completely. My heart is heavy enough to-day I can tell you."

"Poor boy!" said the countryman. "Yes, I am truly your friend, and am
anxious to remain so; you are not to blame in this business--and for that
matter, I am anything but cheerful. You have chosen to say: Down with
the shrines! Perish all those who do not think as we do! Still, look at
the thing as you will, in some cases certainly violence must ensue--nay,
if no blood is shed it will be a wonder! You sum up the matter in one
common term: The heathen peasants on the estate. My view of it is
totally different; I know these farmers and their wives and children,
each one by name and by sight. There is not one but is ready to bid me
good day and shake my hand or kiss my dress. Many a one has come to me
in tears and left me happy.--By the great Zeus! no one ever accused me of
being soft-hearted, but I could wish this day that I were harder; and my
blood turns to gall as I ask--What is all this for--to what possible
end?"

"For the sake and honor of the faith, Demetrius; for the eternal
salvation of our people."

"Indeed!" retorted Demetrius with a drawl, "I know better. If that and
that alone were intended you would build churches and chapels and send us
worthy priests--Eusebius and the like--and would try to win men's hearts
to your Lord by the love you are always talking so much about. That was
my advice to your mother, only this morning. I believe the end might be
attained by those means, among us as elsewhere; ultimately it will, no
doubt, be gained--but not to-day nor to-morrow. A peasant, when he had
become accustomed to the church and grasped a trust in the new God, would
of his own accord give up the old gods and their sanctuaries; I could
count you off a dozen such instances. That I could have looked on at