andane had already been
brought by her nursing to the threshold of a new life. Paula, who
but just now had regarded herself as a persecuted victim of Fate, now
breathed more freely in the belief that she too might bring joy to some
one. She looked into Mandane's more than pretty face with real joy and
tenderness, laid the bandage which had slipped aside gently over her
ears, and breathed a soft kiss on her long silken lashes.

She rapidly grew in favor with the shrewd nun; when the hour for prayer
came round, the sister included in her petitions--Paula--the orphan
under a stranger's roof, the Greek girl born, by the inscrutable decrees
of God, outside the pale of her saving creed. At length Philippus
returned; he was rejoiced at his new friend's brightened aspect, and
declared that Mandane had, under her care, got past the first and worst
danger, and might be expected to recover, slowly indeed, but completely.

After Paula had renewed the compress--and he intentionally left her to
do it unaided, he said encouragingly:

"How quickly you have learnt your business.--Now, the patient is asleep
again; the Sister will keep watch, and for the present we can be of no
use to the girl; sleep is the best nourishment she can have. But with
us--or at any rate with me, it is different. We have still two hours to
wait for the next meal: my breakfast is standing untouched, and yours
no doubt fared the same; so be my guest. They always send up enough to
satisfy six bargemen."

Paula liked the proposal, for she had long been hungry. The nun was
desired to hasten to fetch some more plates, of drinking-vessels there
was no lack--and soon the new allies were seated face to face, each at
a small table. He carved the duck and the roast quails, put the salad
before her and some steaming artichokes, which the nun had brought up
at the request of the cook whose only son the physician had saved; he
invited her attention to the little pies, the fruits and cakes which
were laid ready, and played the part of butler; and then, while they
heartily enjoyed the meal, they carried on a lively conversation.

Paula for the first time asked Philippus to tell her something of his
early youth; he began with an account of his present mode of life, as a
partner in the home of the singular old priest of Isis, Horus Apollo,
a diligent student; he described his strenuous activity by day and his
quiet studies by night, and gave everything such an amusing aspect