As soon as this task was fulfilled she left the room again, placed herself behind the half open door which led into the court-yard, and, pressing, her brow against the stone door-post, looked first at the senator's house, and then at Sirona's window, while her breath came faster and faster.
A new and violent emotion was stirring her young soul; not many minutes since she had squatted peacefully on the ground by the side of the wounded man, with her head resting on her hand, and thinking of her goats on the mountain.

Then she had heard a slight sound in the court, which any one else would not have noticed; but she not only perceived it, but knew with perfect certainty with whom it originated.

She could never fail to recognize Hermas' foot-step, and it had an irresistible effect upon her.

She raised her head quickly from her hand, and her elbow from the knee on which it was resting, sprang to her feet, and went out into the yard.

She was hidden by the mill-stones, but she could see Hermas lost in admiration.