e creature. Aye, a
noble creature; it is an expressive word and God knows! How seldom is
it a true one? It is one I am little apt to use, but I know no other for
such as she is, and on her it is not ill-bestowed."

"Indeed it is not!" answered Joanna with warm assent; but Martina
sighed, for she was thinking to herself! "Poor Heliodora! I cannot but
confess that Paula is the only match for my 'great Sesostris.' But what
in Heaven's name will become of that poor, unfortunate, love-sick little
woman?"

All this flashed through her quick brain while Katharina was trying to
justify herself, and asserting that she fully recognised Paula's great
qualities, but that she was proud, fearfully proud--she had given
Martina herself some evidence of that.

At this Pulcheria interposed in zealous defense of her friend. She,
however, had hardly begun to speak when she, too, was interrupted,
for men's voices were heard in loud discussion in the vestibule, and
Perpetua suddenly rushed in with a terrified face, exclaiming, heedless
of the strangers: "Oh Dame Joanna! Here is another, dreadful misfortune!
Those Arab devils have come again, with an interpreter and a writer.
And they have been sent--Merciful Saviour, is it possible?--they have
brought a warrant to take away my poor dear child, to take her to
prison--to drag her all through the city on foot and throw her into
prison."

The faithful soul sobbed aloud and covered her face with her hands.
Terror fell upon them all; Joanna left the viridarium in speechless
dismay, and Martina exclaimed:

"What a horrible, vile country! Good God, they are even falling on us
women. Children, children--give me a seat, I feel quite ill.--In prison!
that beautiful, matchless creature dragged through the streets to
prison. If the warrant is all right she must go--she must! Not an angel
from heaven could save her. But that she should be marched through
the town, that noble and splendid creature, as if she were a common
thief--it is not to be borne. So much as one woman can do for another
at any rate shall be done, so long as I am here to stand on two
feet!--Katharina, child, do not you understand? Why do you stand gaping
at me as if I were a feathered ape? What do your fat horses eat oats
for? What, you do not understand me yet? Be off at once, this minute,
and have the horses put in the large closed chariot in which I came
here, and bring it to the door.--Ah! At last you see daylight; now, take