said that she had passed the century limits; but no one knew, and her
secrets were buried in her own heart.

The Old One was reputed to be very wise. Her expression was almost
queenly in its dignity, and placid and kindly.

To her, Lidia poured out the news brought her by Lucius, adding to
these some things that her father did not know, which bore light upon
the designs of Alyrus and his daughter, Sahira.

The Old One listened, quietly. Then she laid her withered hand on
Lidia's head, very gently.

"Lie down and sleep, my child, and be at peace. The Lord is with thee.
What the future holds we fear not."

There were three Christians in the servants' quarters of the lawyer's
home, one was Alexis, the Greek, one was Lidia, the scullery-maid. And
the third was the Old One, whose age no man knew, or whence she came.




V.

THE OLD ONE SPEAKS.


Aurelius, the lawyer, found his wife crying when he returned from
business a fortnight later. It was one of those rainy days, coming