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The expression of the heathen god as he looked at her denoted entire satisfaction. "I know what you would teach them," she said slowly. "You would show them how to ignore suffering and pain. You would turn your back on need. Oh, that makes me think that I have forgotten to take your friend Antoli any soup lately! For three days I took it, and then, and then I have been worried about things."

"He smiled and talked most kindly, and when he went away the Signorina understands?" Daphne nodded. "He gave his hand to Antoli," said Giacomo breathlessly. "I will make the wreath," said the Signorina, smiling. "It shall be of these," and she held up a handful of pink daisies, mingled with bits of fern and ivy leaves. "Assunta shall take it to the church when she takes hers.

"The second day he felt a warm tongue licking his face, and there were paws on his breast as he waked from sleep. It was a white dog. He opened his eyes, and there before him was a Signorino, young, beautiful as a god, in a suit of brown. Since then Antoli has wanted nothing, food, nor warm covering, nor medicine, nor kind words. The Signorino wears his sheepskin coat and tends his sheep!"

One congregation dwells below on the shore by the sea, the other is in the castle above. They form a great academy of learned men, amongst them being R. Simeon, R. Solomon, R. Isaac, son of Abba Mari , R. Simeon, son of Antoli, and R. Jacob his brother; also R. Libero. These persons are at the head of the upper academy.

To be sure, the shepherd Antoli had seen him, but had spoken of him voluntarily as a mysterious creature, one of the blessed saints come down to aid the sick. The beggar woman had seen him, but had fallen prostrate at his feet as in awe of supernatural presence.

Then she came nearer, and bent her tall head to listen. "His name is Antoli," said Giacomo, speaking more distinctly. "Four days ago he fell ill with fever and with chills. He lay on the ground among the sheep, for he had only his blanket that the shepherds use at night.

Presently Giacomo came hurrying down the path toward her, dangling his white apron by its string as he ran. "Signorina!" he called breathlessly. "Would the Signorina, when she has finished that, graciously make another wreath?" "Certainly. For you?" "Not for me," he answered mysteriously, drawing nearer. "Not for me, but for Antoli, the shepherd who herds the flock of Count Gianelli.

Does not the Signorina believe that it was some one from another world who helped him?" "Si," answered Daphne, looking at the sheepskin coat. "No one has seen the holy saint except himself, but the blessed one has appeared again to him. Antoli came back, afraid that the sheep were scattered, afraid of being dismissed.

What did a Greek god do when sunshine disappeared? she wondered. Or had the god of the sun gone away altogether, and was this deluge the result? The shepherd Antoli had been taken home, Giacomo assured her, but he was exceedingly reticent when asked who was herding the sheep, only shrugging his shoulders with a "Chi lo sa?"

I rejoice that you are well," she added, turning to Antoli with a polite sentence from the phrase-book. As she worked on after they were gone, Assunta came to her again. "The Signorina heard?" she asked. "Si. Is the story true?" asked Daphne. Assunta's eyes were full of hidden meaning. "The Signorina ought to know." "Why?" "Has not the Signorina seen the blessed one herself?" she asked.