were parting never to meet again But Euryale must have been long and
anxiously waiting for her, and Alexander, too, was very late for his
appointment.

It was impossible to let the girl cross the square alone, for it was
guarded by soldiers. If she could but reach the side of the sanctuary
where she was expected, and where the road was in the shadow of the
riding-school opposite, all would be well, and it seemed as though there
was no alternative but for Alexander to lead his sister through by-ways
to her destination. They had just made up their minds to this inevitable
waste of time, when a young woman was seen coming toward them from one
of the tents with a swift, light step, winged with gladness. Alexander
suddenly released his sister's hand, and saying:

"She will escort you," he advanced to meet her. This was the wife
of Martialis, who had charge of the villa at Kanopus, and whose
acquaintance the artist had made when he was studying the Galatea in the
merchant's country-house for the portrait of Korinna. Alexander had made
friends with the soldier's wife in his winning, lively way, and she
was delighted to meet him again, and quite willing to escort his sister
across the square, and hold her tongue about it. So, after a short grasp
of the hand, and a fervent last appeal to her brother, "Never for a
moment let us forget one another, and always remember our mother!"
Melissa followed her companion.

This evening the woman had sought her husband to tell him that she and
her mother had got safely out of the Circus, and to thank him for
the entertainment, of which the splendor, in spite of the various
disturbances and interruption, had filled their hearts and minds.

The first words she spoke to the girl led to the question as to whether
she, too, had been at the Circus; and when Melissa said yes, but that
she had been too frightened and horrified to see much, the chattering
little woman began to describe it all.

Quite the best view, she declared, had been obtained from the third tier
of places. Caesar's bride, too, had been pointed out to her. Poor
thing! She would pay dearly for the splendor of the purple. No one
could dispute Caracalla's taste, however, for the girl was lovely beyond
description; and as she spoke she paused to look at Melissa, for she
fancied she resembled Caesar's sweetheart. But she went on again quicker
than before, remarking that Melissa was not so tall, and that the other
was more brillian