Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/157

Rh &quot;If thou dost think of me again, O tribune, let it not be lost in thy mind that I prayed thee only for word of my people—mother, sister.&quot;

He moved on.

Arrius followed him with admiring eyes.

&quot;Perpol!&quot; he thought. &quot;With teaching, what a man for the arena! What a runner! Ye gods! what an arm for the sword or the cestus!—Stay!&quot; he said aloud.

Ben-Hur stopped, and the tribune went to him.

&quot;If thou wert free, what wouldst thou do?&quot;

&quot;The noble Arrius mocks me!&quot; Judah said, with trembling lips.

&quot;No; by the gods, no!&quot;

&quot;Then I will answer gladly. I would give myself to duty the first of life. I would know no other. I would know no rest until my mother and Tirzah were restored to home. I would give every day and hour to their happiness. I would wait upon them; never a slave more faithful. They have lost much, but, by the God of my fathers, I would find them more!&quot;

The answer was unexpected by the Roman. For a moment he lost his purpose.

&quot;I spoke to thy ambition,&quot; he said, recovering. &quot;If thy mother and sister were dead, or not to be found, what wouldst thou do?&quot;

A distinct pallor overspread Ben-Hur’s face, and he looked over the sea. There was a struggle with some strong feeling; when it was conquered, he turned to the tribune.

&quot;What pursuit would I follow?&quot; he asked. &quot;Yes.&quot;

&quot;Tribune, I will tell thee truly. Only the night before the dreadful day of which I have spoken, I obtained permission to be a soldier. I am of the same mind yet; and, as in all the earth there is but one school of war, thither I would go.&quot;

&quot;The palæstra!&quot; exclaimed Arrius.

&quot;No; a Roman camp.&quot;

&quot;But thou must first acquaint thyself with the use of arms.&quot;