tones of her sharp voice； and the glitter of her phosphorescent eyes。
They said in the neighbourhood that she was a witch； and changed into
an owl at night； and flew to see her lovers。 It was a lie。 Thais knew
well； having often watched her； that her mother practised no magic
arts； but that she was eaten up with avarice； and counted all night
the gains of the day。 The idle father and the greedy mother let the
child live as best it could； like one of the fowls in the poultry…
yard。 She became very clever in extracting； one by one； the oboli from
the belt of some drunken sailor； and in amusing the drinkers with
artless songs and obscene words； the meaning of which she did not
know。 She passed from knee to knee； in a room reeking with the odours
of fermented drinks and resiny wine…skins； then； her cheeks sticky
with beer and pricked by rough beards； she escaped； clutching the
oboli in her little hand； and ran to buy honey…cakes from an old woman
who crouched behind her baskets under the Gate of the Moon。 Every day
the same scenes were repeated； the sailors relating their perilous
adventures； then playing at dice or knuckle…bones； and blaspheming the
gods； amid their shouting for the best beer of Cilicia。
Every night the child was awakened by the quarrels of the drunkards。
Oyster…shells would fly across the tables； cutting the heads of those
they hit； and the uproar was terrible。 Sometimes she saw； by the light
of the smoky lamps； the knives glitter； and the blood flow。
It humiliated her to think that the only person who showed her any
human kindness in her young days was the mild and gentle Ahmes。 Ahmes；
the house…slave； a Nubian blacker than the pot he gravely skimmed； was
as good as a long night's sleep。 Often he would take Thais on his
knee； and tell her old tales about underground treasure…houses
constructed for avaricious kings； who put to death the masons and
architects。 There were also tales about clever thieves who married
kings' daughters； and courtesans who built pyramids。 Little Thais
loved Ahmes like a father； like a mother； like a nurse； and like a
dog。 She followed the slave into the cellar when he went to fill the
amphorae； and into the poultry…yard amongst the scraggy and ragged
fowls； all beak； claws； and feathers； who flew swifter than eagles
before the knife of the black cook。 Often at night； on the straw；
instead of sleeping； he built for Thais little water…mills； and ships
no bigger than his hand； with all their rigging。
He had been badly treated by his masters； one of his ears was torn；
and his body covered with scars。 Yet his features always wore an air
of joyous peace。 And no one ever asked him whence he drew the
consolation in his soul； and the peace in his heart。 He was as simple
as a child。 As he performed his heavy tasks； he sang； in a harsh
voice； hymns which made the child tremble and dream。 He murmured； in a
gravely joyous tone
〃Tell us； Mary； what thou hast seen where thou hast been？
I saw the shroud and the linen cloths； and the angels seated on the tomb。
And I saw the glory of the Risen One。〃
She asked him
〃Father； why do you sing about angels seated on a tomb？〃
And he replied
〃Little light of my eyes； I sing of the angels because Jesus； our
Lord； is risen to heaven。〃
Ahmes was a Christian。 He had been baptised； and was known as Theodore
at the meetings of the faithful； to which he went secretly during the
hours allowed him for sleep。
At that time the Church was suffering the severest trials。 By order of
the Emperor； the churches had been thrown down； the holy books burned；
the sacred vessels and candlesticks melted。 The Christians had been
deprived of all their honours； and expected nothing but death。 Terror
reigned over all the community at Alexandria； and the prisons were
crammed with victims。 It was whispered with horror amongst the
faithful； that in Syria； in Arabia； in Mesopotamia； in Cappadocia； in
all the empire； bishops and virgins had been flogged； tortured；
crucified or thrown to wild beasts。 Then Anthony； already celebrated
for his visions and his solitary life； a prophet； and the head of all
the Egyptian believers； descended like an eagle from his desert rock
on the city of Alexandria； and； flying from church to church； fired
the whole community with his holy ardour。 Invisible to the pagans； he
was present at the same time at all the meetings of Christians；
endowing all with the spirit of strength and prudence by which he was
animated。 Slaves； in particular； were persecuted with singular
severity。 Many of them； seized with fright； denied the faith。 Others；
and by far the greater number； fled to the desert； hoping to live
there； either as hermits or robbers。 Ahmes； however； frequented the
meetings as usual； visited the prisoners； buried the martyrs； and
joyfully professed the religion of Christ。 The great Anthony； who saw
his unshaken zeal； before he returned into the desert； pressed the
black slave in his arms； and gave him the kiss of peace。
When Thais was seven years old； Ahmes began to talk to her of God。
〃The good Lord God；〃 he said； 〃lived in heaven like a Pharaoh； under
the tents of His harem； and under the trees of His gardens。 He was the
Ancient of Ancients； and older than the world； and He had but one Son；
the Prince Jesus； whom He loved with all His heart； and who surpassed
in beauty the virgins and the angels。 And the good Lord God said to
Prince Jesus
〃 'Leave My harem and My palace； and My date trees and My running
waters。 Descend to earth for the welfare of men。 There Thou shalt be
like a little child； and Thou shalt live poor amongst the poor。
Suffering shall be Thy daily bread； and Thou shalt weep so profusely
that Thy tears shall form rivers； in which the tired slave shall bathe
with delight。 Go； My Son！'
〃Prince Jesus obeyed the good Lord； and He came down to earth； to a
place named Bethlehem of Judaea。 And He walked in fields； amidst the
flowering anemones； saying to His companion
〃 'Blessed are they who hunger； for I will lead them to My Father's
table！ Blessed are they who thirst； for they shall drink of the
fountains of heaven！ Blessed are they who weep； for I will dry their
tears with veils finer than those of the almehs！'
〃That is why the poor loved Him； and believed in Him。 But the rich
hated Him； fearing that He should raise the poor above them。 At that
time； Cleopatra and Caesar were powerful on the earth。 They both hated
Jesus； and they ordered the judges and priests to put Him to death。 To
obey the Queen of Egypt； the princes of Syria erected a cross on a
high mountain； and they caused Jesus to die on this cross。 But women
washed His corpse； and buried it； and Prince Jesus； having broken the
door of His tomb； rose again to the good Lord； His Father。
〃And； from that time； all those who believed in Him go to heaven。
〃The Lord God opens His arms； and says to them
〃 'Ye are welcome； because ye love the Prince； My Son。 Wash； and then
eat。'
〃They bathe to the sound of beautiful music； and； all the time they
are eating； they see almehs dancing； and they listen to tales that
never end。 They are dearer to the good Lord God than the light of His
eyes； because they are His guests； and they shall have for their
portion the carpets of His house； and the pomegranates of His
gardens。〃
Ahmes often spoke in this strain； and thus taught the truth to Thais。
She wondered； and said
〃I should like to eat the pomegranates of the good Lord。〃
Ahmes replied
〃Only those who are baptised may taste the fruits of heaven。〃
And Thais asked to be baptised。 Seeing by this that she believed in
Jesus； the slave resolved to instruct her more fully； so that； being
baptised； she might enter the Church； and he loved her as his
spiritual daughter。
The child； unloved and uncared for by its selfish parents； had no bed
in the house。 She slept in a corner of the stable amongst the domestic
animals； and there Ahmes came to her every night secretly。
He gently approached the mat on which she lay； and sat down on his
heels； his legs bent and his body straighta position hereditary to
his race。 His face and his body； which was clothed in black； were
invisible in the darkness； but his big white eyes shone out； and there
came from them a light like a ray of dawn through the chinks of a
door。 He spoke in a husky； monotonous tone； with a slight nasal twang
that gave it the soft melody of music heard at night in the streets。
Sometimes the breathing of an ass； or the soft lowing of an ox；
accompanied； like a chorus of invisible spirits； the voice of the
slave as he recited the gospels。 His words flowed gently in the
darkness； which they filled with zeal； mercy； and hope； and the
neophyte； her hand in that of Ahmes； lulled by the monotonous sounds；
and the vague visions in her mind； slept calm and smiling； amid the
harmonies of the dark night and the holy mysteries； gazed down on by a
star； which twinkled between the joists of the stable…roof。
The initiation lasted a whole year； till the time when the Christians
joyfully celebrate the festival of Easter。 One night in the holy week；
Thais； who was already asleep on her ma