as uttered with the deepest fervor.

At length the end came. Starting from a long period of stillness, her
eyes opened wide, a flush passed over her wan and emaciated face and she
uttered a faint cry, "Come, Lord Jesus!" With the cry life went out, and
the pure spirit of the lady Caecilia had returned unto God who gave it.

CHAPTER XII.

POLLIO'S TRIAL.

"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained praise."

It was a large room in a building not far from the imperial palace. The
pavement was of polished marble, and columns of porphyry supported a
paneled dome. An altar with a statue of a heathen deity was at one end
of the apartment. Magistrates in their robes occupied raised seats on
the opposite end. In front of them were some soldiers guarding a prisoner.

The prisoner was the boy Pollio. His face was pale, but his bearing was
erect and firm. The remarkable intelligence which had always
characterized him did not fail him now. His quick eye took in
everything. He knew the inevitable doom that impended over him. Yet
there was no trace of fear or indecision about him.

He knew that the only tie that bound him to earth had been severed.
Early that morning the news of his mother's death had reached him. It
had been carried to him by a man who thought that the knowledge of this
would fortify his resolution. That man was Marcellus. The kindness of
Lucullus had gained him an interview. His judgment had been correct.
While his mother lived, the thought of her would have weakened his
resolution; now that she was dead, he was eager to depart also. In his
simple faith he believed that death would unite him at once to the dear
mother whom he loved so fondly.

With these feelings he awaited the examination.

"Who are you?"

"Marcus Servilius Pollio."

"What is your age?"

"Thirteen years."

At the mention of his name a murmur of compassion went round the
assemblage, for that name was well known in Rome.

"You are charged with the crime of being a Christian. What have you to
say?"

"I am guilty of no crime," said the boy. "I am a Christian, and I am
glad to be able to confess it before men."

"It is the same with them all," said one of the judges. "They all have
the same formula."

"Do you know the nature of your crime?"

"I am guilty of no crime," said Pollio. "My religion teaches me to fear
God and honor the emperor. I have obeyed every just law, and am not a
traitor."

"To be a C