pray. It is not fitting to have her wait.

_Nydia._ She is at the door, gracious madam.

_Cornelia._ Welcome, thrice welcome, fair Julia.

[_Nydia carries Julia's casket._]

_Julia._ Thanks, dear Cornelia, for your kind greeting. May you and all
your household have peace and joy.

_Cornelia._ And may those blessings be yours also, dear Julia. But tell
me, what treasures have you in that charming casket?

_Julia._ A few poor jewels, fair friend. Bring me the casket, Nydia.
These are some presents my parents and husband have given me.

_Cornelia._ I am so glad you have brought them to show me. You are very
kind, for you know I greatly admire beautiful jewels.

_Julia._ See, here is a pearl necklace.

_Cornelia._ How lovely! Let me clasp it about your neck. It is very
becoming. And what other gems have you?

_Julia._ Here is a girdle my mother gave me for a wedding present. Isn't
it pretty?

_Cornelia._ Pretty! my dear, it is exquisite! Your mother showed much
good taste when she chose this for you.

_Julia._ And here are some rings from the far East. See these emeralds
and rubies; how they flash in the sunlight!

_Cornelia._ How well they look on your white hands! But I see something
else.

_Julia._ Yes, this is my handsomest jewel, a diamond bracelet. This I
like best of all.

_Cornelia._ They are all lovely, my dear friend, and I am glad you have
such beautiful things.

_Julia._ But, dear Cornelia, where are your jewels? All Rome knows how
rich your famous father, Scipio, was, and surely he gave you many
handsome ornaments. Please show them to me.

_Cornelia._ Oh, no, dear friend. But hark! I think I hear my sons.
Nydia, tell them I wish to see them.

_Nydia._ Here are the children, madam.

_The Boys_ (_running in_). Dear mother! darling mother!

_Cornelia._ Tell me, my Caius, what did the pedagogue teach you to-day?

_Caius._ O mother! It was wonderful! He told us how Horatius kept the
bridge in the brave days of old. Wasn't that a great and noble deed,
mother mine?

_Cornelia._ Yes, my darling. And you, my Tiberius, have you been pleased
with your lessons?

[Illustration: CORNELIA AND HER JEWELS]

_Tiberius._ Mother, how you must honor our grandfather, the noble
Scipio! Our teacher told the boys of his great campaigns in Africa and
how the Senate called him Africanus after the war was over.

_Cornelia._ Yes, my son, such work and such lives are lessons worthy of
study. They teach the