按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of stone which lie about under the walls of the tomb。 I wonder whether the
shade of Cecilia Metella was looking down upon us。 We have heard much
of her in these latter days； and yet we know nothing about her； nor can
conceive why she was honoured with a bigger tomb than any other Roman
matron。 There were those then among our party who believed that she
might still come back among us； and； with due assistance from some
cognate susceptible spirit； explain to us the cause of her widowed
husband's liberality。 Alas； alas！ if we may judge of the Romans by
ourselves the true reason for such sepulchral grandeur would redound little
to the credit of the lady Cecilia Metella herself or to that of Crassus； her
bereaved and desolate lord。
She did not come among us on the occasion of this banquet； possibly
91
… Page 92…
STORIES
because we had no tables there to turn in preparation for her presence； but
had she done so； she could not have been more eloquent of things of the
other world than was Mrs。 Talboys。 I have said that Mrs。 Talboys's eye
never glanced more brightly after a glass of champagne； but I am inclined
to think that on this occasion it may have done so。 O'Brien enacted
Ganymede； and was perhaps more liberal than other latter…day Ganymedes
to whose services Mrs。 Talboys had been accustomed。 Let it not； however；
be suspected by any one that she exceeded the limits of a discreet
joyousness。 By no means！ The generous wine penetrated； perhaps； to some
inner cells of her heart； and brought forth thoughts in sparkling words
which otherwise might have remained concealed； but there was nothing in
what she thought or spoke calculated to give umbrage either to an anchoret
or to a vestal。 A word or two she said or sung about the flowing bowl； and
once she called for Falernian； but beyond this her converse was chiefly of
the rights of man and the weakness of women； of the iron ages that were
past； and of the golden time that was to come。
She called a toast and drank to the hopes of the latter historians of the
nineteenth century。 Then it was that she bade O'Brien 〃fill high the bowl
with Samian wine。〃 The Irishman took her at her word； and she raised the
bumper and waved it over her head before she put it to her lips。 I am
bound to declare that she did not spill a drop。 〃The true 'Falernian grape；' 〃
she said； as she deposited the empty beaker on the grass beneath her elbow。
Viler champagne I do not think I ever swallowed； but it was the theory of
the wine； not its palpable body present there； as it were in the flesh； which
inspired her。 There was really something grand about her on that occasion；
and her enthusiasm almost amounted to reality。
Mackinnon was amused； and encouraged her； as I must confess did I
also。 Mrs。 Mackinnon made useless little signs to her husband； really
fearing that the Falernian would do its good offices too thoroughly。 My
wife； getting me apart as I walked round the circle distributing viands；
remarked that 〃the woman was a fool and would disgrace herself。〃 But I
observed that after the disposal of that bumper she worshipped the rosy
god in theory only； and therefore saw no occasion to interfere。 〃Come；
Bacchus；〃 she said； 〃and come； Silenus； if thou wilt； I know that ye are
92
… Page 93…
STORIES
hovering round the graves of your departed favourites。 And ye； too；
nymphs of Egeria；〃 and she pointed to the classic grove which was all but
close to us as we sat there。 〃In olden days ye did not always despise the
abodes of men。 But why should we invoke the presence of the godswe
who can become godlike ourselves！ We ourselves are the deities of the
present age。 For us shall the tables be spread with ambrosia； for us shall
the nectar flow。〃
Upon the whole it was a very good foolingfor a while； and as soon as
we were tired of it we arose from our seats and began to stroll about the
place。 It was beginning to be a little dusk and somewhat cool； but the
evening air was pleasant； and the ladies； putting on their shawls； did not
seem inclined at once to get into the carriages。 At any rate； Mrs。 Talboys
was not so inclined； for she started down the hill toward the long low wall
of the old Roman circus at the bottom； and O'Brien； close at her elbow；
started with her。
〃Ida； my dear； you had better remain here；〃 she said to her daughter；
〃you will be tired if you come as far as we are going。〃
〃Oh no； mamma； I shall not；〃 said Ida； 〃you get tired much quicker
than I do。〃
〃Oh yes； you will； besides； I do not wish you to come。〃 There was an
end of it for Ida； and Mrs。 Talboys and O'Brien walked off together； while
we all looked into one another's faces。
〃It would be a charity to go with them；〃 said Mackinnon。
〃Do you be charitable then；〃 said his wife。
〃It should be a lady；〃 said he。
〃It is a pity that the mother of the spotless cherubim is not here for the
occasion；〃 said she。 〃I hardly think that any one less gifted will undertake
such a self…sacrifice。〃 Any attempt of the kind would； however； now have
been too late； for they were already at the bottom of the hill。 O'Brien had
certainly drunk freely of the pernicious contents of those long…necked
bottles； and； though no one could fairly accuse him of being tipsy；
nevertheless that which might have made others drunk had made him bold；
and he dared to do perhaps more than might become a man。 If under any
circumstances he could be fool enough to make an avowal of love to Mrs。
93
… Page 94…
STORIES
Talboys he might be expected； as we all thought； to do it now。
We watched them as they made for a gap in the wall which led through
into the large enclosed space of the old circus。 It had been an arena for
chariot games； and they had gone down with the avowed purpose of
searching where might have been the meta and ascertaining how the
drivers could have turned when at their full speed。 For a while we had
heard their voices； or rather her voice e