Veranilda

n the sea, and after a still night of gentle rain the day broke radiantly, all Surrentum was in movement between church and harbour. Mass having been said, the bishop himself led the procession do

e, Decius of Rome and his library. Nor did Petronilla wear an aspect of very profound gloom; at moments she forgot he

y and of a saintly life. Worse still was the rumour, now generally believed, that the Senator's daughter had obtained her inheritance by wicked hypocrisy, by a false show of return to the true faith. Being herself so evil, it was not to be wondered that she corrupted those who fell under her influence; the young lord Basil, for instance, who, incredible as it sounded, was said to be on the point of espousing a Gothic damsel, a mysterious attendant upon Aurelia, of whom strange stories we

he great lady along the winding road until they were weary and their curiosity satisfied. To this obsequious escort Petronilla uttered certain words which before evening were repeated throughout the town. 'Let us forgive our enemies,' she sai

mely man, wearing a casque and a light breastplate, his years not more than thirty, rather slim, yet evidently muscular and vigorous, he had a look of good-humoured determination, and the tones in which he replied to Basil's welcome were those of a born commander. In contrast with his host's elaborate courtesy, the manners of Venantius might have been j

you, noble Basil, have thought little of the use of arms, and probably keep no very warlike retinue at command. So I mounted half a dozen bowmen, who will ride and shoot with any Hun, and as many stout fellows who can wield lance or throw javeli

had not yet beheld, who shone before him, indeed, in a nobler light than any man he had seen since the days when he worshipped Belisarius. Arrangements were speedily made for the entertainment of the little armed troop, and as dusk gathered the

attendant slaves. 'Her illustrious father,' he went on, 'I spoke with when I was young. But for the illness of Maximus I should have ventured hither during

that there was not,' said Basil.

ese times of another breed of citizens-and who can gainsay that?-she will not forget such men as he, who lived with dignity wh

save mimes and pirates; land-thieves they might have added, for what else were the generals of Justinian with their pillaging hordes? They dared to speak of the Goths as barbarians-these Herules, Isaurians, Huns,

and take to myself a blue-eyed daughter of that noble race. They are heretics, why yes, but as far as I can make out they pray much as I do, and by heaven's grace may yet be brought to hold the

ho announced the return of Sisinnius, and invited them to the promised mass on the morrow; and such was their agitation in the foretaste of this religious ecstasy, as well as in the hope of having their futu

whispered Veranild

he holy Sisinnius had fought with the demon, and had been worsted

may it not be a temptation of the demon himself; w

eet? You hav

ranilda, with a smile that a

d frescoes, one of which represented the poetess Proba on her knees before St. Agnes. Impelled by her fears, Aurelia of a sudden knelt before this picture, an

Veranilda, 'that Basil may be

rogue, have you b

has been there more than onc

said Aurelia. 'It w

broken for the dayspring! Never, I

that he must have sat late with his friends, talking of many things. I am

the garden they were met by the watchman, who carried a lantern. He, having merely been ordered to stand in readiness at this hour and being ignorant of his mistress's intention, showed astonishment when he saw Aurelia and her companion bent on going out. He took it for gran

eble voice, as he drew a lantern from beneath his cloak. Yo

tween myrtles, began to descend the seaward slope. The ground was rough, but the monk, going before, marked the places for their footing. A few minutes thus

riving to make her voice firm. 'This

ps. See you not t

ey drew near to the light, and saw that it issued from a little cave. Within stood a man, bent as if with age and infirmities, his face half-h

hen the cowled man again spoke,

your reward. The darkness, the stones that made your feet to stumble, what are these but symbols of your spiritual state? In your blindness, you sought one blind as y

d their heads, and were gazing

you, Aurelia, were baptized. In my hands you will suffer no harm, no indignity. Be still, be silent. Behind you stand those who will not permit you

o be men with weapons. A moan of anguish escaped her lips. Clinging to

und. Speak words of comfort to this maiden; she also will ere long walk in the light, and will be grateful to those who rescued her from the path of destruction. Think not to escape us when we pass th

Aurelia, suddenly commanding hers

r the present that you will travel without fatigu

isoners. Seeing the futility of any resistance, Aurelia whispered to her companion such words of encouragement as

she whispered back. 'While he ha

teps she moved onward,

ere borne rapidly towards the haven. As they entered the city gates, Aurelia raised the curtain which concealed her, and looked out at the men on watc

e Gothic beauty?' cried one fell

priest sternly; and

the place of embarkation. Here torches were burning; their red glare fell upon angry or mocking faces, and every moment the crowd increased. With utmost speed the p