Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/347

Rh of the accident to Gratus. Poor Tirzah! Where was she now? Esther had the benefit of the feeling evoked. If not his sister, he could never look upon her as his servant; and that she was his servant in fact would make him always the more considerate and gentle towards her.

&quot;I cannot think of Rome,&quot; she continued, recovering her voice, and speaking in her quiet, womanly way—&quot;I cannot think of Rome as a city of palaces and temples, and crowded with people; she is to me a monster which has possession of one of the beautiful lands, and lies there luring men to ruin and death—a monster which it is not possible to resist—a ravenous beast gorging with blood. Why—&quot;

She faltered, looked down, stopped.

&quot;Go on,&quot; said Ben-Hur, reassuringly.

She drew closer to him, looked up again, and said, &quot;Why must you make her your enemy? Why not rather make peace with her, and be at rest? You have had many ills, and borne them; you have survived the snares laid for you by foes. Sorrow has consumed your youth; is it well to give it the remainder of your days?&quot;

The girlish face under his eyes seemed to come nearer and get whiter as the pleading went on; he stooped towards it, and asked, softly, &quot;What would you have me do, Esther?&quot;

She hesitated a moment, then asked, in return, &quot;Is the property near Rome a residence?&quot;

&quot;Yes.&quot;

&quot;And pretty?&quot;

&quot;It is beautiful—a palace in the midst of gardens and shell-strewn walks; fountains without and within; statuary in the shady nooks; hills around covered with vines, and so high that Neapolis and Vesuvius are in sight, and the sea an expanse of purpling blue dotted with restless sails. Cæsar has a country-seat near by, but in Rome they say the old Arrian villa is the prettiest.&quot;

&quot;And the life there, is it quiet?&quot;

&quot;There was never a summer day, never a moonlit night, more quiet, save when visitors come. Now that the old owner is gone, and I am here, there is nothing to break its