Nehushta stayed to help Anna to her feet. When she judged her mistress
to be out of hearing she leaned down and whispered:
"Mother, you have the gift; it is known throughout the Church. Tell me,
will the child be born?"
The old woman fixed her eyes upon the heavens, then answered, slowly:
"The child will be born and live out its life, and I think that none of
us are doomed to die this day by the jaws of lions, though some of us
may die in another fashion. But I think also that your mistress goes
very shortly to join her husband. Therefore it was that I showed her
nothing of what came into my mind."
"Then it is best that I should die also, and die I will."
"Wherefore?"
"Because I go to wait upon my mistress?"
"Nay, Nehushta," answered Anna, sternly, "you stay to guard her child,
whereof when all these earthly things are done you must give account to
her."
CHAPTER II
THE VOICE OF A GOD
Of all the civilisations whose records lie open to the student, that
of Rome is surely one of the most wonderful. Nowhere, not even in old
Mexico, was high culture so completely wedded to the lowest barbarism.
Intellect Rome had in plenty; the noblest efforts of her genius are
scarcely to be surpassed; her law is the foundation of the best of our
codes of jurisprudence; art she borrowed but appreciated; her military
system is still the wonder of the world; her great men remain great
among a multitude of subsequent competitors.
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