'My home, when I arrived to look on it, was gone,' pursued the old man
sadly, neither heeding nor hearing her. 'Other houses were built where
my father's house had stood; no man could tell me of my parents and my
brother; then I returned, and my former companions grew hateful in my
eyes; I left them, and they followed me with persecution and scorn.--
Listen, listen!--I set forth secretly in the night, with you, to escape
them, and to make perfect my reformation where they should not be near
to hinder it; and we travelled onward many days until we came to Rome,
and I made my abode there. But I feared that my companions whom I
abhorred might discover and persecute me again, and in the new city of
my dwelling I called myself by another name than the name that I bore;
thus I knew that all trace of me would be lost, and that I should be
kept secure from men whom I thought on only as enemies now. Go, child!
go quickly!--bring your tablets and write down the names that I shall
tell you; for so you will discover your protector when I am gone! Say
not to him that you are the child of Numerian--he knows not the name;
say that you are the daughter of Cleander, his brother, who died longing
to be restored to him.
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