ld not only have been more consonant with his
own feelings, but doubtless more acceptable to the world? She had not
yet learned what it often takes the wisest man a lifetime to
discover--that every inconsistency of conduct is not hypocrisy, but that
it is one of the most common idiosyncrasies of the mind to write and
believe one thing, and as self-approvingly to feel and act the reverse.

With a sigh she closed the volume, and restored it to its place within
the case. Why ponder upon such things as these? The real character of
the poet Emilius was, after all, a matter of but little consequence to
her. Whether the meeting at his house was a wild, reckless orgy, or a
mere intellectual gathering of literary genius, it was none the less
certain that her lord was tarrying there, away from her side. But
perhaps, indeed, even this was a duty which he owed to his fame and
station; and her face brightened up with new hope as the suggestion
flashed upon her. It might be that at this feast there would be present
some poet of lofty epic powers, or historian of wondrous descriptive
talent, ranking as the brightest star of Roman literature; and either of
these, if properly conciliated, would doubtless celebrate her lord's
exploits so grandly that in future ages his campaign would shine with
far greater lustre than if simply committed to parchment in the dry
detail of unadorned fact, and so filed away in the national archives. It
was most fitting, therefore, that he should not permit his impatient
love for her to allow him to neglect the opportunity of cultivating, by
a wise and condescending courtesy, the world-renowned talents of these
men, and thereby redoubling the resplendence of his own bright fame.

Easily satisfying her mind with this pleasing reasoning, she retired for
the night into the innermost apartment--a retreat adorned with every
luxury which could gratify pride and administer to a cultivated taste.
The floor was covered with tesselated marbles of different shades and
arranged in ingenious and novel patterns. The ceiling was resplendent
with allegorical frescoes by the most celebrated masters of the day.
There were glowing paintings upon the walls, rich tapestries in the
windows, embroidered hangings upon the bed. Beside the tables stood
bronze figures holding forth lamps ready trimmed and lighted; fresh
flowers had been placed in their allotted vases, and weighed down the
air with perfume; and in a deep recess stood t