s insinuation recurred to her
mind, that she clung to her determination to go to Lochias because she
hoped to enjoy the spectacle of Antinous in the flames. Here, before her,
was a nobler display, and yet her lively imagination which often,
sometimes indeed against her will, gave shape to her formless
thoughts--called up the image of the beautiful youth surrounded by the
glowing glory which still painted the horizon.

Hour after hour slipped by; the efforts of the thousands who endeavored
to extinguish the blaze were crowned by increasing success; one burning
mass after another was quenched, if not extinguished, and instead of
flames smoke, mingled with sparks, rose from Lochias blacker and
blacker-and still Pontius came not to look after her. She could not see
any stars for the sky was overcast with clouds, but the beginning of a
new day could not be far distant. She was shivering with cold, and her
friend's long absence began to annoy her. When, presently, it began to
rain in large drops, she went down the ladder that led from the roof and
sat down by the fire in the little room where her companion had gone fast
asleep.

She had been sitting quite half an hour and gazing dreamily into the
warming glow, when she heard the sound of hoofs and Pontius appeared. His
face was begrimed, and his voice hoarse with shouting commands for hours.
As soon as she saw him Balbilla forgot her vexation, greeted him warmly,
and told him how she had watched his every movement; but the eager girl,
so readily fired to enthusiasm, could only with the greatest difficulty
bring out a few words to express the admiration that his mode of
proceeding had so deeply excited in her mind.

She heard him say that his mouth was quite parched and his throat was
longing for a draught of some drink, and she--who usually had every pin
she needed handed to her by a slave, and on whom fate had bestowed no
living creature whom she could find a pleasure in serving--she, with her
own hand dipped a cup of water out of the large clay jar that stood in a
corner of the room and offered it to him with a request that he would
drink it. He eagerly swallowed the refreshing fluid, and when the little
cup was empty Balbilla took it from his hand, refilled it, and gave it
him again.

Claudia, who woke up when the architect came in, looked on at her
foster-child's unheard-of proceedings with astonishment, shaking her
head. When Pontius had drained the third cupful that