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Manlia takes a day's rest a dozen times a year. Even I have done it several times, when I was sore all over with jolting too long at full gallop over our so-called perfect roads. I was abed all day about a month ago, and certainly I rove hard enough and long enough yesterday and I was in the Temple half the night. I'll be back here long before noon to-morrow. "Don't you see how easy it is?
Everybody else is alert and keyed up with anticipation. His eyes are dull and he looks as if he wished that the show was over and he could go home." "You have read him right," Manlia told her. "He detests all kinds of spectacles, takes no interest in races and hates beast-fights. Most of all he loathes gladiatorial combats.
Surely these days are not auspicious ones for marriages, and surely better will come. You have my pledge, as had my dead friend Marcus Marcius in the matter of her name. Do you think it was nothing for me to call a daughter other than Manlia and for a plebeian house at that? Yet she is Marcia. Doubt not that I will keep this word as well."
And they all hint darkly at some danger to the Palladium; they all mention it somehow; most of them allude unmistakably to the Temple of Vesta; some of them manifestly refer to the Atrium; all of them speak of fire. "Now I know that the sacred fire will be cared for by you and Manlia and Gargilia and Numisia as well as ever it was since Numa.
He was received by Lutorius, Causidiena. and Numisia, who had been in close conference most of the previous afternoon and until late at night and again most of the morning from dawn. Causidiena, on account of her failing sight, was escorted by Manlia and Gargilia. After the exchange of ceremonious greetings Commodus asked: "Where is Brinnaria? Why isn't she here?"
Grasping her robe firmly with both hands, escaping by a hair's- breadth the despairing clutch of the horrified Manlia, Brinnaria half vaulted, half rolled over the parapet, swung sailor-fashion to the rope her robe formed, went down it, hand over hand, raced across the sand and faced the victorious secutor.
"It is the blood," he said. "She is truly 'Manlia, though called, against custom, for my dead Marcius. When Claudians change the toga for the paludamentum, and Ogulnians cease to babble of Greek philosophy, then shall a Manlian be lacking in the spirit of our order ay, and in the courage to act." Marcia did not seem to hear his words.
The deep boom of their applause pursued Brinnaria and made her cower. The people would never forget her now. They were in ecstasy. She was their darling. ON the drive homeward from that unforgettable gladiatorial exhibition Manlia and Gargilia shared the second state coach: in the first sat Brinnaria by Causidiena. "My child," Causidiena queried, "what ever made you do it?"
For Numisia, Gargilia, Manlia and Brinnaria, their main concern was to arrange that Causidiena should have as little as possible to do and that Terentia might devote as much as possible of her time to entertaining Causidiena.
"Almo!" breathed Manlia, in a horrified whisper. "Yes, Almo!" hissed Brinnaria. "What shall we do?" quavered Manlia. "Do?" snorted Brinnaria, "do nothing." "But we can pray," Manlia panted. "We can pray. Surely you are praying, Brinnaria?" "I am praying," came the answer, in a viperish whisper. "I'm praying he may be killed." "Killed!" Manlia gasped. "Yes, killed," repeated Brinnaria, viciously.
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