Terentia’s beautiful expressive face showed but little sign of pity, for the Christians were enemies of her goddess, and ought to perish, and there was in the heart of the Vestal Maxima only a sense of duty and scarcely of satisfaction as she said-- “It is our pleasure that the captives be set free.” To the surprise of all around, one of the women exclaimed-- “We desire not freedom; we cannot recant; we believe in Jesus the Lord.” “To the lions with them--they want sport for the arena,” exclaimed a voice. “If they do not recant, spare them not.” “Oh, spare them, spare them!” exclaimed Hyacintha. “There is no need for entreaty,” said Terentia, haughtily. “Unloose the cords and let the women free. It is the invariable favour granted by the priestesses of the goddess Vesta, nor can I remit it, though, forsooth, I have rarely seen a favour so coldly received. Move on,” she said. And then the crowd separated, and the two prisoners’ cords being loosed they were flung aside, with rough blows and angry exclamations. And the people poured on towards the Coliseum, where they yet hoped to find the beasts were not disappointed of their prey. The two women sank down on the highway, utterly exhausted. They had been rescued from death, but had hardly power to realise it. Anna put her arm round one of the women, and said-- “Can I lead you home?” and Rebekah, less gently, had taken her companion by the shoulder and tried to rouse her. “Are they gone?” she murmured. “They are gone where you will follow unless you rouse yourselves. Your lives have been spared; make haste to flee.” “Whither shall we flee?” said one poor woman. “We had come in from the country, footsore and weary, when we were seized. We were resting on the steps of the monument of Cæcilia Metella, when we were asked if we had attended the great sacrifice in the temple of Jupiter. Nay, we said, for we are Christians and worship only the Lord Jesus.” “I can take you to comparative safety,” Anna said, “if you will come with me. It will be a refuge for you; you will be taken care of.” One of the women said, “We are poor peasant women, who have come into the city to get food. The Lord seemed to point the way, and we knew there were good Christians in Rome.” “There are good Christians,” said Anna, “but persecution is raging amongst them now. Lean on me and we will try to find a safe place.” “I suppose I must not leave you,” Rebekah said, “but I would we had not met the poor wretches.” Then by slow degrees the poor women passed along the sacred way amongst the great monuments of the past glory of Rome, till they turned in at a low opening in the wall, and a voice said-- “Who enters?” “In the name of Christ,” was Anna’s answer. Then out of the darkness a tiny spark was seen burning. It was the light of a lamp hung from the roof at the distance of some hundred yards.