He burst into tears, which relieved him, and then went on: 

“Oh, how I felt my blood boil at that moment; how my heart seemed bursting within me; and a voice appeared to whisper in my ear the name of ‘coward!’ It surely was an evil spirit.  I felt that I was strong enough—­my rising anger made me so—­to seize my unjust assailant by the throat, and cast him gasping on the ground.  I heard already the shout of applause that would have hailed my victory and turned the tables against him.  It was the hardest struggle of my life; never were flesh and blood so strong within me.  O God! may they never be again so tremendously powerful.”

“And what did you do, then, my darling boy?” gasped forth the trembling matron.

He replied, “My good angel conquered the demon at my side.  I stretched forth my hand to Corvinus, and said, ’May God forgive you, as I freely and fully do; and may He bless you abundantly.’  Cassianus came up at that moment, having seen all from a distance, and the youthful crowd quickly dispersed.  I entreated him, by our common faith, now acknowledged between us, not to pursue Corvinus for what he had done; and I obtained his promise.  And now, sweet mother,” murmured the boy, in soft, gentle accents, into his parent’s bosom, “do you think I may call this a happy day?”

"Fabiola”—­Cardinal Wiseman.

* * * * *

SPHEROID (sf[=e]’), a body or figure in shape like a sphere.

VELLUM, a fine kind of parchment, made of the skin of a lamb, goat, sheep or young calf, for writing on.

THEME, a subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks.

SCORE, bill, account, reckoning.

SUPERCIL’IOUS, proud, haughty.

STYLES AND TABLES, writing implements for schools.  The tables or tablets were covered with wax, on which the letters were traced by the sharp point of the style, and erased by its flat top.

CESTUS, a covering for the hands of boxers, made of leather bands, and often loaded with lead or iron.

“IF YOU ARE WORTHY OF YOUR NAME.”  Reference is here made by Corvinus to the pancratium, an athletic exercise among the Romans, which combined all personal contests, such as boxing, wrestling, etc.

CASSIANUS, St. Cassian, who, though a Bishop, opened a school for Roman youths.  Having confessed Christ, and refusing to offer sacrifice to the gods, the pagan judge commanded that his own pupils should stab him to death with their iron writing pencils, called styles.

AY or AYE, meaning yes, is pronounced [=i] or [:a][)i]; meaning ever, and used only in poetry, it is pronounced [=a].

Read carefully two or three times the opening paragraph of the selection, so that the picture conveyed by the words may be clearly impressed on the mind.  Then with book closed write out in your own words a description of “The Martyr’s Boy.”