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spite of his unaccountable hatred of Paula; and Pulcheria declared that
it must be so, if only because Philip esteemed him so highly. If only
he were here, everything would have been different and have turned out
well.

Mary remained with the mother and daughter till it grew dark; her
chatter always led them back to Paula; and when, in the afternoon, the
Nabathaean messenger came to them, and told them from their captive
friend that he had brought her father home to her, the women once more
began to hope, and Mary could allow herself to give free expression
to her fond love before she quitted them, without exciting their
suspicions.

At length she said she must go to her lessons with Eudoxia; she had
a hard task before her and they must think of her and wish her good
success. She threw her arms first round the widow's neck and then round
Pulcheria's; and, as the tears would start to her eyes, she asked them
if she were not indeed a silly childish thing--but they were to think of
her all the same and never to forget her.

She met the governess in her own room; Eudoxia cut off the fine, soft
curls, shedding her first tears over them; and those tears flowed faster
as she placed round Mary's neck a little reliquary containing a lock
from the sheep-skin of St. John the Baptist, which had belonged to her
own mother. It was very dear and sacred to her, and she had never
before parted from it, but now it was to protect the child and bring her
happiness--great happiness.

Had it brought her such happiness?--Not much, in truth; and yet she
believed in the saving and beneficent influence of the relic.

At last Mary stood before her with short hair and in a boy's dress; and
what a sweet and lovely little fellow it was; Eudoxia could not weary
of looking at him. But Mary was too pretty, too frail for a boy; and
Eudoxia advised her to pull her broad travelling hat low over her eyes
as soon as she came in sight of men, or else to darken her color.

Gamaliel, who had in fact come to warn Dame Joanna against Horapollo,
had kept them informed of the progress of this day's sitting, and
Paula's conduct to save her lover had increased Mary's admiration for
her. When she should confront Amru she could answer him on every head,
so she felt equipped at all points as she stole through the garden with
Eudoxia, and down to the quay.

When she had passed the gateway she once more kissed her hand to the
house she loved and its inmates; t