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Juba had already crept into the dark closet which served him for a sleeping-place; had taken off his sandals, and loosened his belt; had wrapt the serpent he had about him round his neck, and was breathing heavily. Jucundus made the parting libation, and Cornelius took his leave.
“Creator,” answered Juba, tossing back his head with an air of superiority; “Creator;—that, I consider, is an assumption.” “O, my dear brother,” cried Agellius, “don’t go on in that dreadful way!” “ ‘Go on!’ who began? Is one man to lay down the law, and not the other too? Is it so generally received, this belief of a Creator? Who have brought in the belief?
“You must not say that under my roof,” cried Agellius, feeling he must not let his brother’s charge pass without a protest. “Many are my sins, but unbelief is not one of them.” Juba tossed his head. “I think I can see through a stone slab as well as any one,” he said. “It is as I have said; but you’re too proud to confess it. It’s part of your hypocrisy.”
King Juba, not unprepared for such an issue, had in that case resolved to die in a way which seemed to him befitting a king, and had caused an enormous funeral pile to be prepared in the market-place of his city Zama, which was intended to consume along with his body all his treasures and the dead bodies of the whole citizens of Zama.
When this point had been reached, he stamped upon the floor to summon his servant from the room below. "Lay out the white and gold, Juba," he ordered, when the negro appeared, "and come make me very fine. I am for the Palace, I and a brown lady that hath bewitched me! The white sword knot, sirrah; and cock my hat with the diamond brooch"
As before, they slept together, and he threw him self on the lounge without taking off his clothes. Ernest slept well. When he woke up at eight o'clock he saw that Frank was still sleeping, but his host was already up. Juba came into the room. "Get up, children," she said. "Breakfast is ready." "Where is papa?" asked Frank. "He took breakfast an hour ago, honey." "What made him get up so early?"
One day I had been pacing to and fro the hall, which was deserted; and the sight of the armor and portraits dumb evidences of the active and adventurous lives of the old inhabitants, which seemed to reprove my own inactive obscurity had set me off on one of those Pegasean hobbies on which youth mounts to the skies, delivering maidens on rocks, and killing Gorgons and monsters, when Juba bounded in, and Blanche came after him, her straw hat in her hand.
“Hm!” exclaimed Jucundus, making a wry face and looking round at him, as if to say, “What on earth is going to turn up now?” “To tell the truth,” said Juba, gloomily, “I did once think of her myself. I don’t see why I have not as much right to do so as Agellius, if I please.
He then turned to Cæcilius and whispered, “You see, old father, that others, besides Christians, can forgive and forget. Henceforth call me generous Juba.” And he tossed his head. By this time they had got to the bottom of the hill, and the deep shadows which filled the hollow showed that the sun was rapidly sinking in the west.
My only fear is that Blanche should become too dreamy and thoughtful. Poor child, she has no one to play with! So I look out, and get her a dog, frisky and young, who abhors sedentary occupations, a spaniel, small, and coal-black, with ears sweeping the ground. I baptize him "Juba," in honor of Addison's "Cato," and in consideration of his sable curls and Mauritanian complexion.
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