THE TWO CAPTAINS.
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the sandy waste; springs gushed out here and there in refreshing
beauty; date-trees bent over the little paths--everything, indeed,
in the now opening day was full of sweet and simple peace.

"Thank God!" said Heimbert, turning to his companion, "you can now
surely feel how infinitely more lovely, grand, and beautiful is
everything as our dear Father has created it than it can be when
transformed by the highest human art. The Heavenly Gardener has
indeed permitted us, his beloved children, in his abundant mercy, to
help forward his gracious works, that we may thus become happier and
better; but we must take care that we change nothing to suit our own
rash wilful fancies; else it is as if we were expelling ourselves a
second time from Paradise." "It shall not happen again," said
Zelinda humbly. "But may you in this solitary region, where we are
not likely to meet with any priest of our faith, may you not bestow
on me, as one born anew, the blessing of Holy Baptism?"

Heimbert, after some consideration, replied, "I hope I may do so.
And if I am wrong, God will pardon me. It is surely done in the
desire to bring to him so worthy a soul as soon as possible."

So they walked together, silently praying and full of smiling
happiness, down to one of the pleasant springs of the oasis, and just
as they reached the edge and prepared themselves for the holy work
the sun rose before them as if to confirm and strengthen their
purpose, and the two beaming countenances looked at each other with
joy and confidence. Heimbert had not thought of the Christian name
he should bestow on his disciple, but as he scooped up the water, and
the desert lay around him so solemn in the rosy glow of morning, he
remembered the pious hermit Antony in his Egyptian solitude, and he
baptized the lovely convert, Antonia.

They spent the day in holy conversation, and Antonia showed her
friend a little cave, in which she had concealed all sorts of store
for her sustenance when she first dwelt on the oasis. "For," said
she, "the good God is my witness that I came hither only that I
might, in solitude, become better acquainted with him and his created