than boyish blush, and his eye sparkling not the less brightly because a tear hung translucent within its lids. He paused for a moment, and then, sinking his voice almost into a whisper, and folding his hands before him, he proceeded.

"Yes, my friend, it is even so; but Valerius may be excuseable, although he as yet understands little of the feelings his words have perhaps too vehemently aroused. I trust it shall not long be so, and that, if indeed we shall ever be set free from this captivity, we shall have our return to the fellowship of the faithful hailed by a new son and a new brother, not less dear than any from whom we have been separated. Read, my dear Valerius, read and ponder well:-My prayers, and the prayers of one that is far purer than me-they are ever with you. But now since I have introduced you to Pontius, why should I delay here any longer? He, both for your father's sake and for your own, and for that of the faith,

(of which you have had some glimpses) will abundantly aid you in all things. Deal not coldly nor distantly with him. I commit you into his hands, as a brand to be snatched from the burning."

Pontius, during this address, reached forth his hand, and grasped mine firmly, as in token of his acquiescence in all the old man expressed. He, on his part, having made an end of what he designed to speak, arose, and, looking into the street, said, "These jugglers have now departed to their dens, and the gaping multitudes that attended them have dispersed. But I still see one person walking up and down, as if expecting somebody, where their dancing took place; and it seems to me that it is the same, Valerius, who was in your company when you walked hither." I looked, and perceived that it was indeed Sabinus; and I heard him whistling to himself, as he walked to and fro on the bright side of the pavement. I therefore bade them adieu hastily, saying,

that I had not thought my friend would have detained himself so long for me. As I was going out, however, I could not help saying to the old priest, "Dear father, when shall I see you again, and when shall I hear further of Athanasia ?"

The old man paused for a moment, and then said, "To-morrow, to-morrow at noontide, be in the Roman Forum, over against the statue of Numa. You will there find some tidings for you."

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Surely," said I to myself, "this old man will not dare to walk at noon-day in the Forum; but after what I have seen, what shall appear impossible!"

I then rejoined Sabinus, who took my arm without interrupting his whistle, and so we walked briskly towards the house of my kinsman. The Centurion plainly intimated, that he took it for granted I had been engaged in something, which I wished to keep from his knowledge; but such affairs made no great impression on

him; and after laughing out his laugh, he bade me farewell for the night, close by the portico of Licinius.

CHAPTER III.

IN the morning I found Licinius and his son extremely uneasy, in consequence of the absence of Xerophrastes, who had not returned during the whole of the night; but Sabinus came in while they were talking to me, and narrated, without hesitation, all we had seen and heard both in the garden of Trajan, and at the procession of the Galli. Young Sextus could scarcely be restrained, by respect for his father, from expressing, rather too openly, his satisfaction in the course which the affairs of the disappointed lady appeared to be taking; while the orator himself muttered between his teeth words which I thought boded not