It said, before, that you love me, and it was right." She thrust him away gently, and, rising, as if stricken with sudden fear of him, ran a few paces up the walk.

She turned quickly, and looked back at him as he approached.

Her face had grown pale.
"I--I shall never speak with you again," she whispered.
"Oh, have mercy upon me, beautiful sister of Appius!" said the young knight, and there was a note of despair in his voice.

"Have mercy upon me!" "Young sir," said she, retreating slowly, as he advanced, "I do not love you--I do not love you." She turned quickly, and ran to the peristyle, and, stopping not to glance back at him, entered the great marble home of her fathers.
He stood a moment looking at the sun-glow behind roof and dome and tower.

A bridge of light, spanning the hollow of the city, had laid its golden timbers from hill to hill; and for a little the young man felt as if he were drowning in the shadows under it.