Her face changed; she drew her son yet closer, and said chokingly—
"I know thee, my son! thou wilt not go ... thou canst not...."
Old Didimus, cross in hand, stood at the open door leading to the catacombs. He said solemnly—
"For the last time, and in the name of God, I order you, my son, to follow me and to leave her."
Then the patrician relaxed her hold of Juventinus, and faltered—
"Then go! Let it be so.... Leave me, if thou canst!"
Tears flowed no longer down her furrowed cheeks; her arms fell rigid, with a heart-broken gesture, to her sides. She waited. All were silent.
"O Lord, help me ... inspire me!" Juventinus prayed in terrible distress.
"He who will follow Me, and will not hate father and mother, wife and children, brother and sister, and even his own life, can never be My disciple!"
These words were recited by Didimus, turning for the last time towards Juventinus—