I became an industrious and docile pupil under Cilo.  From a child up to the time of this cruel experience, my youthful heart had clung to my nurse.  She was a Christian from my father’s African home—­I knew she loved me best on earth.  My mother knew of no higher destiny than that of being the Domna,—­[Domna, lady or mistress, in corrupt Latin.  Hence her name of Julia Domna] the lady of the soldiers, the mother of the camp, and the lady philosopher among the sages.  What she gave me in the way of love was but copper alms.  She threw golden solidi of love into Geta’s lap in lavish abundance.  And her sister and her nieces, who often lived with us, treated me exactly as she did.  They were distantly civil, or they shunned me; but my brother was their spoiled plaything.  I was as incapable as Geta was master of the art of stealing hearts; but in my childhood I needed none of them:  for, if I wished for a kind word, a sweet kiss, or the love of a woman, my nurse’s arms were open to me.  Nor was she an ordinary woman.  As the widow of a tribune who had fallen in my father’s service, she had undertaken to attend on me.  She loved me as no one else ever did.  She was also the only person whom I would willingly obey.  I came into the world full of wild instincts, but she knew how to tame them kindly.  My aversion to my brother was the one thing she checked but feebly, for he was a thorn in her side too.  I learned this when she, who was so gentle, explained to me, with asperity in her tone, that there was but one God in heaven, and on earth but one emperor, who should govern the world in his name.  She also imparted these convictions to others, and this turned to her disadvantage.  My mother parted us, and sent her back to her African home.  She died soon after.”  He was silent, and gazed pensively into vacancy; soon, however, he collected his thoughts and said, lightly: 

“Well, I became Cilo’s diligent pupil.”

“But,” asked Melissa, “did you not say that at one time you attempted his life?”

“I did so,” replied Caracalla darkly; “for a moment arrived when I cursed his teaching, and yet it was certainly wise and well meant.  You see, child, all of you who go through life humbly and without power are trained to submit obediently to the will of Heaven.  Cilo taught me to place my own power, and the greatness of the realm which it would be incumbent on me to reign over, above everything, even above the gods.  It was impressed upon you and yours to hold the life of another sacred; to us, our duty as the sovereign transcends this law.  Even the blood of a brother must flow if it is for the good of the state intrusted to us.  My nurse had taught me that being good meant doing unto others as we would be done by; Cilo cried to me:  ’Strike down, that you may not be struck down—­away with mercy, if the welfare of the state is threatened!’ And how many hands are raised against Rome, the universal empire, which I rule over!  It needs a strong