the key again turned in the lock and the door swung open upon its
creaking hinges, and to see loving arms extended with repentant words of
self-reproach. Once or twice she fancied that she heard the key softly
fitted into its place, but it was only the abrasion of two contiguous
branches of a plane tree overhead. Once again she felt certain that she
heard the sound of persons approaching through the garden, but it was
the voice of men in the street--two slaves coming around the corner and
drawing near, speaking some harsh northern dialect which she knew not.
As the men approached, she endeavored to shrink out of sight behind a
perpendicular projection of the wall, and nearly succeeded. They had
passed, indeed, before they noticed her. Then they turned and gazed
curiously at her; and one of them made some remark, apparently of a
jesting nature, for they both laughed. Then again they turned and moved
on out of sight without attempting further molestation.

But the incident alarmed her, and caused her to realize yet more vividly
than before the exceeding unprotectedness of her situation. These men
had not sought to injure her, but how could she answer for the next who
might approach? It was a lonely, dark street, narrow, and comparatively
seldom used, and but little built upon, being mainly flanked by garden
walls. Upon the side where she sat there were no buildings at all,
excepting low prison houses for slaves, similar to that belonging to the
Vanno palace--for the street ran along an inner slope of the Coelian
Mount and parallel to the Triumphal Way, and thus naturally served as a
rear boundary to the gardens of the palaces and villas which fronted
upon the latter avenue. This very loneliness, therefore, added to her
insecurity; for though it was possible that no one else might pass by
for hours, there was the equal chance that if any one came with evil
intent, she might be murdered before help could be summoned. And at a
time when the broadest streets were never entirely safe even for armed
men, a weak woman, with tempting jewelry upon her person, might well
shudder at being left alone in a narrow alley.

Slowly and painfully--for the night was cool, and she had now been
sitting long in one position--AEnone raised herself and stood up, looking
hither and thither for some place of refuge. She had now waited more
than an hour, and if her husband had been inclined to recall her from
her exclusion, his repentance would sca