as come of it as yet; but steps were taken towards
it: one was to obtain a recovery of the Christians who remained in them. I
was sent here for that purpose, and in this way heard of you and your
brother. When my life was threatened by the persecution, and I had to
flee, I thought of your cottage. I was obliged to act secretly, as we did
not know friends from foes."

"You were led here for other purposes towards _me_, my father," said
Agellius; "yet you cannot have a safer refuge. There is nothing to
disturb, nothing to cause suspicion here. In this harvest time numbers of
strangers pour in from the mountains, of various races; there is nothing
to distinguish you from one of them, and my brother is away convoying some
grain to Carthage. Persecution drove you hither, but you have not been
suffered to be idle, my father, you have brought home a wanderer." He
added, after a pause, "I am well enough to go to confession to you now.
May it be this evening?"

"It will be well," answered Caecilius; "how long I shall still be here, I
cannot tell. I am expecting my trusty messenger with despatches. It is now
three days since he was here. However, this I say without misgiving, we do
not part for long. What do you here longer? you must come to me. I must
prepare you, and send you back to Sicca, to collect and restore this
scattered flock."

Agellius turned, and leaned against the priest's shoulder, and laughed. "I
am laughing," he said, "not from lightness of mind, but from the depth of
surprise and of joy that you should so think of me. It was a dream which
once I had; but impossible! you do not think that I, weak I, shall ever be
able to do more than save my own soul?"

"You will save your own soul by saving the souls of others," said
Caecilius; "my child, I could tell you more things if I thought it good for
you."

"But, my father, I have so weak, so soft a heart," cried Agellius; "what
am I to do with myself? I am not of the temper of which heroes are made."

" 'Virtus in infirmitate perficitur,' " said the priest. "What! are you to
do _any_ thing of yourself? or are you to be simply the instrument of
Another? We shall have the same termination, you and myself, but you long
after me."

"Ah, father, because _you_ will burn out so much more quickly!" said
Agellius.

"I think," said Caecilius, "I see my messenger; there is some one who has
made his way by stealth into the garden, or at least not by the beaten
way."

Th