第51页 / 共134页

"Nothing, as yet," answered the Priestess, "But that does not

disturb my hope and faith that she will become all that we wish

and desire of her, and instead of having but one Vestal we shall

have two, for ere long Nu-nah will also be numbered among our

Vestals, and Rathunor as one of our Priests."

Thanking the Priest for his promised service the Priestess

withdrew.

The Astrologer returned to his studies and was soon absorbed with

them, when, suddenly he turned to Hermo and said, "Hermo, I shall

place Sarthia under your special tutelage as soon as she is ready

to commence her studies in Astrology."

The suddenness of the Priest's remarks quite confused the young

scribe and set him to seriously thinking. Strange thoughts came

into his mind, "why should Sarthia not continue her studies with

me, why would she become a special and not a fellow student?"