Indeed, she saw no objection to the arrangement her dear nephew proposed; she only trusted that the learned and amiable Decius, so justly esteemed by all, would have a care of his health.

Did he still take the infusion of marjoram which she had prescribed for him?
A holy man, newly returned from the East, had deigned to visit her only yesterday, and had given her a small phial of water from Rebekah's well; it was of priceless virtue, and one drop of it had last evening restored to health and strength a child that lay at the point of death.
In the afternoon Basil was again permitted to see Veranilda, though not alone.

To her and to Aurelia he made known that Decius would willingly undertake the voyage.

After lingering for an hour in the vain hope that Aurelia would withdraw, were it but for a moment, he went away and scratched ardent words on his tablet.

'I will be in your garden,' he concluded, 'just at sunrise to-morrow.