ons on all sides of me that I am sick of
the subject."

"Ah, the rising generation!" groaned Jucundus; "you young men! I cannot
prophesy what you will become, when we old fellows are removed from the
scene. Perhaps you're a Christian?"

Arnobius laughed. "At least I can give you comfort on that head, old
grandfather. A pretty Christian _I_ should make, indeed! seeing visions,
to be sure, and rejoicing in the rack and dungeon! I wish to enjoy life; I
see wealth, power, rank, and pleasure to be worth living for, and I see
nothing else."

"Well said, my lad," cried Jucundus, "well said; stick to that. I declare
you frightened me. Give up all visions, speculations, conjectures,
fancies, novelties, discoveries; nothing comes of them but confusion."

"No, no," answered the youth; "I'm not so wild as you seem to think,
Jucundus. It is true I don't believe one single word about the gods; but
in their worship was I born, and in their worship I will die."

"Admirable!" cried Jucundus in a transport; "well, I'm surprised; you have
taken me by surprise. You're a fine fellow; you are a boy after my heart.
I've a good mind to adopt you."

"You see I can't believe one syllable of all the priests' trash," said
Arnobius; "who does? not they. I don't believe in Jupiter or Juno, or in
Astarte or in Isis; but where shall I go for anything better? or why need
I seek anything good or bad in that line? Nothing's known anywhere, and
life would go while I attempted what is impossible. No, better stay where
I am; I may go further, and gain a loss for my pains. So you see I am for
myself, and for the genius of Rome."

"That's the true principle," answered the delighted Jucundus. "Why,
really, for so young a man, surprising! Where _did_ you get so much good
sense, my dear fellow? _I've_ seen very little of you. Well, this I'll
say, you are a youth of most mature mind. To be sure! Well! Such youths
are rare now-a-days. I congratulate you with all my heart on your strong
sense and your admirable wisdom. Who'd have thought it? I've always, to
tell the truth, had a little suspicion of you; but you've come out nobly.
Capital! I don't wish you to believe in the gods if you can't; but it's
your duty, dear boy, your duty to Rome to maintain them, and to rally
round them when attacked." Then with a changed voice, he added, "Ah, that
a young friend of mine had your view of the matter!" and then, fearing he
had said too much, he stopped abruptly.

"