We called her Pearl-Maiden because of a collar of pearls she wore and because also she was white and beautiful as a pearl.

Oh! beautiful indeed, and so gentle and sweet, even in her sickness, that the roughest brute of a legionary with a broken head could not choose but to love her.

Much more then, that old bear, Gallus, who watched her as though she were his own cub." "Indeed?
And where is this beautiful lady now?
I should like to sell her something." "Gone, gone, and left us all mourning." "Not dead ?" said Caleb in a new voice of eager dismay, "Oh! not dead ?" The fat cook looked at him calmly.
"You take a strange interest in our Pearl-Maiden, Cabbage-seller," he said.

"And, now that I come to think of it, you are a strange-looking man for a peasant." With an effort Caleb recovered his self-command.
"Once I was better off than I am now, friend," he answered.

"As you know, in this country the wheel of fortune has turned rather quick of late." "Yes, yes, and left many crushed flat behind it." "The reason why I am interested," went on Caleb, taking no heed, "is that I may have lost a fine market for my goods." "Well, and so you have, friend.