The Story of the Odyssey

had been carefully primed by his sons with what he was to say, addressed his guests. His words were few and to the point. "Britain," he said, "has been long enough ruled by others. It

ave only to show ourselves, in short, to be both [pg 84]welcomed and obeyed. Half the victories which we have won here to no profit over poverty-stricken barbarians would have sufficed to give us rich

ey had little to hope, but much to fear, from a change. Still, they saw the necessity for doing something; another year such as that which had just passed would thoroughly demoralize the army of Britain. Legions that get into the habit of making emperors and killing them for their pastime must be dealt with by vigorous

distinguishing himself by the marvellous depth [pg 85]of h

e boisterous scenes, followed his example, as did most of the older men. One of these,

ilor displayed tunics and cloaks, and a shoemaker sold boots warranted to resist the cold and wet of the island climate. There were a few cottages occupied by the grooms and stablemen who attended to the horses employed in the camp, by fishermen who plied their trade in the neighbouring waters, and other persons of a variety of miscellaneous employments in one way or other connected with the camp. But just outside the main [pg 86]street, at the end nearest to the camp, stood a house of somewhat greater pretensions. It was indeed a humble imitation of the Roman villa, being built round t

e elder of the girls, who had been qui

r silence. "Hush," he said; "I have something to te

alone?" said the centurion'

ey can," he added in a low voice, which only the wife's e

what had happened, they could see plainly enough that something was disturbing the

the centurion, drawing his wife to him, and tende

she, "that the

collected. The resolution was made to-day and will be announced to the

ened as the thought of seeing a little more of the world, of a home in on

ought up the difficulty which he knew had to be faced, bu

e I cannot say," he answered, after a

n longing for. And Rome? Surely we shall go to Rome, father? [pg 88]Are you not gl

ole of the situation, she had at least an housewife's horr

," he said, "but yo

ife, "you do not, cannot mean

out it. You might go, though I do not like the idea of your following th

m she never allowed to go within the precincts of the camp, except on the one day, the Emperor's birthday, when all the officers' families were expected to be present at the ceremony of saluting the Imperial likeness. And this had of lat

with now; though you, I must allow, are a little too small," she added, ruefully, as she looked at her sister's plump little figure, too hopelessly feminine ever to admit the possib

s, broken at last by the timid, he

rs in the camp for ever. And have you not served long enough? You w

esert him. It would be almost as bad as asking for one's discharge on the eve of a battle. And besides, though I don't like troubling your young spirits with such matters, I cannot afford it. [pg 90]Were I to resign

on about her, and dozing away the day. In her prime, and even down to old age, she had been a woman of remarkable activity, ruling her daughter's household as despotically as in former days she had ruled her own. Then a sudden and severe illness had prostrated her, and she had seemed to shrink at once into feebleness and helplessness of mind and body. Her daughter and granddaughters tended her carefully

life! Now, if it had been his father! He was a man to obey. He did deserve to be called Emperor. I saw him forty years ago-just after you were born, daughter-when he came with his father. A spl

ped, by age and infirmity, roused again in all its old strength. "Oh! mother, don't say such drea

ase the priests. But why," she went on, raising her voice

" said the centurion. "You f

whom the Irish pirates carried off from somewhere in the North. Constantine's father bought her, an

turion, soothingly, afraid that he

the old woman, unheedin

centurion. "Speak good

d she relapsed into silence, looking again as wholly indifferent to the present as if the stra

osition of affairs anxious

" said the wife, "when

f it were united, it might stand. But it [pg 93]wil

If the legions hardly protected us from

hat I shall hope to send for you. Or you might go over to Gaul. But I hope to see the Count of the Shore about these matters. He will give me the best advic

g