“Domina[22] here very soon,” said Drusus, smiling to the young lady; and disengaging himself from her, he advanced to greet personally a tall, ponderous figure, with white, flowing hair, a huge white beard, and a left arm that had been severed at the wrist, who came forward with a swinging military stride that seemed to belie his evident years.

  [22] Domina, mistress.

“All hail, dearest Mamercus!” exclaimed the young man, running up to the burly object.  “Here is the little boy you used to scold, fondle, and tell stories to, back safe and sound to hear the old tales and to listen to some more admonitions.”

The veteran made a hurried motion with his remaining hand, as if to brush something away from his eyes, and his deep voice seemed a trifle husky when he replied, speaking slowly:—­

“Mehercle![23] All the Gods be praised!  The noble Sextus living again in the form of his son!  Ah!  This makes my old heart glad;” and he held out his hand to Drusus.  But the young man dashed it away, and flinging his arms around Mamercus’s neck, kissed him on both cheeks.  Then when this warm greeting was over, Drusus had to salute Titus Mamercus, a solid, stocky, honest-faced country lad of eighteen, the son of the veteran; and after Titus—­since the Mamerci and Drusi were remotely related and the jus oscului[24]—­less legally, the “right of kissing”—­existed between them, he felt called upon to press the cheek of AEmilia, Mamercus’s pretty daughter, of about her brother’s age.  Cornelia seemed a little discomposed at this, and perhaps so gave her lover a trifling delight.  But next he had to shake all the freedmen by the hand, also the older and better known slaves; and to say something in reply to their congratulations.  The mass of the slaves he could not know personally; but to the assembled company he spoke a few words, with that quiet dignity which belongs to those who are the heirs of generations of lordly ancestors.

  [23] By Hercules.

  [24] The right of kissing kinsfolk within the sixth degree.

“This day I assume control of my estate.  All past offences are forgiven.  I remit any punishments, however justly imposed.  To those who are my faithful servants and clients I will prove a kind and reasonable master.  Let none in the future be mischievous or idle; for them I cannot spare.  But since the season is hot, in honour of my home-coming, for the next ten days I order that no work, beyond that barely needed, be done in the fields.  Let the familia enjoy rest, and let them receive as much wine as they may take without being unduly drunken.  Geta, Antiochus, and Kebes, who have been in this house many years, shall go with me before the praetor, to be set free.”