ft of
strength to those old gods which still stood gazing upon the change
of the world.

The songs that were sung and the chaunted invocations had nothing
in them but the memories of Rome; but the instruments and dancers
were tolerated by that one guest who should most have complained,
and whose expression and apparel and gorgeous ornament and a
certain security of station in his manner proved him the head of
the Christian priests from Helena. When the music had ceased and
the night deepened, they talked all together as though the world
had but one general opinion; they talked with great courtesy of
common things. But from the slaves' quarters came the unmistakable
sing-song of the Christian vine-yard dance and hymn, which the
labourers sung together with rhythmic beating of hands and
customary cries, and through that din arose from time to time the
loud bass of one especially chosen to respond. The master sent out
word to them in secret to conduct their festival less noisily and
with closed doors. Upon the couches round the table where the lords
reclined together, more than one, especially among the younger men,
looked anxiously at their host and at the Priest next to him, but
they saw nothing in their expressions but a continued courtesy; and
the talk still moved upon things common to them all, and still
avoided that deep dissension which it was now useless to raise
because it would so soon be gone.

There came an hour when all but one ceased suddenly from wine; that
one, who still continued to drink as he saw fit, was the host. He
knew the reason of their abstention; he had heard the trumpet in
the harbour that told the hour and proclaimed the fast and vigil,
and he felt, as all did, that at last the figure and the presence
of which none would speak--the figure and the presence of the
Faith--had entered that room in spite of its dignity and its high
reserve.

For some little time, now talking of those great poets who were a
glory to them all, and whose verse was quite removed from these
newer things, the old man still sipped his wine and looked round at
the others whose fast had thus begun. He looked at them with an
expression of severity in which there was some challenge, but which
was far too disdainful to be insolent, and as he s