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summit of life had been attained； the highest possible point
of felicity。 Henceforward the course could only be at a
levelperhaps downward。 It might be brief； at the best it
could not be very long。 It was madness to lose a day； an
hour。 That would be the only fatal mistake： to forfeit
anything of the bargain that he had made。 He would have it； and
hold it； and enjoy it all to the full。 The world might have
nothing better to give than it had already given； but surely it
had many things that were new； and Marcion should help him to
find them。
Under his learned counsel the House of the Golden Pillars
took on a new magnificence。 Artists were brought from Corinth
and Rome and Alexandria to adorn it with splendour。 Its fame
glittered around the world。 Banquets of incredible luxury
drew the most celebrated guests into its triclinium； and
filled them with envious admiration。 The bees swarmed and
buzzed about the golden hive。 The human insects； gorgeous
moths of pleasure and greedy flies of appetite； parasites and
flatterers and crowds of inquisitive idlers； danced and
fluttered in the dazzling light that surrounded Hermas。
Everything that he touched prospered。 He bought a tract
of land in the Caucasus； and emeralds were discovered among
the mountains。 He sent a fleet of wheat…ships to Italy； and
the price of grain doubled while it was on the way。 He sought
political favour with the emperor； and was rewarded with the
governorship of the city。 His name was a word to conjure with。
The beauty of Athenais lost nothing with the passing
seasons； but grew more perfect； even under the inexplicable
shade of dissatisfaction that sometimes veiled it。 〃Fair as
the wife of Hermas〃 was a proverb in Antioch； and soon men
began to add to it； 〃Beautiful as the son of Hermas〃； for the
child developed swiftly in that favouring clime。 At nine
years of age he was straight and strong； firm of limb and
clear of eye。 His brown head was on a level with his father's
heart。 He was the jewel of the House of the Golden Pillars；
the pride of Hermas； the new Fortunatus。
That year another drop of success fell into his brimming
cup。 His black Numidian horses； which he had been training
for the world…renowned chariot…races of Antioch； won the
victory over a score of rivals。 Hermas received the prize
carelessly from the judge's hands； and turned to drive once
more around the circus； to show himself to the people。 He
lifted the eager boy into the chariot beside him to share his
triumph。
Here； indeed； was the glory of his lifethis matchless
son； his brighter counterpart carved in breathing ivory；
touching his arm； and balancing himself proudly on the swaying
floor of the chariot。 As the horses pranced around the ring；
a great shout of applause filled the amphitheatre； and
thousands of spectators waved their salutations of praise：
〃Hail； fortunate Hermas； master of success！ Hail； little
Hermas； prince of good luck！〃
The； sudden tempest of acclamation； the swift fluttering
of innumerable garments in the air； startled the horses。 They
dashed violently forward； and plunged upon the bits。 The left
rein broke。 They swerved to the right； swinging the chariot
sideways with a grating noise； and dashing it against the
stone parapet of the arena。 In an instant the wheel was
shattered。 The axle struck the ground； and the chariot was
dragged onward； rocking and staggering。
By a strenuous effort Hermas kept his place on the frail
platform； clinging to the unbroken rein。 But the boy was
tossed lightly from his side at the first shock。 His head struck
the wall。 And when Hermas turned to look for him； he was lying
like a broken flower on the sand。
VI
They carried the boy in a litter to the House of the Golden
Pillars； summoning the most skilful physician of Antioch to
attend him。 For hours the child was as quiet as death。
Hermas watched the white eyelids； folded close like lily…buds
at night； even as one watches for the morning。 At last they
opened； but the fire of fever was burning in the eyes； and the
lips were moving in a wild delirium。
Hour after hour that sweet childish voice rang through the
halls and chambers of the splendid； helpless house； now rising
in shrill calls of distress and senseless laughter； now
sinking in weariness and dull moaning。 The stars shone and
faded； the sun rose and set； the roses bloomed and fell in the
garden； the birds sang and slept among the jasmine…bowers。
But in the heart of Hermas there was no song； no bloom； no
lightonly speechless anguish； and a certain fearful looking…for
of desolation。
He was like a man in a nightmare。 He saw the shapeless
terror that was moving toward him； but he was impotent to stay
or to escape it。 He had done all that he could。 There was
nothing left but to wait。
He paced to and fro； now hurrying to the boy's bed as if
he could not bear to be away from it； now turning back as if
he could not endure to be near it。 The people of the house；
even Athenais； feared to speak to him； there was something so
vacant and desperate in his face。
At nightfall on the second of those eternal days he shut
himself in the library。 The unfilled lamp had gone out；
leaving a trail of smoke in the air。 The sprigs of mignonette
and rosemary； with which the room was sprinkled every day；
were unrenewed； and scented the gloom with close odours of
decay。 A costly manuscript of Theocritus was tumbled in
disorder on the floor。 Hermas sank into a chair like a man in
whom the very spring of being is broken。 Through the darkness
some one drew near。 He did not even lift his head。 A hand
touched him； a soft arm was laid over his shoulders。 It was
Athenais； kneeling beside him and speaking very low：
〃Hermasit is almost overthe child！ His voice grows
weaker hour by hour。 He moans and calls for some one to help
him； then he laughs。 It breaks my heart。 He has just fallen
asleep。 The moon is rising now。 Unless a change comes he
cannot last till sunrise。 Is there nothing we can do？ Is
there no power that can save him？ Is there no one to pity us
and spare us？ Let us call； let us beg for compassion and
help； let us pray for his life！〃
Yes； this was what he wantedthis was the only thing that
could bring relief： to pray； to pour out his sorrow somewhere；
to find a greater strength than his own and cling to it and
plead for mercy and help。 To leave this undone was to be
false to his manhood； it was to be no better than the dumb
beasts when their young perish。 How could he let his boy
suffer and die； without an effort； a cry； a prayer？
He sank on his knees beside Athenais。
〃Out of the depthsout of the depths we call for pity。
The； light of our eyes is fadingthe child is dying。 Oh； the
child； the child！ Spare the child's life； thou merciful〃
Not a word； only that deathly blank。 The hands of Hermas；
stretched out in supplication； touched the marble table。 He
felt the cool hardness of the polished stone beneath his
fingers。 A roll of papyrus； dislodged by his touch； fell
rustling to the floor。 Through the open door； faint and far
off； came the footsteps of the servants； moving cautiously。
The heart of Hermas was like a lump of ice in his bosom。 He
rose slowly to his feet； lifting Athenais with him。
〃It is in vain；〃 he said； 〃there is nothing for us to do。
Long ago I knew something。 I think it would have helped us。
But I have forgotten it。 It is all gone。 But I would give
all that I have； if I could bring it back again now； at this
hour； in this time of our bitter trouble。〃
A slave entered the room while he was speaking； and
approached hesitatingly。
〃Master；〃 he said； 〃John of Antioch； whom we were
forbidden to admit to the house； has come again。 He would
take no denial。 Even now he waits in the peristyle； and the
old man Marcion is with him； seeking to turn him away。〃
〃Come；〃 said Hermas to his wife； 〃let us go to him。〃
In the central hall the two men were standing； Marcion；
with disdainful eyes and sneering lips； taunting the unbidden
guest； John； silent； quiet； patient； while the wondering
slaves looked on in dismay。 He lifted his searching gaze to
the haggard face of Hermas。
〃My son； I knew that I should see you again； even though
you did not send for me。 I have come to you because I have
heard that you are in trouble。〃
〃It is true；〃 answered Hermas； passionately； 〃we are in
trouble； desperate trouble； trouble accursed。 Our child is
dying。 We are poor； we are destitute； we are afflicted。 In
all this house； in all the world； there is no one that can
help us。 I knew something long ago； when I was with you；a
word； a name；in which we might have found hope。 But I have
lost it。 I gave it to this man。 He has taken it away from me
forever。〃
He pointed to Marcion。 The old man's lips curled
scornfully。 〃A word； a name！〃 he sneered。 〃What is that； O
most wise man and holy Presbyter？ A thing of air； a thing
that men make to describe their own dreams and fancies。 Who
would go about to rob any one of such a thing as that？ It is
a prize that only a fool would think of taking。 Besides； the
young man pa