ere _was_ a visitor, as Caecilius had said; however, it was not his
messenger, but Juba, who approached, looking with great curiosity at
Caecilius, and absorbed in the sight. Caecilius in turn regarded him
steadfastly, and then said to Agellius, "It is your brother."

"What brings you here, Juba?" said the latter.

"I have been away on a distant errand," said Juba; "and find you have been
ill. Is this your nurse?" he eyed him almost sternly, and added, "'Tis a
Christian priest."

"Has Agellius no acquaintance but Christians?" asked Caecilius.

"Acquaintance! O surely!" answered Juba; "agreeable, innocent, sweet
acquaintance of another sort; myself to begin with. My lad," he continued,
"you did not rise to their price, but you did your best."

"Juba," said his brother, "if you have any business here, say it, and have
done. I am not strong enough to hold any altercation with you."

"Business!" said Juba, "I can find quite business enough here, if I
choose. This is a priest of the Christians. I am sure of it."

Caecilius looked at him with such calmness and benevolence, that at length
Juba turned away his eyes with something of irritation. He said, "If I
_am_ a priest, I am here to claim you as one of my children."

Juba winced, but said scornfully, "You are mistaken there, father; speak
to those who own you. I am a free man."

"My son," Caecilius answered, "you have been under instruction; it is your
duty to go forward, not back."

"What do you know about me?" said Juba; "he has been telling."

"Your face, your manner, your voice, tells a tale; I need no information
from others. I have heard of you years ago; now I see you."

"What do you see in me?" said Juba.

"I see pride in bodily shape, treading down faith and conviction," said
Caecilius.

Juba neighed rather than laughed, so fierce and scornful was its
expression. "What you slaves call pride," he said, "I call dignity."

"You believe in a God, Creator of heaven and earth, as certainly as I do,"
said the priest, "but you deliberately set yourself against Him."

Juba smiled. "I am as free," he said, "in _my_ place, as He in His."

"You mean," answered Caecilius, "free to do wrong, and free to suffer for
it."

"You may call it wrong, and call it suffering," replied Juba; "but for me,
_I_ do not call wrong what He calls wrong; and if He puts me to pain, it
is because He is the stronger."

The priest stopped awhile; there was no emotion on either sid