. She felt as though He embraced the
garden before her with mighty and yet loving arms, and with it the whole
world. She had loved the Olympian gods; but in this hour, for the first
time, she felt true reverence for one God, and it made her proud to
think that she might love this mighty Lord, this tender Father, and know
that she was beloved by Him. Her heart beat faster and faster, and she
felt as though, under the protection of this God, she need never more
fear any danger.

As she looked out again at the palm-trees beyond the tamarisks, above
whose plumy heads the evening star now rode in the azure blue of the
night sky, the singing was taken up again after a pause; she heard
once more the angelic greeting which had before struck her soul as so
comforting and full of promise when she read it in the Gospel:

"Glory to God on high, on earth peace, good-will toward men."

That which she had then so fervently longed for had, she thought, come
to pass. The peace, the rest for which she had yearned so miserably
in the midst of terror and bloodshed, now filled her heart-all that
surrounded her was so still and peaceful! A wonderful sense of home came
over her, and with it the conviction that here she would certainly find
those for whom she was longing.

Again she looked up to survey the scene, and she was now aware of
a white figure coming toward her from the tamarisk hedge. This was
Euryale. She had seen Agatha among the worshipers, and had quitted the
congregation, fearing that the sick girl might wake and find no one near
her who cared for her or loved her. She crossed the grass plot with
a swift step. She had passed the fountain; her head came into the
moonlight, and Melissa could see the dear, kind face. With glad
excitement she called her by name, and as the matron entered the veranda
she heard the convalescent's weak voice and hastened to her side.
Lightly, as if joy had made her young again, she sank on her knees by
the bed of the resuscitated girl to kiss her with motherly tenderness
and press her head gently to her bosom. While Melissa asked a hundred
questions the lady had to warn her to remain quiet, and at last to bid
her to keep silence.

First of all Melissa wanted to know where she was. Then her lips
overflowed with thankfulness and joy, and declarations that she felt as
she was sure the souls in bliss must feel, when Euryale had told her in
subdued tones that her father was living, that Diodoros and he