Veranilda

away; his breath was on her cheek; his eyes, as she

your hand. Lay it for a mome

to love me, O l

made him fai

t room is there for fear in the heart where thy beauty dwells? Speak

me once more. I never knew

da, that out of my love pain has come to you. You will not ever be

t her h

n my truth, O Basi

ss of her who bore yo

radiant look. 'She sees me now; and my hope, your strengt

for-whisper low-the

oul, O Basil

n the golden shadow of her hair, the lily face flushed warm;

oom again, she walked as t

go to Rome,' were her words,

e; moreover, he became the possessor of many books, which lay in the Anician mansion of Rome, and it was his impatience, thought Aurelia,

have undertaken?' she added in a lo

t an anxious hope dawned in

en of it, cous

has but jus

avel by sea-Yet the weather may be fair, the sea still; and

ery distinct promise, in which natural obligation had part. Yet the thought of the journey, of an absence from Veran

had been unusual save among the effeminate. But Aurelia and her companion took their meals apart. This evening, Basil and Decius supped almost in silence, each busy with his reflections. They lingered over the wine, their attendants having left them, until Decius, as if rousing himself from a

just now?' was the student's next inq

ther, handling his goblet. '

which ever since has been growing tanquam favus. I am not wont to consider myself as of mu

cius!' broke from the listener. 'But wo

ea in its gentler moods I have never feared, and alcyoneum medicamen, you k

freckle-spotted, and Basil, whose spirits

d not undertake it without the consent of the ladies Aurelia and Petronilla. Perchance, i

ity, your name or mine?-not to speak of your learning and my ignorance. As

ience of the pious lady at Surre

spect to Petronilla was certainly due, and perhaps it wo

When Basil found an opportunity of reporting what had passed between him and Decius, the lady's austere smile was for a moment clouded; it looked as though storm might follow. But the smile returned, with perhaps a slightly changed significance. Did Basil think of remaining long at the villa? Ah, he could not say; to be sure, the times were so uncertain. For her own part, she would start on her journey as soon as the coffin was on board the ship. Indeed, she saw no objection to the arrangemen

gly undertake the voyage. After lingering for an hour in the vain hope that Aurelia would withdraw, were it but for a moment, he went away

Felix announced to him the arrival of Marcian. On

first words. 'I have ridden since befor

ing water, and drank deeply. His host then urged the wine, but it was refused; and as Basil knew that one of his

rise to sunset; drank from sunset to the third hour of the night; rose before light this morning, gay and brisk, and made me ride with him, s

m as a Roman turned b

t such men have their

ow we parted at Cumae and what happened afterwards. We are private here;

did not undertake that office without exacting a proof of the confidence of our lo

t it did not avail to save my

week's-nay, of an hour's-impunity. But did h

other, a woman of noblest heart, who, when her husband Ebrimut played the traitor, and she was le

at now,' observe

o. That of Veranilda's parentage I learned from Aurelia

e conversed, I take

ith a look of some earnestness,

enough. We were right, you see, in our guess of Veranilda's origin; I could wish she had been any one else. Patience, patience! You know that I left you here

ugnance. 'Nay, call her the

red, indeed, that her husband Vitiges, having died somewhere in battle, Matasuntha is to wed a nephew of Justinian. This lady, I am told, desires to know the daughter of Ebri-nay, then, of Theodenantha; of whom, it seems, a report has reached her. A command of the

eter and Paul, that will she not! You are my friend, Marcian,

sprung to his feet. Marcian did not stir; his head was

ay the traitor to you at Cumae? With the Hun this command of Justinian served you in good stead; Veranilda would not otherwise have escaped so easily. Chorsoman, fat-witted as

ed his friend, and kiss

It seemed probable that a report of Veranilda's beauty had reached Matasuntha, who wished to adorn her retinue with so fair a

the reply. 'Enough for you to da

e, which his friend noted wi

esar Flavius Justinianus-Africanus, Gothicus, Germanicus, Vandalicus, and I kno

d a hand upon

of this to Aurel

her. Be plain with me. If you wed Veranilda how do you purpose to secure your safety? Not

cted, then

d and honourably entertained Rom

then, O Basil, that at this moment the Gothic king is aware of your love for Veranilda, and of your purpose to espouse her. You indeed are a st

Totila?' asked Basil, wonde

claimed the merit of play

of bitterness, looking his

his hands. 'I am with you, heart and soul! Tell me

through Samnium, making sure his conquest on the way. Let

one o

rn tyranny and see in the Goth a worthy ally.

re not leave Veranilda without prote

enantius must

r rode forth from Surrentum towards Neapolis. He

d deacon Leander, Petron

already suggested to your Sanctity. Marcian has arrived this afternoon, coming I know not whence, but I shall learn. I suspect things of the darkest moment. Le