oor then, and entered. Linus was lying on a bundle of
straw, with an emaciated face and a forehead as yellow as ivory. Near
the fire sat Lygia with a string of small fish, intended evidently for
supper. Occupied in removing the fish from the string, and thinking that
it was Ursus who had entered, she did not raise her eyes. But Vinicius
approached, and, pronouncing her name, stretched his hand to her. She
sprang up quickly then; a flash of astonishment and delight shot across
her face. Without a word, like a child who after days of fear and sorrow
had found father or mother, she threw herself into his open arms.

He embraced her, pressed her to his bosom for some time with such
ecstasy as if she had been saved by a miracle. Then, withdrawing his
arms, he took her temples between his hands, kissed her forehead and her
eyes, embraced her again, repeated her name, bent to her knees, to her
palms, greeted her, did her homage, honored her. His delight had no
bounds; neither had his love and happiness.

At last he told her how he had rushed in from Antium; had searched
for her at the walls, in the smoke at the house of Linus; how he had
suffered and was terrified; how much he had endured before the Apostle
had shown him her retreat.

"But now," said he, "that I have found thee, I will not leave thee near
fire and raging crowds. People are slaying one another under the walls,
slaves are revolting and plundering. God alone knows what miseries may
fall yet on Rome. But I will save thee and all of you. Oh, my dear, let
us go to Antium; we will take a ship there and sail to Sicily. My land
is thy land, my houses are thy houses. Listen to me! In Sicily we shall
find Aulus. I will give thee back to Pomponia, and take thee from her
hands afterward. But, O carissima, have no further fear of me. Christ
has not washed me yet, but ask Peter if on the way hither I have not
told him my wish to be a real confessor of Christ, and begged him
to baptize me, even in this hut of a quarryman. Believe, and let all
believe me."

Lygia heard these words with radiant face. The Christians formerly,
because of Jewish persecutions, and then because of the fire and
disturbance caused by the disaster, lived in fear and uncertainty. A
journey to quiet Sicily would put an end to all danger, and open a new
epoch of happiness in their lives. If Vinicius had wished to take only
Lygia, she would have resisted the temptation surely, as she did not
wish to le