“Knowest thou not, Cassia, that there are some who say they can read the thoughts of their neighbor, much as they would an unrolled parchment?”
“Claimest thou such power for thyself?”
“I answer thee not as to my claim. But wilt thou that I try to be thy interpreter?”
Cassia cast a curious but shy glance at her companion, who seemed much absorbed in the distant mountain slopes.
“Yea; if thou wilt essay to play the part of a seer, [pg 118]and prophesy of my future, I will listen. I would try thy powers.”
“It is not so much thy future, as thy thought of thy future, that I would divine just now,” said Barnabas, with a half-hidden smile. “Wilt thou tell me if I interpret rightly?”
She again turned a searching glance toward his face, but his gaze was still fastened upon the mountain landscape.
“Peradventure yea, and peradventure nay,” she replied, with a light flush; “but please proceed.”
Barnabas bade adieu to the distant mountain, and with some vigor of manner turned his face toward the maiden as if to read her thoughts.
“Almon, thy father, hath told me that Saulus is soon to return for a season to the Holy City, and will sojourn at the inn of the Sheepmarket. Nay, more! that he may arrive at any hour. Behold thy bright vision!”