uman life, the heathen heart
revealed its kinship with the fallen angels of "Paradise Lost."
Nevertheless in that Roman pandemonium there were exceptions--a few
hearts of a different cast, in which was at work a silent influence,
destined in regal hands to reform the world.

CHAPTER V.

THE INFLUENCE WORKING.

Up in the colonnade reserved for women were two Greek ladies, natives
of Asia Minor: Myrtis, a matron of high rank, and her young friend
Coryna, a maiden of medium height and of perfect mould, with a wealth
of braided auburn hair. The matron wore a _stola_, a long tunic girded
in broad folds under the breast, and a white _palla_, a wide upper
garment, loosely over her shoulders. Her companion had a white robe
with a broad purple border, and over it an azure _palla_ covered with
golden stars. Both ladies had refined feelings and elegant manners.
They were in the Colosseum for the first time.

"What dost thou think of all this, my Myrtis?" enquired Coryna, with a
marked expression of pain in her sympathetic countenance.

"Think," answered Myrtis, striving to repress her agitation; "in the
dexterity of the combatants I had a gruesome interest, but upon the
prostrate, dying men I cannot look"; and the stout but comely woman of
tender feeling turned her fair head farther away from the ghastly sight
below.

"It is horrible," remarked Coryna, casting a furtive glance into the
arena.

"I cannot remain," said Myrtis, "but what would Titanus say?" and she
glanced down over the intervening galleries to the _podium_, where her
illustrious Roman husband sat.

Beside him was Coryna's brother, Tharsos, a distinguished young
officer, wearing a _toga_, with a white _lacerna_ or mantle of elegant
form.

Behind Titanus stood his young son, Carnion, a raven-haired boy of
twelve, dressed in the _toga praetexta_, a becoming garment of white
with a wide edge of purple, and suspended from his neck the _bulla_, a
round ornament of gold, worn especially by the children of the noble.
He held in his hand a cluster of lilies, a little gift meant for
Coryna, but which he had forgotten to hand over when entering the
amphitheatre.

"See how Carnion is disturbed!" observed Coryna; "the dear boy turns
away his head and will not look at the expiring horseman right
underneath."

The mother saw her child's attitude with pleased eyes, indeed they were
often on him.

"Though tender-hearted, yet my Carnion is brave and strong,