aching its end, strengthening and raising his sinking
spirit, bringing him the pleasures of success, and enabling him not
unfrequently to forget for hours that which otherwise might have brought
the bravest to despair.

The warder, the senator or his worthy wife, Dame Joanna or Eudoxia--who
twice had the pleasure of accompanying her--each time they visited him
had some message or note to carry to Paula, telling her how far his work
had progressed; and to her it was a consolation and heartfelt joy to be
able to follow him in his labors. And many a token of his love, esteem,
and admiration gave her courage, when even her brave heart began to
quail.

Ah! It was not alone her terror of a horrible death that tortured her
soul. Her father, whom she considered it her greatest joy in life to
have found again, was fading beyond all hope under her loving hands.
His poor wounded lungs refused its service. It was with great difficulty
that he could swallow a few drops of wine and mouthfuls of food; and
in these last days his clear mind had lain as it were under a
shroud--perhaps it was happier so, as she told herself and as her
friends said to comfort her.

He, too, had heard the cries of: "Hail to the Bride of the Nile!"

"Bring out the Bride!"

"Away with the Bride of the Nile!" Though he had no suspicion of their
meaning, they had haunted his thoughts incessantly during the last few
days; and the terrible, strange words had seemed to charm his fancy,
for to Paula's distress he would murmur them to himself tenderly or
thoughtfully as the case might be.

Many times the idea occurred to her that she might put an end to her
life before the worst should befall, before she became a spectacle for a
whole nation, to be jeered at and made a delightful and exciting show to
rouse their cruelty or their compassion. But dared she do it? Dared she
defy the Most High, the Lord in whom she put her trust, into whose hand
she commended herself in a thousand dumb but fervent prayers.

No. To the very last she would trust and hope. And wonderful to say!
Each time she had reached the very limits of her powers of endurance,
feeling she could certainly bear no more and must succumb, something
came to her to revive her faith or her courage: a message would be
brought her from Orion, or Dame Joanna or Pulcheria came to see her; the
bishop sought an interview, or her father's mind rallied and he could
speak to her in beautiful and stimulating wor