ring boys and inquisitive men and women--for Verus,
the superb Verus, came by in his chariot, and what a chariot! The
Alexandrian populace were accustomed to see much that was strange in
the busy streets of their crowded city; but this vehicle attracted
every eye, and excited astonishment, admiration and mirth, wherever
it appeared, and not unfrequently the bitterest ridicule. The handsome
Roman stood in the middle of his gilt chariot, and himself drove the
four white horses, harnessed abreast; on his head he wore a wreath,
and across his breast, from one shoulder, a garland of roses. On the
foot-board of the quadriga sat two children, dressed as Cupids; their
little legs dangled in the air, and they each held, attached by a long
gilt wire, a white dove which fluttered in front of Verus.

The dense and hurrying crowd, crushed Selene remorselessly against the
wall; instead of looking at the wonderful sight she covered her face
with her hands to hide the distortion of pain in her features; still she
just saw the splendid chariot, the gold harness on the horses, and the
figure of the insolent owner glide past her, as if in a dream that was
blurred by pain, and the sight infused into her soul, that was already
harassed by pain and anxiety, a feeling of bitter aversion, and
the envious thought that the mere trappings of the horses of this
extravagant prodigal would suffice to keep her and her family above
misery for a whole year.

By the time the chariot had turned the next corner, and the crowd had
followed it, she had almost fallen to the ground. She could not take
another step, and looked round for a litter, but, while generally there
was no lack of them, in this spot, to-day there was not one to be seen.
The factory was only a few hundred steps farther, but in her fancy they
seemed like so many stadia. Presently some of the workmen and women from
the factory came by, laughing and showing each other their wages, so the
payment must be now going on. A glance at the sun showed her how long
she had already been on her way, and remind her of the purpose of her
walk.

With the exertion of all her strength, she dragged herself a few steps
farther; then, just as her courage was again beginning to fail, a
little girl came running towards her who was accustomed to wait upon
the workers at the table where Selene and Arsinoe were employed, and who
held in her hand a pitcher. She called the dusky little Egyptian, and
said:

"Hat