444 THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP.

folds round my hips, the red jacket fitted tight and close, he tasse}
on my fez cap was silver, and in my girdle gleamed a knife and
my pistols. Aphtanides was clad in the blue garb worn by Greek
sailors; on his chest hung a silver plate with the figure of the
Virgin Mary; his scarf was as costly as those worn by rich lords,
Every one could see that we were about to go through a solemn
ceremony. We stepped into the little simple church, where the
evening sunlight, streaming. through the door, gleamed on the
burning lamp and the pictures on golden ground. We knelt down
on the altar steps, and Anastasia came before us. A long white
garment hung loose over her graceful form; on her white neck
and bosom hung a chain, covered with old and new coins, form-
ing a kind of collar. Her black hair was fastened in a knot, and
confined by a head-dress made of silver and gold coins that had
been found in an old temple. No Greek girl had more beautiful
ornaments than she. Her countenance glowed, and her eyes were
like two stars.

We all three prayed silently; and then she said to us,

“ Will you be friends in life and in death ?”

“Yes,” we replied.

“ Will you, whatever may happen, remember this: my brother
is a part of myself. My secrets are his, my happiness his. Self-
sacrifice, patience—everything in me belongs to him as to
me.”

And we again answered, “ Yes.”

Then she joined our hands and kissed us on the forehead, and
we again prayed silently. Then the priest came through the door
near the altar, and blessed us all three; and a song, sung by the
other holy men, sounded from behind the altar screen, and the
bond of eternal friendship was concluded. When we rose, | saw
my mother standing by the church door weeping heartily.

How cheerful it was now, in our little hut, and by the springs
of Delphi! On the evening before his departure, Aphtanides sat
thoughtful with me on the declivity of a mountain; his arm was
flung round my waist, and mine was round his neck; we spoke of
the sorrows of Greece, and of the men whom the country could
trust, Every thought of our souls lay clear before us, and I seized
his hand. :

“One thing you must still know, one thing that till now has
been a secret between myself and Heaven. My whole soul is
filled with love! with a love stronger than the love I bear to my
mother and to thee!”

“And whom do you love?” asked Aphtanides, and his face
and neck grew red as fire.

“T love Anastasia,” I replied—and his hand trembled in mine,
and he became pale as a corpse. I sawit; I understood the
cause; and I believe my hand trembled. I bent towards him,
kissed his forehead, and whispered. “I have never spoken of it