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As she was ushered into the presence of the Holy Father the whole

apartment seemed pervaded by an atmosphere of genial warmth and

electrical-giving life which somehow emanated from the inner

nature of the Priest himself, radiating also spiritual and

mental, as well as physical force.

For some moments the Hierophant regarded the young Vestal in

silence, but Sarthia was conscious that he was reading her inmost

thought and motive like an open book, even down to her vision of

the Astrologer and his fatal announcement regarding her life.

"My child," he said at length, "are you ready for the great

change now already at hand?"

"No, Father, not ready but resigned to what seems to be the

inevitable decrees of the planets that rule my physical destiny."