CHAPTER III.
YOUNG IN AN OLD WORLD.
There was little sleep for Damaris that night. The sun was just beginning to gild the palaces on the Aventine, and the sounds of labour had scarcely begun to stir on the busy quays of the Tiber below, when the mother rose and went to what she had called the battle-field of Leo, the secret place of prayer, which for her was usually the half-ruined oratory in the palace, where once had arisen the prayers and praises of Jerome and Marcella, and the Ecclesia Domestica.
“Thou knowest,” she prayed, “O All-seeing, how I have asked that he might be kept from temptation, the temptations of this corrupt city. If this is Thy way of escape, from the seductions of the city to the battle-field of the nations, among the perils of the frontier, let him go! Better the spears and arrows of the barbarians than the fangs of the serpents around us here, the malaria of the seven hills, the festering cancer of this wicked court, at the heart of the Empire, poisoning the very springs of life! If this is Thy way of escape for him, O Father of all the fathers and mothers of the world, not for a moment would I hold him back. Take him for Thy hard warfare! Only show him when and how!”
As she came back through the wilderness of roses which led to the house, there was a wonderful lightness in her step, and brightness in her eyes.
Lucia was watching her from the porch, and ran to meet her.
“Hast thou been taking counsel of the bishop already?” she said.
“No, not of Leo,” replied Damaris; “why should I trouble Leo, who has the care on him of all the Churches? Thou rememberest the words of Leo himself—‘The whole people of His adoption is royal and sacerdotal; we have the ceaseless propitiation of the omnipotent and perfect Priest; and although He has committed the care of His sheep to many pastors, He Himself, nevertheless, has not abandoned the custody of His beloved flock.’ So, by the counsel of our own wise shepherd, I went as one of the countless flock to the Chief Shepherd of all.”
“The Shepherd who cares even for the little wilful kid,” whispered Lucia, “as thou hast so often shown us in the picture in the catacombs; and He has heard thee and made thee glad, and has given thee what thou hast asked?”