He was so evidently content and merry that Agne could not help laughing too, and when, in a few minutes, the deacon’s wife gave her a warm and motherly reception she would have been happier than she had been for a long time past, if only her little brother had not been a weight on her mind and if she had not longed so sadly to have him safe by her side.  But even that anxiety presently found relief, for she was so weary and exhausted that, after eating a few mouthfuls, she was thankful to lie down in the clean bed that Elizabeth had prepared for her, and she instantly fell asleep.  She was in the old deacon’s bed, and he made ready to pass the night on the couch in his little sitting-room.

As soon as the old couple were alone Eusebius told his wife how and where he had met the girl and ended by saying: 

“It is a puzzling question as to these Arians and other Christian heretics.  I cannot be hard on them so long as they cling faithfully to the One Lord who is necessary to all.  If we are in the right—­and I firmly believe that we are—­and the Son is of one substance of the Father, he is without spot or blemish; and what can be more divine than to overlook the error of another if it concerns ourselves, or what more meanly human than to take such an error amiss and indulge in a cruel or sanguinary revenge on the erring soul?  Do not misunderstand me.  I, unfortunately—­or rather, I say, thank God!—­I have done nothing great here on earth, and have never risen to be anything more than a deacon.  But if a boy comes up to me and mistakes me for an acolyte or something of that kind, is that a reason why I should flout or punish him?  Not a bit of it.

“And to my belief our Saviour is too purely divine to hate those who regard Him as only ‘God-like.’  He is Love.  And when Arius goes to Heaven and sees Jesus Christ in all His divine glory, and falls down before Him in an ecstasy of joy and repentance, the worst the Lord will do to him will be to take him by the ear and say:  ’Thou fool!  Now thou seest what I really am; but thine errors be forgiven!’”

Elizabeth nodded assent.  “Amen,” she said, “so be it.—­And so, no doubt, it will be.  Did the Lord cast out the woman taken in adultery?  Did he not give us the parable of the Samaritan?—­Poor little girl!  We have often wished for a daughter and now we have found one; a pretty creature she is too.  God grants us all our wishes!  But you must be tired, old man; go to rest now.”

“Directly, directly,” said Eusebius; but then, striking his forehead with his hand, he went on in much annoyance:  “And with all this tumult and worry I had quite forgotten the most important thing of all:  Marcus!  He is like a possessed creature, and if I do not make a successful appeal to his conscience before he sleeps this night mischief will come of it.  Yes, I am very tired; but duty before rest.  It is of no use to contradict me, Mother.  Get me my cloak; I must go to the lad.”  And a few minutes later the old man was making his way to the house in the Canopic street.