This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
The sun had passed the meridian when Melissa and Andreas left the house.They walked on in silence through the deserted streets, the girl with hereyes sadly fixed on the ground; for an inward voice warned her that herlover's life was in danger. She did not sob, but more than once shewiped away a large tear.
Andreas, too, was lost in his own thoughts. To win a soul to the Saviourwas surely a good work. He knew Melissa's sober, thoughtful nature, andthe retired, joyless life she led with her surly old father. So hisknowledge of human nature led him to think that she, if any one, mighteasily be won over to the faith in which he found his chief happiness.Baptism had given such sanctification to his life that he longed to leadthe daughter of the only woman for whom his heart had ever beat a shadefaster, to the baptismal font. In the heat of summer Olympias had oftenbeen the guest for weeks together of Polybius's wife, now likewise dead.Then she had taken a little house of her own for herself and herchildren, and when his master's wife died, the lonely widower had knownno greater pleasure than that of receiving her on his estate for as longas Heron would allow her to remain; he himself never left his work forlong. Thus Andreas had become the great ally of the gem-cutter'schildren, and, as they could learn nothing from him that was not good andworth knowing, Olympias had gladly allowed them to remain in his society,and herself found a teacher and friend in the worthy steward. She knewthat Andreas had joined the Christians; she had made him tell her muchabout his faith; still, as the daughter and wife of artists, she wasfirmly attached to the old gods, and could only regard the Christiandoctrine as a new system of philosophy in which many things attractedher, but many, on the other hand, repelled her. At that time his passionfor Melissa's mother had possessed him so wholly that his life was aconstant struggle against the temptation to covet his neighbor's wife.And he had conquered, doing severe penance for every glance which mightfor an instant betray to her the weakness of his soul. She had lovedflowers, and he knew the plant-world so well, and was so absolutelymaster over everything which grew and bloomed in the gardens of which hehad charge, that he could often intrust his speechless favorites to tellher things which lips and eyes might not reveal. Now she was no more,and the culture of plants had lost half its charm since her eyes could nolonger watch their thriving. He now left the gardens for the most partto his men, while he devoted himself to other cares with doublediligence, and to the strictest exercises of his faith.
But, as many a man adores the children of the woman he might not marry,Alexander and Melissa daily grew dearer to Andreas. He took a father'sinterest in their welfare, and, needing little himself, he carefullyhoarded his ample income to promote the cause of Christianity andencourage good works; but he had paid Alexander's debts when his time ofapprenticeship was over, for they were so considerable that the recklessyouth had not dared confess the sum to his stern father.
Very soon after this, Alexander had become one of the most popularpainters of the town; and when he proposed to repay his friend the moneyhe had lent him, An