ithful."

"May the Gods grant, my Julia, that sad experience shall never teach you
that they are so. I, at least, will believe, and pray, that, what his sex
may be soever, our Paullus will prove worthy ever of that best gift of
God, a pure woman's pure and unselfish love."

"Oh! may it be so," answered Paullus, clasping his hands fervently
together. "May I die ere I wrong my Julia! and be you sure, sweet girl,
that your simple trust is philosophy far truer than the sage's lore. Base
must his nature be, and his heart corrupt, who remains unsubdued to
artlessness and love, such as yours, my Julia."

"But tell us, now," said the elder lady, "what was it that detained you,
and where were you all the day? We expected you till the seventh hour of
the night, yet you came not."

"I will tell you, Hortensia," he replied; "as we drive along; for I had
rather do so, where there be no ears to overhear us. You must let me be
your charioteer to-day, and your venerable grey-headed coachman shall ride
with my wild imp Myron, in the car, if you will permit it."

"Willingly," she replied. "Then something strange has happened. Is it not
so?"

"I knew it," exclaimed Julia, clasping her snowy hands together, "I knew
it; I have read it in his eye this half hour. What can it be? it is
something fearful, I am certain."

"Nay! nay! be not alarmed; if there were danger, it is passed already. But
come, let me assist you to the carriage; I will tell you all as we go. But
if we do not make good speed, the pomp will have passed the bridge before
we reach it."

The ladies made no more delay, but took their places in the carriage, Paul
occupying the front seat, and guiding the sober mules with far more ease,
than Hortensia's aged charioteer experienced in restraining the speed of
Arvina's fiery coursers, and keeping them in their place, behind the
heavier carpentum.

The narrow streets were now passed, and threading the deep arch of the
Quirinal gate, they struck into a lane skirting the base of the hill of
gardens, on the right hand, by which they gained the great Flaminian way,
just on the farther confines of the Campus; when they drove rapidly toward
the Milvian bridge, built a few years before by AEmilius Scaurus, and
esteemed for many a year the masterpiece of Roman architecture.

As soon as they had cleared the confines of the busy city, within which
the throng of vehicles, and the passengers, as well on foot as on
horseback, compell