“Be of good courage,” she said. “Be like unto Felicitas, who sent her sons, one by one, to receive the crown, and who—blessed mother that she was—encouraged them in their torments to play the man for Christ.” “But thou art my only child.” “And she offered them all to God.” “I am a widow, and alone.” “And such was she.” Then said the brown‐habited man whom the lady had called Baudillas: “Quincta, remember that she is taken from an evil world, in which are snares, and that God may have chosen to deliver her by this means from some great peril to her soul, against which thou wouldst have been powerless to protect her.” “I cannot bear it,” gasped the heart‐broken woman. “I have lived only for her. She is my all.” Then Perpetua gently unclasped the arms of her mother, who was lapsing into unconsciousness, kissed her, and said: “The God of all strength and comfort be to thee a strong tower of defence.” And hastily returned to the basin. The young man who before had noticed Perpetua, turned with quivering lip to his companion, and said: “I would forswear Nemausus—that he should exact such a price. Look at her face, Callipodius. Is it the sun that lightens it? By Hercules, I could swear that it streamed with effulgence from within—as though she were one of the gods.” “The more beautiful and innocent she be, the more grateful is she to the august Archegos!” “Pshaw!” scoffed the young man; his hand clutched the marble balustrade convulsively, and the blood suffused his brow and cheeks and throat. “I believe naught concerning these deities. My father was a shrewd man, and he ever said that the ignorant people created their own gods out of heroes, or the things of Nature, which they understood not, being beasts.” “But tell me, Æmilius—and thou art a profundity of wisdom, unsounded as is this spring—what is this Nemausus?” “The fountain.” “And how comes the fountain to ever heave with water, and never to fail. Verily it lives. See—it is as a thing that hath life and movement. If not a deity, then what is it?” “Nay—I cannot say. But it is subject to destiny.” “In what way?” “Ruled to flow.” “But who imposed the rule?” “Silence! I can think of naught save the innocent virgin thus sacrificed to besotted ignorance.” “Thou canst not prevent it. Therefore look on, as at a show.” “I cannot prevent it. I marvel at the magistrates—that they endure it. They would not do so were it to touch at all those of the upper town. Besides, did not the god Claudius——” “They are binding her.” “She refuses to be bound.” Shrieks now rang from the frantic mother, and she made desperate efforts to reach her daughter. She was deaf to the consolations of Baudillas, and to the remonstrances and entreaties of the people around her, who pitied and yet could not help her. Then said the ædile to his police, “Remove the woman!”