"The secrets of the island are not known to you," her companion said, and arose quickly; "follow me,--I will teach you. You know not why Apollo is listening? It is for the good of the worshippers, who care not to mount the hill to adore him. Above the town stands an altar; voices uttered there are brought up hither by an echo. There the pious repaired once, and laid their gifts, and songs and the music of flutes sounded in honor of the deity, who was held too sacred to be approached. Hold me not too sacred, little one!--you shall approach without fear; but give me your voice at this altar, when your foster-father sleeps." "But what shall I call you?" cried the laughing Evadne. "Call _Hylas_. Echo has often repeated, the name, they say, in the country of Mysia, and these groves shall learn it of you! Now follow me over the floor of the temple,--but lightly! lightly! See how the god would warn us away! He nods on his pedestal; even the loud thunder may some day cause his fall; already he is half shaken down from his shrine by earthquakes." Then, firmly, bold Hylas held trembling Evadne, who glanced for an instant down the leafy passage of echoes. CHAPTER IV. When the day was over, Alpheus called to him his foster-child. "You have willingly followed us into our exile," he said, "nor have you ever inquired whither we lead you. Listen to me; I shall confide to you a secret, so that, if evil befall us, you may go on and fulfil your journey. "In Asia stands a city, called Thyatira, and there dwell men of a new religion, called Christians. Of this faith I know as yet but little. But, dear Evadne, your father is yet living, and has sent, praying me to conduct you to him, that you may be taught among Christians. I have labored to fulfil his wish, for in our youth we were dear to each other. The moon saw us nightly upon the hills, guarding our flocks, and by day we practised the labors and the sports of Greeks." "What is the religion of my father?" asked the child. "I cannot tell it to you; I know only that the Christians worship one god." "Apollo, then, is my choice." "Not so, child. The god of Christians is not known to us; but he shall overthrow the idols of the whole world. The bow of Diana, the lyre of Apollo, are already broken." The child started. Was the temple known to Alpheus, too? Had he seen there the fragments of a shattered harp? The old man continued his discourse, but Evadne's thoughts had flown away towards the lost temple. "There alone will I worship," she murmured to herself. She dreamed of adoring the deity of stone, but Hylas haunted all her thoughts. Yes, Evadne! one god is sufficient for you! Under cover of the darkness, the friendly boatman drew near, and the islanders heard the unaccustomed sound of the boat drawn up the beach by the youth, whose superstitious fears began to vanish as he observed that no calamity fell upon these dwellers on the sacred spot.