Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

THE CUVliCII OF Till-: CATM.'O
really present, and exquisitely dear. Her forehead was the very
nthful-
a kindly sinilo played about the lips, a:
youtliful features, varied their sensitive . xpression with guile-
m ouo feeling to tin
es her warm and tender heart received it. Those \\lio kn her
believed that she never thought of herself, but wan divided
entirely between kindness to those about her, and affection
for her unseen love.
When Syra saw this beautiful vision, like that of an angel,
before her, she paused for a moment. But the child took her
hand, and reverently kissed it, saying; "I h:'\
me in the small chamber near the entrance, when I go
out,"
She then advanced ; and as Fabiola saw her, a crimson blush
mantled in her cheek ; for she feared the child had been witness
of her undignified burst of passion. With a cold wave of her
hand she dismissed her slaves, and then greeted her kinswoman,
for such she was, with cordial affection. We have said that
Fabiola's temper made a few exceptions in its haughty exer-
cise. One of these was her old nurse and i'reodwoman Eupliro-
syue, who directed all her private hoiisehold and whose ;
only
creed was, that Fabiola was the most perfect of beings, the
wisest, most accomplished, most admirable lady in Home.
Another was her young visitor, whom she loved, and ever
treated with gentlest affection, and whose society she always
coveted.
" This is really Mnd of you, dear Agnes," said the softened
Fabiola, "to come at my sudden request, to join our table today.
But the fact is, my father has called in one or two new
people to dine, and I was anxious to have some one with whom
I could have the excuse of a duty to converse. Yet I own I
have some curiosity about one of our new guests. It is Ful-
vius, of whose grace, wealth, and accomplishments I hear so
much ;
though nobody seems to know who or what he is, or
whence he has sprung up. "
" My dear Fabiola," replied Agnes, " you know I am always
happy to visit you, and my kind parents willingly allow me ;
therefore, make no apologies about that."
"And so you have come to me as usual," said the other playfully,
"in your own snow-white dress,without jewel or ornament,
as if you were every day a bride. You always seem to me to
be celebrating one eternal espousal. But, good heavens ! what
is this? Are you hurt? Or are you aware that there is,
right on the bosom of your tunic, a Targe red spot it looks like
blood. If so let rn change your dress at once."
" Not for the woild, Fabiola ; it is the jewel, the only orna-
all, what are tli
"Human beings as much as ourselves, endowed with the same
reason, tin ing, ami the same organization. Thus far
you will admit, at any rate, to go no higher, Then they form
part of tin
;ily and if ; God, from whom comes our
life, is thereby our Father, He is theirs as much, and consequently
they are our brethren."
" A slave my broth; p, Agnes? The gods forbid it !
and I have no notion of
.
day yi
by a slave in all that you most adiu
truthfulness, and in heroic
est cousin, I will save you from a repetition of your p.iin. Will
you grant me my request?"
"Any in my power,"
"Then it is that you will allow me to purchase Syra I
think that is her name. You will not like to see her about ymi."
"You are mistaken, Agnes. I will master pride for
and own, that I shall now esteem her, pci-l ;.ps almost admire
her. It hi a new feeling in me towards one in her station."
" But I think, Fabiola, I could make her sappier than she
is."
"No doubt, dear Agnes ; yon have the power of making
every body happy about you. I never saw snch a household
as yours. You seem to carry out in practice that st
osophy which Syra alluded to, in which there itt no distinction
of freedmen and slave. Everybody in your house is always
smiling, and cheerfully anxious to discharge his duty. And
there seems to be no one who thinks of commanding. Come,
tell me your secret." (Agnes smiled.) "I suspect, you little
magician, that in that mysterious chamber, which you will
never open for me, you keep your charms and potions by which
you make everybody and everything love you. If you were a
Christian, and were exposed in the amphitheatre, I am sure
the very leopards would crouch and nestle at your feet. But
why do you look so serious, child ? You know I am only joking.
Agnes seemed absorbed; and bent forward that keen and
tender look which we have mentioned, as though she saw before
her, nay, as if she heard speaking to her, some one
delicately beloved. It passed away, and she gaily said, "Well,
well, Fabiola, stranger things have come to pass ; and, at any
rate, if aught so dreadful had to happen, Syra would just be
the sort of person one would like to see near one ; so you really
must let me have her. "
"For heaven's sake, Agnes, do not take my words so seri-
ously. I assure you they were spoken in jest. I have too high
an opinion of your good sense to believe such a calamity possible.'
But as to Syra's devotedness, you are right. When last
summer you were away, and I was so dangerously ill of con-
tagious fever, it required the lash to make the other slaves ap-
proach me while that ;
poor thing would hardly leave me, but
watched by me, and nursed me day and night, and I really
believe greatly promoted my recovery."
"And did you not love her for this ?"
"Love her! Love a slave, child! Of course, I took care
to reward her generously ; though I cannot make out what
she does with what I give her. The others tell me she has
ment I mean to we;,r this evening. It is blood, and that of a
slave but nobler in ;
my eyes, and more generous than flows in
your veins or mine."
The whole truth flashed upon Fabiola's mind. Agnes had
seen all and humbled almost to ;
sickening, she said somewhat
pettishly, "Do you then wish to exhibit proof to all the world
of my hastiness of temper, in over-chastising a forward slave ?"
"No, dear cousin, far from it. I only wish to preserve for
f a lesson of fortitude and of elevation of mind, learnt
from a slave, such as few patrician philosophers can teach us."
"What a strange idea? Indeed, Agnes, I have often
thought that you make too much of that class of nothing put by, and she certainly spends nothing on herself.
Nay, I have even heard that she foolishly shares her
daily
people. After
allowance of food with a blind beggar-girl. What a
strange fancy, to be sure !"
"Dearest Fabiola," exclaimed Agnes, "she must be mine !
You promised me my request. Name your price, and let me
take her home this evening."
"Well, be it so, you most irresistible of petitioners. But
we will not bargain together. Send some one to-morrow, to
They are our property and oar goods ;
their being allowed to move, to act, to think, or to feel, except
as it suits ti -s, orisf