The Flame-Flower 33

head-man under Licinius, and his trusted
bailiff and friend; Honora’s mother had
been a freewoman and favourite in the
household of Patricia wife of Licinius, both
here and at the noble lady’s house in the
great city of the far South.

But misfortune came ever more heavily
upon the great city of the South; and Licinius
was a poor man now; and he had given his
empty house—for indeed he could not keep
it—to Evan.

_ None had repaired nor tended the deso-
late house; for men were troubled in their
minds because of the departure of their con-
querors, who had protected them so long;
and were without government, and confused ;
and nought remained in the great house for
robbers to take, for these had torn off all the
fittings of bronze to make into weapons and
tools.

Evan was a young man, strong and fair ;
and he gathered his cattle into the pas-
tures around the great house, and left his
own farmer’s house of stone and timber, and
dwelt in the gift-house. His lands he kept,

c