wers. It was the
peculiar gift of this woman; on her everything lived, and was soul and
harmony. Her robe, which was of mauve spangled with silver, trailed in
long folds with a grace that was almost melancholy and was not relieved
by either bracelets or necklaces. The chief charm of her appearance
was her beautiful bare arms. The two friends were obliged to admire, in
spite of themselves the robe and head-dress of Thais, though they said
nothing to her on the subject.

"How beautiful you are!" said Philina. "You could not have been more
so when you came to Alexandria. Yet my mother, who remembers seeing
you then, says there were few women who were worthy to be compared with
you."

"Who is the new lover you have brought?" asked Drosea. "He has a
strange, wild appearance. If there are shepherds of elephants, assuredly
he must resemble one. Where did you find such a wild-looking friend,
Thais? Was it amongst the troglodytes who live under the earth, and are
grimy with the smoke of Hades?"

But Philina put her finger on Drosea's lips.

"Hush! the mysteries of love must remain secret, and it is forbidden to
know them. For my own part, certainly, I would rather be kissed by the
mouth of smoking Etna than by the lips of that man. But our dear
Thais, who is beautiful and adorable as the goddesses, should, like
the goddesses, grant all requests, and not, like us, only those of nice
young men."

"Take care, both of you!" replied Thais. "He is a mage and an enchanter.
He hears words that are whispered, and even thoughts. He will tear out
your heart while you are asleep, and put a sponge in its place, and the
next day, when you drink water, you will be choked to death."

She watched them grow pale, then she turned away from them, and sat on a
couch by the side of Paphnutius. The voice of Cotta, kind but imperious,
was suddenly heard above the murmur of conversation.

"Friends, let each take his place! Slaves, pour out the honeyed wine!"

Then, the host raising his cup--

"Let us first drink to the divine Constantine and the genius of the
empire. The country should be put first of all, even above the gods, for
it contains them all."

All the guests raised their full cups to their lips. Paphnutius alone
did not drink, because Constantine had persecuted the Nicaean faith, and
because the country of the Christian is not of this world.

Dorion, having drunk, murmured--

"What is one's country? A flowing river. The shores