She said no more, but gazed vacantly at the sea, lost in gloomy meditation. “Art thou weary, my lady?” asked Psyche, when she saw Agrippina close her eyes. “Ay, my child; and thou?” “I too sink under the burden of fatigue. We have travelled fast and far.” “Ay; we have made the entire journey from Rome in one day. Truly such speed was shown by our ancestors only when the enemy was in our land. I know not why we were brought here in such haste. Slaves are taken from Terracina to Rome in two days. A descendant of the Divine Caesar is hurried over the same road in one day. Oh that the gods should permit such brutality!” Again they relapsed into silence. The sun had now disappeared. The eastern heavens were heraldic blue, merging into a paler blue at the zenith and gradually melting into infinite gradations of purple, pink, and red, as they approached the horizon, where the clouds had now become iridescent, like mother-of-pearl. Towards the land the water was an intense dark blue; towards the west it reflected the celestial colors of the dying day. The first star--the boldest eye of the night--sparkled like a vibrating point of fire. On such a night maidens delight to rest on the hearts of their lovers and breathe the peace of happiness, mothers rejoice in caressing their children. But the emotions of the poor prisoners were not stirred by the influences of this lovely night; instead, they were smothered by the darkness that enshrouded their souls. When they arrived at the island, night had already descended upon the waters. They soon disembarked, and were conducted to a small, one-storied house. Agrippina said to Psyche, “’Twas here my mother passed her last days, my child.” “As a prisoner, my lady?” “Ay,” replied Agrippina, sadly. “How did she die?” Psyche asked in a soft low voice. “She was starved to death,” replied Agrippina, in a tone of anguish. After they had entered the house, the officer removed from Agrippina’s wrists the manacles that had wounded them. A small supply of food was given the prisoners, and then they were shown their sleeping-rooms,--a large room with one window that looked out upon the sea, connected with a smaller room which had no window. Both were plainly furnished with couches and _cathedrae_. The large room was assigned to Agrippina; the smaller to Psyche. The poor prisoners were soon resting after their terrible journey from Rome. The morning after the arrival of the prisoners, Agrippina reclined on a couch near the entrance of the house. This building was located on a desolate part of the island. There were no trees to afford inviting shade, and the prisoners were therefore obliged to retreat into the house to escape the fiery rays of the sun. Psyche sat on the tiled floor near her mistress. “Tell me again thy name, my child,” said Agrippina, with her melancholy eyes resting on Psyche’s beautiful face. “Psyche, my lady.” “Thou art a Greek?” “Ay, my lady.” “Why wert thou sent with me?”