ween Nero and
Trajan, and watched them go. He was glad of occasional visitors, but more
glad to return to the knotty problems which were before the Empire.

"Good-by," he called as they rode away. "Don't forget to notice the statue
of Athena just within the gate. It's a recent gift from the Governor of
Gaul."

Then he went within the palace, passed through the lofty atrium, and
entered his private room, where he sat down to continue the story of his
glorious reign.

Meanwhile his guests searched for the Athena. There might be something--a
post, perhaps--that signified the goddess of wisdom to the plastic mind of
poor Mr. Levinsky. But they could find nothing.

"She's only a dream like all the other things," said Priscilla. "Poor man!
I can't see how he can reconcile things in his own mind!"

"He doesn't," explained Virginia. "That's the lovely part of it! He's the
happiest Emperor I've ever known of in all my life!"

CHAPTER XIII

ON THE MESA

"Pedro," said Virginia, "do you realize for one little minute what's
happened?"

Pedro looked back and whinnied. He realized at least that something was
agitating his mistress. But half an hour since she had run out of the
house to where he was feeding beneath the cottonwoods, and hurried him to
the corral where she had saddled and bridled him herself. She had been
crying then. Quick little sobs were shaking her shoulders. Then she had
sprung upon his back and ridden like mad across the prairie to Elk Creek
Valley. Had MacDuff been along, he would not have minded; but it was too
warm at mid-day to gallop all alone. Once during that wild ride she had
laughed, and once she had leaned forward and put her arms around his neck.
It was all a very strange proceeding. Now she had mercifully halted him
on the brow of the mesa, and was allowing him to rest and feed while she
sat in silence and looked across the sagebrush stretches to the
mountains.

A long silence. The air throbbed with a hidden insect chorus. Little waves
of heat shimmered above the mesa. Jean MacDonald's three cows, searching
for better feeding-grounds, passed by and gazed with grave, inquisitive
eyes at Pedro and Virginia. Pedro fed on where he was. At last the girl
upon his back spoke again.

"Pedro," she began, and again Pedro raised his head, "Pedro, I've decided
that Life isn't such a strange thing after all! I've always thought it was
until to-day, but I guess it isn't. I guess it just means lo