That is why we all sorrowed so at his leaving. It must be years before he returns, and it may be that never again will he be in this part of the world!"

CHAPTER V

As the ship sailed into port the hot sun of noonday shone on Neapolis. The city lay on a promontory jutting out into the sea, and in the groves that crowned the summit gleamed three white temples. A huge bronze statue of Neptune overlooked the busy harbor, and from the business section of the city, where the cape joined the mainland, a military road, the Via Egnatia, ran away into the country. Both Gaius and Timoleon knew that this marblepaved way went not only to Philippi, their own destination, but on through Amphipolis, or Nine Ways," through Apollonia, through Thessalonica, and so across Macedonia to Dyrrhachium on the Adriatic. In southern Italy, on the opposite shore, it began again, and ended at last at the Golden Milestone in Rome. This they knew; but they did not know that never again in any age or in any country would such a magnificent highway be constructed.

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As soon as the heat of midday was over, the two men, mounted on donkeys, started for

Philippi, twelve miles distant. From the top of a mountain range they looked back at the blue Ægean Sea, while before them lay the plain of Philippi where, but one hundred years before, Brutus and Cassius fought their last fight in defense of the Roman Republic. Away to the right, on a hillside, they could see Philippi, crowding from the plain up a steep hill, topped by a dark castle-a massive pile even from this distance. Great thick stone walls surrounded the city, which, together with the gloomy castle, gave the place the air of a fortress. In reality it was a military stronghold, a soldiers' city ruled by two Roman prætors, who, from their raised marble seats in the open air, every day dealt out Roman law.

The friends journeyed on together, finding much to say, yet enjoying the long silences that spell companionship between two of kindred spirit. Gaius was to spend the night at Philippi and in the morning go on to Corinth, where Timoleon was to visit him later.

The morning after Gaius left was a busy one for Timoleon. He found, however, that as the city was not mercantile, but military, there was little market for the linen he had to sell. He wished he had gone on with Gaius. Lone

liness again descended upon him, and rather than spend an evening by himself he hunted up a family of Christians of whom Gaius had spoken. This was the family of Lydia, a dealer in the purple dyes of Thyatira.

Lydia was a widow of business ability, and her home was comfortable, though not pretentious. She had the gift of hospitality, and the lonely man soon felt at home. With understanding sympathy she listened as he told how his restlessness had driven him to travel. She questioned him closely about the church at Ephesus, and she exclaimed with disappointment at not having seen Gaius as he passed through the city.

"It would have been a pleasure to all of us to see him again," she said. "He is very dear to Paul. When they stopped here on their way to Neapolis they were like father and son. Paul called him 'Gaius, my beloved,' or 'Gaius, whom I love.' I wonder why he did not come to see us last night."

"The fault is mine, I fear. We were tired, the hour was late, we had much to say, and our parting was near."

Lydia nodded. "I understand, you two felt like having a talk, not like visiting. I am content, since when you were lonely, you came.

But, tell me, what did Gaius say of Paul? Was he still depressed? When he ate Passover with us, he was downcast; indeed, so were we all. It is hard for friends to say good-by when they do not know when they will meet again. Yet the Lord will keep watch over his own!

"Gaius said you would tell me of Paul's work in this city."

"Are you then a Christian?”

Timoleon told at some length of his connection with Paul in his youth, and of how through life their paths had approached, yet never crossed.

Lydia listened thoughtfully. When Timoleon finished, she said, "Sometime you will meet, and that meeting will complete the work of grace already begun in you. Though Paul is not commanding in presence, yet is he such a center of spiritual force that none can come into contact with him without feeling an awakening within.

"Did Gaius tell you how Paul began his work here? He, with Silas and the lad Timothy, came down by the riverside where a few of us women met on the Sabbath for prayer. Later, he spoke in the market and the theater to all who would listen, but his first message