us. "Where can
I find her?"

"At dame Hannah's little house at the bottom of the garden belonging to
the widow of Pudeus."

"Why did they not bring her here?"

"Because the physician forbade it. She is in a fever, but she is well
cared for. Hannah is one of the Christians. I cannot bear the people, but
they know how to nurse the sick better than any one."

"With Christians! my child is with Christians!" shrieked Keraunus, beside
himself. "At once Arsinoe, at once come with me; Selene shall not stay a
moment longer among that accursed rabble. Eternal gods! besides all our
other troubles this disgrace too!"

"Nay, it is not so bad as that," said Doris soothingly. "There are very
estimable folks even among the Christians. At any rate they are certainly
honorable, for the poor hunch-backed creature who first brought the bad
news gave me this little bag of money which dame Hannah had found in
Selene's pocket."

Keraunus took his daughter's hard-won wages as contemptuously as though
he was quite accustomed to gold, and thought nothing of more wretched
silver; but Arsinoe began to cry at the sight of the drachmae, for she
knew it was for the sake of that money that Selene had left her home, and
could divine what frightful pain she must have suffered on the way.

"Honorable this, and honorable that!" cried Keraunus, as he tied up his
money-bag. "I know well enough how shameless are the goings on in
assemblies of that stamp; kissing and hugging slaves! quite the right
sort of thing for my daughter! Come Arsinoe, let us find a litter at
once!"

"No, no!" exclaimed Doris eagerly. "For the present you must leave her in
peace. I should be glad to conceal it from you as a father--but the
physician declared it might cost her her life if she were not left just
now in perfect quiet. No one goes to any kind of assembly with a burning
wound in the head, a high fever and a broken leg.--Poor dear child!"

Keraunus stood silent in grave consternation, while Arsinoe exclaimed
through her tears:

"But I must go to her, I must see her Doris."

"That I cannot blame you for, my pretty one," said the old woman. I have
already been to the house of the Christians, but they would not let me in
to see the patient. With you it is rather different as you are her
sister."

"Come father," begged Arsinoe, "first let us see to the children, and
then you shall come with me to see Selene. Oh! why did I not go with her.
Oh! if she should die."