How long has he been away ?" "Five years." She raised her head, and looked off into the night.
"The airs of the Via Sacra are well enough in the streets of the Egyptian and in Babylon; but in Jerusalem--our Jerusalem--the covenant abides." And, full of the thought, she settled back into her easy place.
He was first to speak.
"What Messala said, my mother, was sharp enough in itself; but, taken with the manner, some of the sayings were intolerable." "I think I understand you.

Rome, her poets, orators, senators, courtiers, are mad with affectation of what they call satire." "I suppose all great peoples are proud," he went on, scarcely noticing the interruption; "but the pride of that people is unlike all others; in these latter days it is so grown the gods barely escape it." "The gods escape!" said the mother, quickly.

"More than one Roman has accepted worship as his divine right." "Well, Messala always had his share of the disagreeable quality.
When he was a child, I have seen him mock strangers whom even Herod condescended to receive with honors; yet he always spared Judea.
For the first time, in conversation with me to-day, he trifled with our customs and God.

As you would have had me do, I parted with him finally.

And now, O my dear mother, I would know with more certainty if there be just ground for the Roman's contempt.