The curse that rested on Dada was that of her position; she herself was pure--as pure as a lily, as pure as the heart of a child, as pure as the blue of her eyes and the ring of her voice.

He would obey the angel's behest! He could and he must save her! In the greatest excitement he went out of the house, through the great gate, into the Canopic way, and walked on.

As he was about to turn down a side street to go to the lake he found the road stopped by soldiers, for this street led past the prefect's house where Cynegius, the Emperor's emissary, was staying; he had come, it was said, to close the Temples, and the excited populace had gathered outside the building, during the afternoon, to signify their indignant disapprobation.

At sundown an armed force had been called out and had dispersed the crowd; but it was by another road that the young Christian at length made his way to the shore..