‘The gods be praised—it is more than I once looked for,’ he said fervently.
‘But all is well now, and you are free,’ she said, looking up into his face, and smiling through her glittering tears. ‘Shall we not go soon from this place?’
‘You, doubtless, my sweet; your duty lies with your grandsire. Does she go back to Rome with you, Fabricius?’
‘Ay truly,’ answered the old man, who was watching them with infinite satisfaction, ‘and you also.’
‘Ah, if I knew it were so!’
‘Then rest assured—it is the will of Tiberius.’
‘Then if this sweet girl’s will be in unison with Caesar’s I will not strive against my fate—I await her decree.’
‘What Caesar commands I cannot forbid, and must fain put up with,’ said she demurely.
‘Then I will go; but circumstances are altered since I last saw thee. You have been transformed from the poor potter’s girl. Once you had scruples in matching with one out of your own station. Do you still keep them? Will you now stoop to a poor Pretorian?’
‘You took great labour to remove the scruples I had then—would you now bring them back again?’ she said.