“No woman can learn to be indulgent,” replied Lucilla.  “Still we practise indulgence when we have no alternative, and the criminal requires us to make allowance for him in this thing or the other.”

Verus made his wife a bow and pressed his lips on her arm, then he asked.  “And where is dame Julia?”

“She is saving the sheep from the wolf,” replied Balbilla.

“Which means—?”

“That as soon as you were announced she carried off little Roxana to a place of safety.”

“No, no,” interrupted Lucilla.  “The tailor was waiting in an inner room to arrange the charming child’s costume.  Only look at the lovely nosegay she brought to Julia.  And do you deny my right to share your secret?”

“How could I?” replied Verus.

“He is very much in need of your making allowances!” laughed Balbilla, while the praetor went up to, his wife and told her in a whisper what he had learnt from Mastor.  Lucilla clasped her hands in astonishment, and Verus cried to the poetess: 

“Now you see what a satisfaction your cruel tongue has deprived you of?”

“How can you be so revengeful most estimable Verus,” said the lady coaxingly.  “I am dying of curiosity.”

“Live but a few days longer fair Balbilla, for my sake,” replied the Roman, “and the cause of your early death will be removed.”

“Only wait, I will be revenged!” cried the girl threatening him with her finger, but Lucilla led her away saying: 

“Come now, it is time we should give Julia the benefit of our advice.”

“Do so,” said Verus.  “Otherwise I am afraid my visit to-day would seem opportune to no one.—­Greet Julia from me.”

As he went away he cast a glance at the nosegay which Arsinoe had given away as soon as she had received it from him, and he sighed:  “As we grow old we have to learn wisdom.”

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     Avoid all useless anxiety
     To know half is less endurable than to know nothing
     Who do all they are able and enjoy as much as they can get

THE EMPEROR

By Georg Ebers

Volume 6.

[Note:  The original print edition chapter numbers start over at this point with numeral I. D.W.]

CHAPTER I.

Dame Hannah had watched by Selene till sunrise and indefatigably cooled both her injured foot and the wound in her head.  The old physician was not dissatisfied with the condition of his patient, but ordered the widow to lie down for a time and to leave the care of her for a few hours to her young friend.  When Mary was alone with the sick girl and had laid the fresh cold handkerchief in its place, Selene turned her face towards her and said: 

“Then you were at Lochias yesterday.  Tell me how you found them all there.  Who guided you to our lodgings and did you see my little brother and sisters?”