and in heart."

"How, then, do you not recognize one whose heart is sicker than your
own?"

Perolla looked at her inquiringly, and she went on:--

"You have a city that has been false to itself, and is in danger of
punishment--a father, too, if you will. _My_ city has already suffered
every evil but destruction: my brother and he to whom Juno was about to
lead me have been killed by these pulse-eaters. Are such things the
benefits that go to make friendship and love for the slayers? Say,
rather, hate and the craving for revenge."

"Yes," said Perolla, moodily; "they are indeed evils, but less than
mine, in that they are passed--"

"And is Rome safe, do you think?" she asked quickly.

"Rome will conquer," he said doggedly, "unless there be many more
traitors like you."

"Fool!" she cried, grasping his wrist. "Can you not see--you who claim
to be a philosopher and to have Greek blood?--you, at least, should
have understood my words."

He gazed at her vacantly, and she began to regret her vehemence. It
came to her mind that this was not altogether a safe man to trust with
her secret. Faithful he was, no doubt; but a fool might be even more
dangerous than a traitor. Still, she had said too much to be silent,
and she felt the need of some ally to whom she could talk--upon whom
she could at least pretend to lean when the weight of her burden was
heaviest.

"I have told you what I have lost--what I dread to lose. Now learn
what I am here to gain. For many days after the black news of Cannae,
I heard them talking in my father's house--talking of the advance of
the insolent victors and of the paltry defence we could oppose, the
certain destruction that awaited us. Still they were brave--old men
and boys. The soldiers were dead, but we set to work training
new--shaping them alike out of youth and age and bondmen; and the
slayers of our citizens delayed, and we gained strength and courage.
In every temple of the twelve gods it was the same prayer by day and
night: 'Grant us delay. Grant us that the winter may find him in the
south!' At last came the news that he was advancing to Capua, and
rumours of a Carthaginian party in the city. From Capua, seized with
all its engines of war, was but a few days to Rome. Then I took a
resolve and made a vow: tell me, am I beautiful?"

"Beautiful as Venus."

"Know, then, that I have dedicated this beauty to her, that she may
guard Rome and avenge me upon Rome's ene