These words were addressed to Hyacintha, and she was about to obey when the sound of steps in the long cloisters made the women turn. And there, coming from the shadows into the dim light where they stood, was the same graceful, dignified lady who had passed by them on their way from the Forum. Terentia Rufilla was no longer young—indeed, it was impossible for the virgins to attain the highest office at a very early age. Ten years had to pass as a noviciate, and ten more was generally considered as a necessary probation before the honour of Vestal Maxima could be aspired to.
The servants and attendants all bowed low as the lady approached, and Hyacintha’s heart beat so loudly that she could almost hear it.
“What brings you hither, my daughter?” the lady asked.
“I am the daughter of Severus, of the house of Rufilla,” said the little maiden. “I crave to be admitted to the service of the temple, and my father has sent me hither from the city of Verulam in Britain.”
“Thy father! Yes, a post brought in despatches from Verulam yesternight, and there was a letter from thy father, Severus. Welcome, my daughter,” the lady said, bending over the little shrinking figure. “Welcome; and I will receive thee here and examine thee on some matters necessary to be known ere thy training begin. How old art thou?”
“I am eleven years old, lady,” Hyacintha said.
“Eleven! Ten is the accustomed age. Thy companions have mostly entered upon their services at ten, but we will not let that hinder us, if other matters prove convenient. Is that good woman related to thee?”
“Nay, lady,” said Clœlia, advancing; and then, encouraged by Terentia’s kindly manner, Clœlia drew nearer, and, bowing low, kissed the hand extended to her.
“And canst thou tell me aught of this maiden?” Terentia asked.
Clœlia, in a few words, gave the account of the perils by sea which the maniple under Burrhus had met. She did not forget to extol the merits of her son Caius, and to let it be known that by his skilful seamanship one galley had been saved. “The maiden has lost everything she possessed; because her sick, weakly, brother was aboard my son’s galley, and she spent the days with him, and returned to the vessel of Burrhus by night under the care of his lady Cornelia. The pirate attacked them at sundown, and soon overpowered the men under Burrhus, while Caius, seeing it hopeless to help men in their cups, and fearing this maiden might meet a fate worse than death, set his little vessel’s head to the breeze and escaped.”