Scared as though some imminent horror threatened herself, she clasped Melissa’s hand as she listened to the tale of the dangers Alexander had so narrowly escaped.

Such things had never before reached the ears of the girl in her retired Christian home beyond the lake; they sounded to her as the tales of some bold seafarer to the peaceful husbandman on whose shores the storm has wrecked him.

“And do you know,” she exclaimed, “all this seems delightful to me, though my father, I am sure, would judge it hardly!  When your brother risks his life, it is always for others, and that is right—­that is the highest life.  I think of him as an angel with a flaming sword.  But you do not know our sacred scriptures.”

Then Melissa would hear more of this book, of which Andreas had frequently spoken; but there was a knock at the door, and she sprang out of bed.

Agatha did the same; and when a slave-girl had brought in fresh, cold water, she insisted on handing her friend the towels, on plaiting her long hair, pinning her peplos in its place, and arranging its folds.  She had so often longed for a sister, and she felt as though she had found one in Melissa!  While she helped her to dress she kissed her preserver’s sister on the eyes and lips, and entreated her with affectionate urgency to come to see her, as soon as she had done all she could for her lover.  She must be made acquainted with her father, and Agatha longed to show her her poor children, her dogs, and her pigeons.  And she would go to see Melissa, when she was staying with Polybius.

“And there,” Melissa put in, “you will see my brother, too.”

On which the Christian girl exclaimed:  “You must bring him to our house.  My father will be glad to thank him—­” Here she paused, and then added, “Only he must not again risk his life so rashly.”

“He will be well hidden at the house of Polybius,” replied Melissa, consolingly.  “And Andreas has him fast by this time.”

She once more kissed Agatha, and went to the door, but her friend held her back, and whispered “In my father’s grounds there is a famous hiding place, where no one would ever find him.  It has often been a refuge for weeks and months for persecuted members of our faith.  When he is seriously threatened, bring him to us.  We will gladly provide for his safety, and all else.  Only think, if they should catch him!  It would be for my sake, and I should never be happy again.  Promise me that you will bring him.”

“Yes, certainly,” cried Melissa, as she hurried out into the vestibule, where Andreas and the leech were waiting for her.

They had done well to enlist the girl’s services, for, since nursing her mother, she knew, as few did, how to handle the sick.  It was not till they had fairly set out that Melissa observed that Dame Katharine was of the party; she had no doubt become reconciled to the idea of the sick man’s removal to the Serapeum, for she had the same look of kindly calm which had so much attracted the girl at their first meeting.