The Vestal Maxima, Terentia Rufilla, was overwhelmed with all the arrangements which devolved upon her, and on the evening of the seventh of June was lying on a couch in her own chamber, weary and sad. A tall and most beautiful maiden was standing at a marble slab or table covered with evergreens and flowers, which she was weaving into wreaths and emblems with her long slender fingers. “Come and rest, Hyacintha,” Terentia said; “come and sit near me, I have much to say. To-morrow is the day of your first ministration in the temple, and you will henceforth be a priestess, fully qualified for the service of the goddess. Surely, never had the goddess a more beautiful and more true-hearted servant.” “Dearest lady,” Hyacintha said, “I feel but little worthy to take the honour upon me; but my heart rejoices to have the longing of years fulfilled.” “And thou hast no sad misgivings, dear child--no longings for the ordinary lot of woman to trouble thee; the home of the matron, the prattle of children’s voices, the maternal joy and pride which we vestals can never know.” Hyacintha’s pure untroubled face was raised to that of her friend as she answered-- “Nay, I have no such longings; I am contented, nay, thankful, to be free from all those cares which harass the life of many a woman.” “Thou art very young yet, dear child, though by special permission thy ten years’ probation has been shortened. Although in the tenth year of thy discipleship, it was not till the time of Pomona that first thou camest hither. How my heart went out to thee then, dear child, and how much we have been to each other since!” “Yes,” Hyacintha said, “I have known great happiness with thee, and my great ambition is, perhaps, too great to tell even to thy ear. It is a high aim indeed.” Terentia smiled sadly as she laid her hand upon the beautiful rings of clustering gold which shadowed Hyacintha’s brow. “Thy ambition,” she repeated. “Thy high aim--what is it?” “I was wandering last evening in the atrium,” Hyacintha said, “and gazing, as I have done since I was quite a child, at the figures of the past Vestals which stand there. I have often spoken to them. I feel almost as if I knew them all and their histories, as you have told them. I do know Flavia Publicia who has all the praises, and I cannot wonder, so gracious, so beautiful is her face. But I love almost best the face of Vibidia, who, as you have told me, so generously protected poor Messalina. That is a grand deed of any one to be remembered--it is so beautiful, dearest lady, to protect the weak.” “Is that thy ambition, then, my sweet one?” “Yes, that is part of my ambition; but the _whole_ is to be a Vestal Maxima. Oh! do not think me foolish, dearest lady, but I should love to have my statue carved in marble, and stand for ever in our noble hall, and for those who pass to read my name, ‘Hyacintha Severa.’ Is it too much to think of?”