death
overspreading and paralyzing its slender limbs. He dared not go into
the cavern, but he felt his eyes fill with tears, and he would willingly
have spoken some word of consolation to her.

At last she came out, her eyes red with weeping. Paulus had guessed
rightly for she held the body of little Iambe in her arms.

"How sorry I am," said Paulus, "the poor little creature was so pretty."

Sirona nodded, sat down, and unfastened the prettily embroidered band
from the dog's neck, saying half to herself, and half to Paulus, "My
little Agnes worked this collar. I myself had taught her to sew, and
this was the first piece of work that was all her own." She held the
collar up to the anchorite. "This clasp is of real silver," she went on,
"and my father himself gave it to me. He was fond of the poor little dog
too. Now it will never leap and spring again, poor thing."

She looked sadly down at the dead dog. Then she collected herself, and
said hurriedly, "Now I will go away from here. Nothing--nothing keeps
me any longer in this wilderness, for the senator's house, where I have
spent many happy hours, and where everyone was fond of me, is closed
against me, and must ever be so long as he lives there. If you have not
been kind to me only to do me harm in the end, let me go today, and help
me to reach Alexandria."

"Not to-day, in any case not to-day," replied Paulus. "First I must find
out when a vessel sails for Klysma or for Berenike, and then I have many
other things to see to for you. You owe me an answer to my question,
as to what you expect to do and to find in Alexandria. Poor child--the
younger and the fairer you are--"

"I know all you would say to me," interrupted Sirona. "Wherever I have
been, I have attracted the eyes of men, and when I have read in their
looks that I pleased them, it has greatly pleased me--why should I deny
it? Many a one has spoken fair words to me or given me flowers, and sent
old women to my house to win me for them, but even if one has happened
to please me better than another, still I have never found it hard to
send them home again as was fitting."

"Till Hermas laid his love at your feet," said Paulus. "He is a bold
lad--"

"A pretty, inexperienced boy," said Sirona, "neither more nor less. It
was a heedless thing, no doubt, to admit him to my rooms, but no vestal
need be ashamed to own to such favor as I showed him. I am innocent,
and I will remain so that I may stand in my f