titude of the young martyr Icilius, evidently inspired him with admiration, and even with respect.

The next day Marcella heard him questioning the boy as to his belief, and drawing from him all that he could tell of the story of Jesus Christ, and the doctrines and precepts of the gospel.

Very touching was it to listen to the child's simple but earnest remarks. He did not know that he was teaching the dying idolater he only thought that his grandfather was testing his knowledge, and proving his faith; and he therefore replied with perfect ease and confidence. But the Lord wes blessing his simple words, and carrying them into the depths of the old man's darkened soul. Sophis would listen to Cleon as he would not to any other Christian speaker; and the boy could say things to him which no one else would have ventured to utter; and the truth which he spoke with childish lips, was the means which God used to break down the ignorance, and prejudice, and unbelief which had so long reigned in the mind of the learned and intelligent Egyptian.

CHAPTER XXX.

T was not enough for the happiness of either Claudia or her sister that their father had welcomed them kindly, and had forgiven their offences: it was necessary that Alypius also should find favour in his sight before their satisfaction could be complete.

It was evident that the days of Sophis on earth were already numbered, and that what he had to do, whether of a spiritual or a temporal nature, must be done quickly.

Hitherto Sophis had only known Alypius as a young and talented Roman student, a friend of Julius, and an acquaintance of Orestes. Marcella now undertook to speak of him to her husband as a Christian convert, as the preserver of Medora from the danger which threatened her at Philæ, and also from the cruel death which, but for his courage and promptitude, would have been her fate on the shore of the Nile.

Sophis listened very patiently to all that his wife had to say in praise of Alypius, so long as he thought Marcella only looked upon him as the friend and fellow-traveller of Claudia, and the brave guardian of both their daughters. He expressed his readiness to see him, and to tender his thanks for all his important services; and he begged Marcella to invite him to the house without loss of time.

But Marcella had more to say of her young friend and fellow

Christian. She felt that it would be unfair to him, and deceitful towards her husband, if she were to admit Alypius to the home of Medora, and thus encourage his fondest hopes, while Sophis remained ignorant of his pretensions to his daughter's favour, and might be decidedly opposed to them.

She therefore openly declared to him all that she knew of Alypius's long attachment to Medora, and all that she believed of his present hopes and fears. For this Sophis was by no means prepared; and his habitual sternness of manner returned for a time, to the great discomfiture of the anxious Marcella.

Just then little Cleon entered the room, and, running up to his grandmother, he eagerly exclaimed

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'Why may not Alypius come into this house, and see my mother and Medora ? I have just seen him walking outside the gates, and he looked so pale and ill; and he said his arm was very painful, but that it was something else that made him feel so ill. I asked him to come in; for I was sure my aunt would soon make him well, as she used to do in the barge. But he said he must not enter this house until he had permission. May I run after him, and bring him in to rest?"

Marcella looked anxiously and imploringly at her husband, but she did not speak. Then Cleon turned to his grandfather, and, taking hold of his wasted hand, he said—

"Pray let me bring Alypius in: he is such a friend of mine, and such a friend of Medora's too. You know, grandfather, that he saved both our lives; for I would never have let go my hold of her dress, and the crocodile would have eaten us both up. And I love him so much, and my mother loves him, and Medora loves him—and you must love him too.”

The child's sweet, pleading face was very lovely, and very persuasive: it did more than the most elaborate arguments could have done.

"Go, my boy," said Sophis, gently, "go and bring your friend to me."

Cleon bounded out of the room, and Sophis followed his graceful young form with admiring eyes.

"That is a noble boy," he said to Marcella; "I could refuse him nothing. The man who saved his life, and that of our beloved child, deserves much gratitude from us. I will speak with him alone, Marcella, and endeavour to ascertain how I can show my sense of the obligation under which he has laid us."

"There is one way, dear Sophis," replied his wife, "and I believe only one, by which you can recompense Alypius. Let him plead his own cause, and ask his own reward."

She left the apartment filled with joyful hopes and anticipations as regarded Medora's future happiness, and she hastened to seek Claudia, that she might tell how well her mission had sped, and also how opportune and successful Cleon's interruption had proved.

What was her surprise, on entering the room usually occupied by the family, at seeing Orestes there! Her first feeling was one of joy and thankfulness, for she had greatly desired his presence since his father's illness had become so alarming; but this feeling was considerably damped when she remembered his strong prejudices against Christianity, and the violent opposition which he would certainly make to her cherished plans for his sister.

He was in carnest conversation with Claudia and Medora, and

for a few moments Marcella's entrance was unobserved. She paused at the threshold to collect her thoughts, and to consider what course she should pursue in order to soothe and conciliate her bigoted son, when she heard Medora say, very quietly and firmly

"I am His servant, Orestes, and I must declare it. My Redeemer and my God has said, 'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven; but he that shall deny me before men shall be denied before my Father, and before the angels which are in heaven.'"

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'Medora," replied her brother, gravely, but not angrily, “I suspected this when I found that you had fled with Claudia and Alypius; and my suspicions were confirmed when I recalled to mind some of our recent conversations, and also several changes in your manner and conduct with regard to the worship in which you formerly were so zealous. I will not reproach you; though it saddens me to reflect how many of my family have forsaken the religion of our fathers, and how the old national zeal and devotion is everywhere fading away."

He would have proceeded, but Marcella came forward, and greeted him more cordially than she might have done, if she had not heard the mild tone in which he had answered Medora's bold confession of faith.

"Tell me, Orestes," she said, "why have you left Philæ at this season, when so many solemn ceremonies are wont to be observed ?"

Orestes hesitated. He was unwilling to own that he had abandoned the priestly office which he held in the grand temple