And without chiding, he laid his hand upon the boy's head and bade him be comforted.

"For," said he, as though he spake with himself--"such is the will of the goddess.

And from the furthest times it has happened thus, before the Roman fathers journeyed from the Alban Mount and made them dwellings on the seven hills--before Romulus gave laws,--or any white-robed priest had climbed the Capitol.

From blood springs up the sacred office; and to blood it goes! No natural death must waste the priest of Trivia's tree.

The earth is hungry for the blood in its strength--nor shall it be withheld! Thus only do the trees bear, and the fields bring forth." 'Astonished, the boy looked at his father, and saw upon his face, as he turned it upon the ploughed lands and the vineyards, a secret and a savage joy.