The boy did not stay to bid her farewell, but swung himself with a strong leap down into the road, and, followed by the barking of the dogs, which roused all the neighboring households, he flew up the street to the little church.
He had not got more than half-way when he saw a man coming towards him; he sprang into the shadow of a house, but the belated walker accelerated his steps, and came straight up to him.

He set off running again, but the other pursued him, and kept close at his heels till he had passed all the houses and began to go up the mountain-path.

Hermas felt that he was outstripping his pursuer, and was making ready for a spring over a block of stone that encumbered the path, when he heard his name called behind him, and he stood still, for he recognized the voice of the man from whom he was flying as that of his good friend Paulus.
"You indeed," said the Alexandrian, panting for breath.

"Yes, you are swifter than I.Years hang lead on our heels, but do you know what it is that lends them the swiftest wings?
You have just learned it! It is a bad conscience; and pretty things will be told about you; the dogs have barked it all out loud enough to the night." "And so they may!" replied Hermas defiantly, and trying in vain to free himself from the strong grasp of the anchorite who held him firmly.

"I have done nothing wrong." "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife!" interrupted Paulus in a tone of stern severity.