use, daughter," she explained, "which my father left
me, where I have dwelt during all these weary years that my husband has
been absent in the wars of the East. It is a humble place, but you will
find peace and safety in it, and, I trust, comfort. Poor child," she
added in a gentle voice, "I who am also a Christian, though as yet of
this my husband knows nothing, welcome you in the Name of the Lord."

"In the Name of our Lord, I thank you," answered Miriam, "who am but a
friendless slave."

"Such find friends," said Julia, "and if you will suffer it I think that
I shall be one of them." Then at a sign from the elder woman they knelt
down, and in silence each of them put up her prayer of thanksgiving, the
wife because her husband had come back to her safe, the maiden because
she had been led to a house ruled by a woman of her own faith.

After this they ate, a plain meal but well cooked and served. When it
was done Julia conducted Miriam to the little whitewashed chamber which
had been prepared for her. It was lighted from the court by a lattice
set high in the wall, and, like all the house, very clean and sweet,
with a floor of white marble.

"Once another maid slept here," said Julia with a sigh, glancing at the
white bed in the corner.

"Yes," said Miriam, "she was named Flavia, was she not, your only child?
Nay, do not be astonished. I have heard so much of her that I seem to
have known her well, who can be known no more--here."

"Did Gallus tell you?" asked Julia. "He used rarely to speak of her."

Miriam nodded. "Gallus told me. You see he was very good to me and we
became friends. For all that he has done, may Heaven bless him, who,
although he seems rough, has so kind a heart."

"Yes, may Heaven bless all of us, living and dead," answered Julia. Then
she kissed Miriam and left her to her rest.

When Miriam came out of her bedchamber on the following morning, she
found Gallus clad in his body armour, now new cleaned, though dinted
with many a blow, standing in the court and watching the water which
squirted from a leaden pipe to fall into a little basin.

"Greeting, daughter," he said, looking up. "I trust that you have rested
well beneath my roof who have sojourned so long in tents."

"Very well," she answered, adding, "If I might ask it, why do you wear
your mail here in peaceful Rome?"

"Because I am summoned to have an audience of Caesar, now within an
hour."

"Is Titus come, then?" she asked h