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Chapters (39)
  1. COVER
  2. DEDICATION
  3. CHAPTER I.SICCA VENERIA.
  4. CHAPTER II.CHRISTIANITY IN SICCA.
  5. CHAPTER III.AGELLIUS IN HIS COTTAGE.
  6. CHAPTER IV.JUBA.
  7. CHAPTER V.JUCUNDUS AT SUPPER.
  8. CHAPTER VI.GOTHS AND CHRISTIANS.
  9. CHAPTER VII.PERSECUTION IN THE OFFING.
  10. CHAPTER VIII.THE NEW GENERATION.
  11. CHAPTER IX.JUCUNDUS BAITS HIS TRAP.
  12. CHAPTER X.THE DIVINE CALLISTA.
  13. CHAPTER XI.CALLISTA’S PREACHING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
  14. CHAPTER XII.A DEATH.
  15. CHAPTER XIII.AND RESURRECTION.
  16. CHAPTER XIV.A SMALL CLOUD.
  17. CHAPTER XV.A VISITATION.
  18. CHAPTER XVI.WORSE AND WORSE.
  19. CHAPTER XVII.CHRISTIANOS AD LEONES.
  20. CHAPTER XVIII.AGELLIUS FLITS.
  21. CHAPTER XIX.A PASSAGE OF ARMS.
  22. CHAPTER XX.HE SHALL NOT LOSE HIS REWARD.
  23. CHAPTER XXI.STARTLING RUMOURS.
  24. CHAPTER XXII.JUCUNDUS PROPOUNDS HIS VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
  25. CHAPTER XXIII.GURTA.
  26. CHAPTER XXIV.A MOTHER’S BLESSING.
  27. CHAPTER XXV.CALLISTA IN DURANCE.
  28. CHAPTER XXVI.WHAT CAN IT ALL MEAN?
  29. CHAPTER XXVII.AM I A CHRISTIAN?
  30. CHAPTER XXVIII.A SICK CALL.
  31. CHAPTER XXIX.CONVERSION.
  32. CHAPTER XXX.TORRES VEDRAS.
  33. CHAPTER XXXI.THE BAPTISM.
  34. CHAPTER XXXII.THE IMPERIAL RESCRIPT.
  35. CHAPTER XXXIII.A GOOD CONFESSION.
  36. CHAPTER XXXIV.THE MARTYRDOM.
  37. CHAPTER XXXV.THE CORPO SANTO.
  38. CHAPTER XXXVI.LUX PERPETUA SANCTIS TUIS, DOMINE.
  39. FOOTNOTES

Presently she added, “Polemo, will not that invisible Monitor have something to say to all of us,—to you,—at some future day?”

“Spare me! spare me, Callista!” cried Polemo, starting up with a violence unsuited to his station and profession. “Spare my ears, unhappy woman!—such words have never hitherto entered them. I did not come to be insulted. Poor, blind, hapless, perverse spirit—I separate myself from you for ever! Desert, if you will, the majestic, bright, beneficent traditions of your forefathers, and live in this frightful superstition! Farewell!”

He did not seem better pleased with Aristo than with Callista, though Aristo helped him into his litter, walked by his side, and did what he could to propitiate him.

CHAPTER XXIX.
CONVERSION.

If there is a state of mind utterly forlorn, it is that in which we left the poor prisoner after Polemo had departed. She was neither a Christian, nor was she not. She was in the midway region of inquiry, which as surely takes time to pass over, except there be some almost miraculous interference, as it takes time to walk from place to place. You see a person coming towards you, and you say, impatiently, “Why don’t you come faster?—why are you not here already?” Why?—because it takes time. To see that heathenism is false,—to see that Christianity is true,—are two acts, and involve two processes. They may indeed be united, and the truth may supplant the error; but they may not. Callista obeyed, as far as truth was brought home to her. She saw the vanity of idols before she had faith in Him who came to destroy them. She could safely say, “I discard Jupiter:” she could not say, “I am a Christian.” Besides, what did she know of Christians? How did she know that they would admit her, if she wished it? They were a secret society, with an election, an initiation, and oaths;—not a mere philosophical school, or a profession of opinion, open to any individual. If they were the good people that she fancied them to be,—and if they were not, she would not think of them at all,—they were not likely to accept of her.