“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.” The lady listened with courteous attention, and then taking Hyacintha’s hand, she said-- “I will now receive her into the house of the vestals consecrated to the service of the goddess. Has she an attendant?” “Yes,” Hyacintha exclaimed, “I have one attendant, but she remains at the house of the good Clœlia.” “And so may she remain. Of what nation is she--a Briton?” “Nay, gracious lady,” Hyacintha said, “she is of Roman birth, and her family are to be found here.” “Seek them out then,” said the Vestal, “and let her return to them. I must commit thee, child, to the care of those who will clothe thee in the proper habit, and to-morrow at dawn thou shalt be led to our high priest, who shall examine thee, and then consecrate thee for thy high office in the temple of the goddess.” Clœlia understood that the time for leaving Hyacintha was come, and she bade her farewell, making a low reverence to the stately lady, who, taking Hyacintha by the hand, was leading her away, when she turned quickly-- “I pray you, Clœlia, commend me to my brother Casca, and let me know of his welfare. I pray you assure him of my affection.” “It shall be as you desire,” Clœlia said, as she turned to pursue her way towards her home on the further side of the Forum. Hyacintha was led through the cloisters, up a staircase by which the upper floor was reached, to a small hall where several vestals were seated, employed in weaving a fine tissue embroidered with gold and silver, which was used for the service of the altar. As the Vestal Maxima entered the hall the sound of voices ceased, and the maidens rose as a token of respect. “I desire to speak with Lucia, who is the custodian of the robes. I need the garments for this young girl, who is the daughter of the noble Severus of my own patrician house, and who is sent hither from the wilds of Britain, to be restored to the high rank her family has ever held in Rome.” Then turning to Lucia, who had answered a summons from an inner hall, separated by a heavy purple curtain from the larger one, the Vestal Maxima continued--