n a vain struggle to allay, by one moment of calm scrutiny, that
phantom of her memory which, act as she might, would not be repressed,
but which each instant seemed to expand into clearer certainty before
her.

'Do you see him? Does he appear to you a worthy slave?' cried the
centurion.

'A worthy slave, indeed,' she answered, in a low tone, feeling compelled
to make some response.

At her voice, the captive again raised his head, and looked into her
face; not now with a hasty, timid glance, but with the full gaze of one
who believes he has been spoken to, and waits for a renewal of the
question. And as she met the inquiring look, AEnone turned away and sank
back in terror and dismay. She knew it all, now, nor could she longer
deceive herself by vain pretences or assurances. The instinct which, at
the first had filled her soul with that unexplained dread, had not been
false to her. For that glance, as it now rested upon her with, longer
duration and deeper intensity, too surely completed the suggestion
which, at the first it had faintly whispered to her, flashing into her
heart the long-stifled memories of the past, recalling the time when, a
few years before, she had sat upon the rock at Ostia, and had gazed down
upon eyes lifted to meet her own with just so beseeching an appeal, and
telling her too truly that she stood again in the presence of him to
whom she had then promised her girlish faith, and whom she had so long
since looked upon as dead to her.

'I will call him in,' said the centurion, 'and you can see him closer.'

'Nay, nay, father; let him remain where he is,' she exclaimed, in
uncontrollable dread of recognition.

'Ha! art not afraid, girl?' demanded the old man. 'He can do no hurt,
even were he stronger; and now that he is weak, a child could lead him
with a string. Come hither, sirrah!'

The captive arose, smoothed down his tunic, and, obediently entering the
house, awaited commands; while AEnone, with as quiet movement as
possible, shrunk, into the most distant corner of the room. What if he
should recognize her, and should call upon her by name, not knowing her
changed position, or recollecting his own debasement into slavery? What
explanation other than the true one could she give to account for his
audacity, and save him from the chastisement which the offended
centurion would prepare to bestow upon him? This was but a momentary
fear, however, since she felt that the increasing glow of eve