could only forget them all； then I could live my life as I
pleased； and be happy。〃
〃Why not？〃 said a quiet voice at his back。
He turned； and saw an old man with a long beard and a
threadbare cloak （the garb affected by the pagan philosophers）
standing behind him and smiling curiously。
〃How is it that you answer that which has not been
spoken？〃 said Hermas； 〃and who are you that honour me with
your company？〃
〃Forgive the intrusion；〃 answered the stranger； 〃it is not
ill meant。 A friendly interest is as good as an introduction。〃
〃But to what singular circumstance do I owe this interest？〃
〃To your face；〃 said the old man； with a courteous
inclination。 〃Perhaps also a little to the fact that I am the
oldest inhabitant here； and feel as if all visitors were my
guests； in a way。〃
〃Are you； then； one of the keepers of the grove？ And have
you given up your work with the trees to take a holiday as a
philosopher？
〃Not at all。 The robe of philosophy is a mere
affectation； I must confess。 I think little of it。 My
profession is the care of altars。 In fact； I am the solitary
priest of Apollo whom the Emperor Julian found here when he
came to revive the worship of the grove； some twenty years
ago。 You have heard of the incident？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Hermas； beginning to be interested； 〃the whole
city must have heard of it； for it is still talked of。 But
surely it was a strange sacrifice that you brought to
celebrate the restoration of Apollo's temple？〃
〃You mean the ancient goose？〃 said the old man laughing。
〃Well； perhaps it was not precisely what the emperor expected。
But it was all that I had； and it seemed to me not
inappropriate。 You will agree to that if you are a Christian；
as I guess from your dress。〃
〃You speak lightly for a priest of Apollo。〃
〃Oh； as for that； I am no bigot。 The priesthood is a
professional matter； and the name of Apollo is as good as any
other。 How many altars do you think there have been in this
grove？〃
〃I do not know。〃
〃Just four…and…twenty； including that of the martyr
Babylas； whose ruined chapel you see just beyond us。 I have
had something to do with most of them in my time。 They are
transitory。 They give employment to care…takers for a while。
But the thing that lasts； and the thing that interests me； is
the human life that plays around them。 The game has been
going on for centuries。 It still disports itself very
pleasantly on summer evenings through these shady walks。
Believe me； for I know。 Daphne and Apollo are shadows。 But
the flying maidens and the pursuing lovers； the music and the
dances； these are realities。 Life is a game； and the world
keeps it up merrily。 But you？ You are of a sad countenance
for one so young and so fair。 Are you a loser in the game？〃
The words and tone of the speaker fitted Hermas' mood as
a key fits the lock。 He opened his heart to the old man； and
told him the story of his life： his luxurious boyhood in his
father's house； the irresistible spell which compelled him to
forsake it when he heard John's preaching of the new religion；
his lonely year with the anchorites among the mountains； the
strict discipline in his teacher's house at Antioch； his
weariness of duty； his distaste for poverty； his discontent with
worship。
〃And to…day；〃 said he； 〃I have been thinking that I am a
fool。 My life is swept as bare as a hermit's cell。 There is
nothing in it but a dream； a thought of God； which does not
satisfy me。〃
The singular smile deepened on his companion's face。 〃You
are ready； then；〃 he suggested； 〃to renounce your new religion
and go back to that of your father？〃
〃No； I renounce nothing； I accept nothing。 I do not wish
to think about it。 I only wish to live。〃
〃A very reasonable wish； and I think you are about to see
its accomplishment。 Indeed； I may even say that I can put you
in the way of securing it。 Do you believe in magic？〃
〃I do not know whether I believe in anything。 This is not
a day on which I care to make professions of faith。 I believe
in what I see。 I want what will give me pleasure。〃
〃Well；〃 said the old man； soothingly； as he plucked a leaf
from the laurel…tree above them and dipped it in the spring； 〃let
us dismiss the riddles of belief。 I like them as little as you
do。 You know this is a Castalian fountain。 The Emperor Hadrian
once read his fortune here from a leaf dipped in the water。 Let
us see what this leaf tells us。 It is already turning yellow。
How do you read that？〃
〃Wealth；〃 said Hermas； laughing； as he looked at his mean
garments。
〃And here is a bud on the stem that seems to be swelling。
What is that？〃
〃Pleasure；〃 answered Hermas； bitterly。
〃And here is a tracing of wreaths upon the surface。 What
do you make of that？〃
〃What you will；〃 said Hermas； not even taking the trouble
to look。 〃Suppose we say success and fame？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the stranger； 〃it is all written here。 I
promise that you shall enjoy it all。 But you do not need to
believe in my promise。 I am not in the habit of requiring
faith of those whom I would serve。 No such hard conditions
for me！ There is only one thing that I ask。 This is the season
that you Christians call the Christmas； and you have taken up the
pagan custom of exchanging gifts。 Well； if I give to you； you
must give to me。 It is a small thing； and really the thing you
can best afford to part with： a single wordthe name of Him you
profess to worship。 Let me take that word and all that
belongs to it entirely out of your life； so that you shall
never hear it or speak it again。 You will be richer without
it。 I promise you everything； and this is all I ask in
return。 Do you consent？〃
〃Yes。 I consent；〃 said Hermas； mocking。 〃If you can take
your price； a word； you can keep your promise； a dream。〃
The stranger laid the long； cool； wet leaf softly across
the young man's eyes。 An icicle of pain darted through them；
every nerve in his body was drawn together there in a knot of
agony。
Then all the tangle of pain seemed to be lifted out of
him。 A cool languor of delight flowed back through every
vein； and he sank into a profound sleep。
III
There is a slumber so deep that it annihilates time。 It is
like a fragment of eternity。 Beneath its enchantment of
vacancy； a day seems like a thousand years； and a thousand
years might well pass as one day。
It was such a sleep that fell upon Hermas in the Grove of
Daphne。 An immeasurable period； an interval of life so blank
and empty that he could not tell whether it was long or short；
had passed over him when his senses began to stir again。 The
setting sun was shooting arrows of gold under the glossy
laurel…leaves。 He rose and stretched his arms； grasping a
smooth branch above him and shaking it； to make sure that he
was alive。 Then he hurried back toward Antioch； treading
lightly as if on air。
The ground seemed to spring beneath his feet。 Already his
life had changed； he knew not how。 Something that did not
belong to him had dropped away； he had returned to a former
state of being。 He felt as if anything might happen to him； and
he was ready for anything。 He was a new man； yet curiously
familiar to himselfas if he had done with playing a tiresome
part and returned to his natural state。 He was buoyant and free；
without a care； a doubt； a fear。
As he drew near to his father's house he saw a confusion
of servants in the porch； and the old steward ran down to meet
him at the gate。
〃Lord； we have been seeking you everywhere。 The master is
at the point of death； and has sent for you。 Since the sixth
hour he calls your name continually。 Come to him quickly；
lord； for I fear the time is short。〃
Hermas entered the house at once； nothing could amaze him
to…day。 His father lay on an ivory couch in the inmost
chamber； with shrunken face and restless eyes； his lean
fingers picking incessantly at the silken coverlet。
〃My son！〃 he murmured； 〃Hermas； my son！ It is good that
you have come back to me。 I have missed you。 I was wrong to
send you away。 You shall never leave me again。 You are my
son； my heir。 I have changed everything。 Hermas； my son； come
nearerclose beside me。 Take my hand； my son！〃
The young man obeyed； and； kneeling by the couch； gathered
his father's cold； twitching fingers in his firm； warm grasp。
〃Hermas； life is passinglong； rich； prosperous； the last
sands； I cannot stay them。 My religion； a good policyJulian
was my friend。 But now he is gonewhere？ My soul is
emptynothing beyondvery darkI am afraid。 But you know
something better。 You found something that made you willing
to give up your life for itit； must have been almost like
dyingyet you were happy。 What was it you found？ See； I am
giving you everything。 I have forgiven you。 Now forgive me。
Tell me； what is it？ Your secret； your faithgive it to me
before I go。〃
At the sound of this broken pleading a strange passion of
pity and love took the young man by the throat。 His voice
shook a little as he answered eagerly：
〃Father； there is nothing to forgive。 I am your son； I will
gladly tell you all that I know。 I will give you the secret。
Father； you must believe with all your heart； and soul； and
strength in〃
Where was the wordthe word that he had been used to
utter night and morning； the word that had meant to him more
than he had ever known？ What had become of it？
He groped for it in the dark room of his mind。 He had
thought he could lay his hand upon it in a moment； but it was
gone。 Some one had taken it away。 Everything else was most
clear to him： the terror of death； the lonely soul appealing
from his father's eyes； the instant need of comfort and help。
But at the one point where he looked for help he could find
nothing； only an empty space。 The word of hope had vanished。
He felt for it blindly and in desperate haste。
〃Father； wait！ I have forgotten somethingit has slipped
away from me。 I shall find it in a moment。 There is hopeI
will tell you presentlyoh； wait！〃
The bony hand gripped his like a vice； the glazed eyes opened
wider。 〃Tell me；〃 whispered the old man； 〃tell me quickly； for I
must go。〃