he
torches. They were men clad in long tunics and carrying branches of
palm, and around them were lambs, doves, and tendrils of vine.

Amongst these figures, Thais recognised Jesus of Nazareth, by the
anemones flowering at his feet. In the centre of the cave, near a
large stone font filled with water, stood an old man clad in a scarlet
dalmatic embroidered with gold, and on his head a low mitre. His thin
face ended in a long beard. He looked gentle and humble, in spite of
his rich costume. This was Bishop Vivantius, an exiled dignitary of the
Church of Cyrene, who now gained his livelihood by weaving common stuffs
of goats' hair. Two poor children stood by his side. Close by, an old
negress unfolded a little white robe. Ahmes set the child down on the
ground, and kneeling before the Bishop, said--

"Father, this is the little soul, the child of my soul. I have brought
her that you may, according to your promise, and if it please your
holiness, bestow on her the baptism of life."

At these words the Bishop opened his arms, and showed his mutilated
hands. His nails had been torn out because he had maintained the faith
in the days of persecution. Thais was frightened, and threw herself into
the arms of Ahmes. But the kind words of the priest reassured her.

"Fear nothing, dearly beloved little one. Thou hast here a spiritual
father, Ahmes, who is called Theodore amongst the faithful, and a kind
mother in grace, who has prepared for thee, with her own hands, a white
robe."

And turning towards the negress--

"She is called Nitida," he added, "and is a slave in this world, but in
heaven she will be a spouse of Jesus."

Then he said to the child neophyte--

"Thais, dost thou believe in God, the Father Almighty; and in His only
Son, who died for our salvation; and in all that the apostles taught?"

"Yes," replied together the negro and negress, who held her by each
hand.

By the Bishop's orders, Nitida knelt down and undressed Thais. The child
was quite naked; round her neck was an amulet. The Pontiff plunged her
three times into the baptismal font. The acolytes brought the oil, with
which Vivantius anointed the catechumen, and the salt, a morsel of
which he placed on her tongue. Then, having dried that body which was
destined, after many trials, to life immortal, the slave Nitida put on
Thais the white robe she had woven.

The Bishop gave to each and all the kiss of peace, and, the ceremony
being terminated, too