"But in the sixth," said Paulus, "sleep is absolutely necessary. Put on
your sheep-skin, Hermas; you must go down to the oasis to the Senator
Petrus, and fetch a good sleeping-draught for our sick man from him or
from Dame Dorothea, the deaconess. Just look! the youngster has really
thought of his father's breakfast--one's own stomach is a good reminder.
Only put the bread and the water down here by the couch; while you are
gone I will fetch some fresh--now, come with me."

"Wait a minute, wait," cried Stephanus. "Bring a new jar with you from
the town, my son. You lent us yours yesterday, Paulus, and I must--"

"I should soon have forgotten it," interrupted the other. "I have to
thank the careless fellow, for I have now for the first time discovered
the right way to drink, as long as one is well and able. I would not
have the jar back for a measure of gold; water has no relish unless you
drink it out of the hollow of your hand! The shard is yours. I should
be warring against my own welfare, if I required it back. God be
praised! the craftiest thief can now rob me of nothing save my
sheepskin."

Stephanus would have thanked him, but he took Hermas by the hand, and led
him out into the open air. For some time the two men walked in silence
over the clefts and boulders up the mountain side. When they had reached
a plateau, which lay on the road that led from the sea over the mountain
into the oasis, he turned to the youth, and said:

"If we always considered all the results of our actions there would be no
sins committed."

Hermas looked at him enquiringly, and Paulus went on, "If it had occurred