　furs。

But　the　quiet　Merope　was　inwardly　thrilled　by　these　homely　tributes3。　“Anyone　can　buy　a　ruby；”　she　told　them；　“anyone　can　buy　a　rose　or　a　fur。　But　not　one　of　those　dandies　would　spend　a　morning　or　an　afternoon　collecting　fruit　in　the　broiling　sun；　being　tortured　by　buzzing；　biting　flies　for　one　of　you。“　Her　sisters　laughed　at　that；　but　a　little　less　brilliantly　than　they　had　before。

One　afternoon；　Merope’s　father　went　out　into　the　fields　with　Sisyphus；　to　explain　to　him　where　he　wanted　the　fence　placed。　A　short　time　later；　a　soaked　Sisyphus　carried　the　unconscious；　equally　drenched　man　into　the　kitchen　and　laid　him　on　the　table。　He　barked　orders　to　Merope；　telling　her　to　find　clean　towels　and　fetch　some　brandy。

梅羅普的獎勵（3）

The　story　was　told　in　gasps；　between　sips　of　the　strong　liquor。　Her　father　had　been　backing　up；　holding　a　sextant4　to　his　eye；　and　had　fallen　into　the　deep；　swift　river　that　ran　along　the　edge　of　their　property。　Sisyphus　had　immediately　plunged　in　after　him；　and　had　pulled　him　from　the　cold　water。

After　he　recovered；　the　grateful　man　offered　Sisyphus　any　one　of　his　daughters　for　his　wife。　The　daughters　were　summoned　to　his　study；　six　of　them　crying　and　protesting　that　Sisyphus　was　unworthy。　Merope　took　her　customary　place　in　the　corner；　smiling　serenely　5and　saying　nothing。

Their　father　became　angry　and　told　the