Yes, he had made a good bargain. The profits of that day's work were
multiplied by tens, and water, nothing in the world but Nile water--
Baptismal water the priest had called it--had filled her son's money-
bags, too, and had turned their plot of land into broad estates; but it
had been tacitly understood that this sprinkling of water established a
claim for a return, and this both father and son had solemnly promised.
Its magic turned everything they touched to gold, but it brought a blight
on the peace of the household. One branch, which had grown up in the
traditions of the old Macedonian stock, had separated from the other; and
her husband's great lie lay between them and the family still living in
the Canopic way, like a wide ocean embittered with the salt of hatred.
That he had infused poison into his son's life and compelled him, proud
as he was, to forfeit the dignity of a free and high-minded man. Though
devoted in his heart to the old gods he had humbled himself, year after
year, to bow the knee with the hated votaries of the Christian faith, and
in their church, to their crucified Lord, and had publicly confessed
Christ. The water--the terrible thaumaturgic stream--clung to him more
inseparably than the brand-mark on a slave's arm. It could neither be
dried up nor wiped away; for if the false Christian, who was really a
zealous heathen, had boldly confessed the Olympian gods and abjured the
odious new faith, the gifts of the all-powerful water and all the
possessions of their old family would be confiscated to the State and
Church, and the children of Porphyrius, the grandchildren of the wealthy
Damia, would be beggars. And this--all this--for the sake of a crucified
Jew.

The gods be praised the end of all this wretchedness was at hand! A
thrill of ecstasy ran through her as she reflected that with herself and
her children, every soul, everything that bore the name of Christian
would be crushed, shattered and annihilated. She could have laughed