“I can tell you,” he said. “Both women, so my father writes in his letter--both women were found dead in their cell, and their bodies were burned to ashes the next morning. My father believes that you, Ebba, were one of those women.” Anna raised her eyes to the sky above her, and the tears which gathered there flowed down her cheeks. “She is with Him whom she loved, in Paradise,” she said, “only, would that our Father had taken me with her!” “Dear Ebba, do not grieve,” Hyacintha said. “Nay,” Casca sighed out, “nay, it is over for her, it is to come for you and for me. Tell me where I can get instruction in the faith of which you speak.” “Come to the Via Appia in the early morning, or in the late evening. I will be on the watch, for I steal thither unperceived, as hundreds of our faith steal. In the last sleeping-place of the Christians the faith of the living is built up, and you shall be instructed in that faith. Think you, Casca, that there is no Rome but that which you see? Yes, there is a Rome, invisible to all mortal eyes, over which the angels watch the Christian people of the great city, who are compelled to worship their Lord in secret and silence.” “I will come,” Casca said. “Go whither, dear brother?” asked Hyacintha; “nay, run into no danger.” Casca smiled. “I am never bold or daring, little sister; has not that weakness of mine been ever foremost? Did not good Claudius try to harden me to danger? Did not my father look on me with scorn, as unworthy of his noble ancestors? I will run into no danger.” Chloe’s footsteps were heard approaching, on her return from the fountain, where she had filled the pitcher with pure crystal water. This water was used to sprinkle the altar of Vesta, and only those who were fully qualified by their term of probation were ever allowed to perform this office. “Now, Hyacintha,” Chloe said, “the day wears on apace, and we must return to the temple.” Hyacintha embraced her brother, and then turned to follow Chloe. The path bore a little to the left before it descended to the gate of the garden, and there Hyacintha paused for a moment, and with her hand waved her farewell to the two who stood below her. The low level rays of the lately-risen sun glanced through the vines and olive trees amongst which she stood. Her white robe glistened and glowed in the sunshine, and her face--that beautiful face--so childlike, and yet so womanly, made Anna exclaim-- “She is like the Hyacintha of my dream in the dungeon! Oh, that the journey was indeed over, and that she was standing to welcome me at the golden gate! but it will come at last--at last.” Hyacintha had disappeared at the garden gate. A lictor stood to escort the two vestals along the public thoroughfare to the door of the vestals’ house. The vestals were never allowed to appear in public without a guard; for from their high office they formed a part of the sacred magistracy and state of the city of Rome.