iexclaimed,"andwhatwondersyoucanrelate?"

"ithinkwhatyouoncetoldme,thefinestofall,"hereplied;"youtoldmeofathingthathasneverbeenoutofmythoughts-ofthegoodoldcustomof'thebondoffriendship,'-acustomishouldliketofollow.brother,letyouandigotochurch,asyourfatherandanastasia'sfatheroncedid.yoursisteranastasiaisthemostbeautifulandmostinnocentofmaidens,andsheshallconsecratethedeed.nopeoplehavesuchgrandoldcustomsaswegreeks."

anastasiablushedlikeayoungrose,andmymotherkissedaphtanides.

atabouttwomilesfromourcottage,wheretheearthonthehillisshelteredbyafewscatteredtrees,stoodthelittlechurch,withasilverlamphangingbeforethealtar.iputonmybestclothes,andthewhitetunicfellingracefulfoldsovermyhips.theredjacketfittedtightandclose,thetasselonmyfezcapwasofsilver,andinmygirdleglitteredaknifeandmypistols.aphtanideswascladinthebluedresswornbythegreeksailors;onhisbreasthungasilvermedalwiththefigureofthevirginmary,andhisscarfwasascostlyasthosewornbyrichlords.everyonecouldseethatwewereabouttoperformasolemnceremony.whenweenteredthelittle,unpretendingchurch,theeveningsunlightstreamedthroughtheopendoorontheburninglamp,andglitteredonthegoldenpictureframes.wekneltdowntogetheronthealtarsteps,andanastasiadrewnearandstoodbesideus.along,whitegarmentfellingracefulfoldsoverherdelicateform,andonherwhiteneckandbosomhungachainentwinedwitholdandnewcoins,formingakindofcollar.herblackhairwasfastenedintoaknot,andconfinedbyaheaddressformedofgoldandsilvercoinswhichhadbeenfoundinanancienttemple.nogreekgirlhadmorebeautifulornamentsthanrcountenanceglowed,andhereyeswereliketwostars.weallthreeofferedasilentprayer,andthenshesaidtous,"willyoubefriendsinlifeandindeath?"

"yes,"wereplied.

"willyoueachremembertosay,whatevermayhappen,'mybrotherisapartofmyself;hissecretismysecret,myhappinessishis;self-sacrifice,patience,everythingbelongstomeastheydotohim?'"

andweagainanswered,"yes."thenshejoinedouthandsandkissedusontheforehead,andweagainprayedsilently.afterthisapriestcamethroughadoornearthealtar,andblessedusallasongwassungbyotherholymenbehindthealtar-screen,andthebondofeternalfriendshipwasconfirmed.whenwearose,isawmymotherstandingbythechurchdoor,weeping.

howcheerfuleverythingseemednowinourlittlecottagebythedelphiansprings!ontheeveningbeforehisdeparture,aphtanidessatthoughtfullybesidemeontheslopesofthemountain.hisarmwasflungaroundme,andminewasroundhisneck.wespokeofthesorrowsofgreece,andofthemenofthecountrywhocouldbeverythoughtofoursoulslayclearbeforeus.presentlyiseizedhishand:"aphtanides,"iexclaimed,"thereisonethingstillthatyoumustknow,-onethingthattillnowhasbeenasecretbetweenmyselfandheaven.mywholesoulisfilledwithlove,-withalovestrongerthantheloveibeartomymotherandtothee.

"andwhomdoyoulove?"askedaphtanides.andhisfaceandneckgrewredasfire.

"iloveanastasia,"ireplied.

thenhishandtrembledinmine,andhebecamepaleasasawit,iunderstoodthecause,andibelievemyhandtrembledtoo.ibenttowardshim,ikissedhisforehead,andwhispered,"ihaveneverspokenofthistoher,andperhapsshedoesnotloveme.brother,thinkofthis;ihaveseenherdaily,shehasgrownupbesideme,andhasbecomeapartofmysoul."

"andsheshallbethine,"heexclaimed;"thine!