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opened； but the fire of fever was burning in the eyes； and the
lips were moving in a wild delirium。
Hour after hour that sweet childish voice rang through the
halls and chambers of the splendid； helpless house； now rising
in shrill calls of distress and senseless laughter； now
sinking in weariness and dull moaning。 The stars shone and
faded； the sun rose and set； the roses bloomed and fell in the
garden； the birds sang and slept among the jasmine…bowers。
But in the heart of Hermas there was no song； no bloom； no
lightonly speechless anguish； and a certain fearful looking…for
of desolation。
He was like a man in a nightmare。 He saw the shapeless
terror that was moving toward him； but he was impotent to stay
or to escape it。 He had done all that he could。 There was
nothing left but to wait。
He paced to and fro； now hurrying to the boy's bed as if
he could not bear to be away from it； now turning back as if
he could not endure to be near it。 The people of the house；
even Athenais； feared to speak to him； there was something so
vacant and desperate in his face。
At nightfall on the second of those eternal days he shut
himself in the library。 The unfilled lamp had gone out；
leaving a trail of smoke in the air。 The sprigs of mignonette
and rosemary； with which the room was sprinkled every day；
were unrenewed； and scented the gloom with close odours of
decay。 A costly manuscript of Theocritus was tumbled in
disorder on the floor。 Hermas sank into a chair like a man in
whom the very spring of being is broken。 Through the darkness
some one drew near。 He did not even lift his head。 A hand
touched him； a soft arm was laid over his shoulders。 It was
Athenais； kneeling beside him and speaking very low：
〃Hermasit is almost overthe child！ His voice grows
weaker hour by hour。 He moans and calls for some one to help
him； then he laughs。 It breaks my heart。 He has just fallen
asleep。 The moon is rising now。 Unless a change comes he
cannot last till sunrise。 Is there nothing we can do？ Is
there no power that can save him？ Is there no one to pity us
and spare us？ Let us call； let us beg for compassion and
help； let us pray for his life！〃
Yes； this was what he wantedthis was the only thing that
could bring relief： to pray； to pour out his sorrow somewhere；
to find a greater strength than his own and cling to it and
plead for mercy and help。 To leave this undone was to be
false to his manhood； it was to be no better than the dumb
beasts when their young perish。 How could he let his boy
suffer and die； without an effort； a cry； a prayer？
He sank on his knees beside Athenais。
〃Out of the depthsout of the depths we call for pity。
The； light of our eyes is fadingthe child is dying。 Oh； the
child； the child！ Spare the child's life； thou merciful〃
Not a word； only that deathly blank。 The hands of Hermas；
stretched out in supplication； touched the marble table。 He
felt the cool hardness of the polished stone beneath his
fingers。 A roll of papyrus； dislodged by his touch； fell
rustling to the floor。 Through the open door； faint and far
off； came the footsteps of the servants； moving cautiously。
The heart of Hermas was like a lump of ice in his bosom。 He
rose slowly to his feet； lifting Athenais with him。
〃It is in vain；〃 he said； 〃there is nothing for us to do。
Long ago I knew something。 I think it would have helped us。
But I have forgotten it。 It is all gone。 But I would give
all that I have； if I could bring it back again now； at this
hour； in this time of our bitter trouble。〃
A slave entered the room while he was speaking； and
approached hesitatingly。
〃Master；〃 he said； 〃John of Antioch； whom we were
forbidden to admit to the house； has come again。 He would
take no denial。 Even now he waits in the peristyle； and the
old man Marcion is with him； seeking to turn him away。〃
〃Come；〃 said Hermas to his wife； 〃let us go to him。〃
In the central hall the two men were standing； Marcion；
with disdainful eyes and sneering lips； taunting the unbidden
guest； John； silent； quiet； patient； while the wondering
slaves looked on in dismay。 He lifted his searching gaze to
the haggard face of Hermas。
〃My son； I knew that I should see you again； even though
you did not send for me。 I have come to you because I have
heard that you are in trouble。〃
〃It is true；〃 answered Hermas； passionately； 〃we are in
trouble； desperate trouble； trouble accursed。 Our child is
dying。 We are poor； we are destitute； we are afflicted。 In
all this house； in all the world； there is no one that can
help us。 I knew something long ago； when I was with you；a
word； a name；in which we might have found hope。 But I have
lost it。 I gave it to this man。 He has taken it away from me
forever。〃
He pointed to Marcion。 The old man's lips curled
scornfully。 〃A word； a name！〃 he sneered。 〃What is that； O
most wise man and holy Presbyter？ A thing of air； a thing
that men make to describe their own dreams and fancies。 Who
would go about to rob any one of such a thing as that？ It is
a prize that only a fool would think of taking。 Besides； the
young man parted with it of his own free will。 He bargained
with me cleverly。 I promised him wealth and pleasure and
fame。 What did he give in return？ An empty name； which was
a burden〃
〃Servant of demons； be still！〃 The voice of John rang
clear； like a trumpet； through the hall。 〃There is a name
which none shall dare to take in vain。 There is a name which
none can lose without being lost。 There is a name at which
the devils tremble。 Go quickly； before I speak it！〃
Marcion shrank into the shadow of one of the pillars。 A
lamp near him tottered on its pedestal and fell with a crash。 In
the confusion he vanished； as noiselessly as a shade。
John turned to Hermas； and his tone softened as he said：
〃My son； you have sinned deeper than you know。 The word with
which you parted so lightly is the keyword of all life。
Without it the world has no meaning； existence no peace； death
no refuge。 It is the word that purifies love； and comforts
grief； and keeps hope alive forever。 It is the most precious
word that ever ear has heard； or mind has known； or heart has
conceived。 It is the name of Him who has given us life and
breath and all things richly to enjoy； the name of Him who；
though we may forget Him； never forgets us； the name of Him
who pities us as you pity your suffering child； the name of
Him who； though we wander far from Him； seeks us in the
wilderness； and sent His Son； even as His Son has sent me this
night； to breathe again that forgotten name in the heart that
is perishing without it。 Listen； my son； listen with all your
soul to the blessed name of God our Father。〃
The cold agony in the breast of Hermas dissolved like a
fragment of ice that melts in the summer sea。 A sense of sweet
release spread through him from head to foot。 The lost was
found。 The dew of peace fell on his parched soul； and the
withering flower of human love raised its head again。 He stood
upright； and lifted his hands high toward heaven。
〃Out of the depths have I cried unto Th