Neæra: A Tale of Ancient Rome

by Joel Chandler Harris

  CHAPTER VIII.

  The short sea-trip from Rome, and the few days' subsequent saunteringexcursion, from the opposite side of the bay, had served to restore theface and frame of Cestus to a nearer approach to their native fulness ofoutline. Nevertheless, his broad physiognomy was yet pinched and shrunken,and his garments of rough woollen material hung sharply and loosely abouthis diminished bulk. The artificial colouring of his skin was yetcontinued, for the nature of the Suburan was cunning and suspicious, anddid not deem the distance from Rome a sufficient reason to discard eventhis disguise.

  On perceiving the occupants of the workshop he stopped short on thethreshold for a moment, and surveyed them with as much surprise as theyregarded him. Masthlion raised his face from his hands, and, taking onestep forward, gazed at the new-comer intently. Cestus fixed his small keeneyes on the lovely face and form of Neaera, who, instinctively, inclinedtoward her lover. Then he withdrew his glance, and, marching up toMasthlion, clapped the potter on the shoulder with all his old swagger andassurance. 'How now, kinsman? How fare you after all these years? Do younot remember me?' cried he.

  Masthlion's heavy brows were knitted: his eyes gazed, nay, almost glaredintensely into his visitor's face. It would be almost impossible todescribe the mixture of feelings which agitated his whole frame. Wonderand relief were dominant, and anguish lay numb beneath. Suddenly hisvisage cleared, and he clutched the arm of Cestus convulsively, with sucha grasp of iron that the Suburan winced.

  'Marvel of marvels!' he gasped; 'what, Cestus, is it thou? From where?Thou art not dead, then--the gods be praised.'

  'I'm glad on't, kinsman, if it hath pleased thee,' said Cestus.

  'I have had you in my mind every day for months past--nay, as you entered,you were present in my mind.'

  'That was love indeed, and means a warm welcome--thanks, brother!'

  'Welcome--ay, welcome!' exclaimed the potter, seizing both hands of theSuburan and shaking them fervently, 'the very man of all I wished to see,and the least expected. It is the doing of the gods--praised be the gods!'

  'Humph!' ejaculated Cestus, just a little doubtful whether his kinsman'sjoy was altogether attributable to personal regard; 'and, if you will letme have my say, I am just as light-hearted as you to find you on earth,and not departed to the land of spirits. Luck is with you, Cestus! But howof Tibia, my sister?'

  'Did you not see her in the house?'

  'She is breathing like yourself, then! No, I saw her not, nor any livebeing, though I looked in every room. More fortune, Cestus; for they areall just as you would wish them, even to--and this bonny wench, kinsman.This is the little lass I saw last, as a bit of a chit, with her doll ofrags?'

  'The same, Cestus--Neaera; she has grown,' said Masthlion.

  'Grown! You say true. Neaera--I had forgotten your name--come, kiss youruncle, after how many years away, he dare not say, lest it make him feelso old.'

  But the fair girl shrank back from the proffered salute, and offered herhand instead, saying she was glad to see her uncle.

  'Well--well!' cried Cestus, with his loud rough laugh, 'I will dispensewith the kiss--I will not press it. I would not rob that young gentleman ofeven one; and, truth to tell, I have not a kissing look about myfigurehead. You are, at the same time, the finest lass I have seen formany a day--I give thee joy, Masthlion, of thy lovely daughter. And thisnoble gentleman, kinsman, has no doubt come to the same conclusion longago--you do not make us known--he is no apprentice to thy pottery trade Ican see.'

  'A friend, kinsman--and--and Neaera's betrothed,' explained the potter, withan askant look at the countenance of Cestus.

  'Ho! ho!' cried that worthy, 'then 'tis all settled. Give thee joy--youhave won a fair jewel, sir--but you give me no name, kinsman.'

  Martialis had drawn himself to his full height, and his face was fixed inits haughtiest aspect, on the voluble, unretiring Suburan.

  'My name is Martialis; and if you are indeed the uncle of Neaera I willtake your hand,' he said, stretching out his fingers accordingly.

  'I am proud to do so with such a free-minded noble,' answered Cestus,suiting the action to the word, 'for you are of knightly rank, I see, andas much above me as the eagle above a barn-door fowl. Nevertheless I canwish you happiness; fortune, without doubt, you already possess, so thereis no need to wish you that.'

  'I thank you!' said Martialis coldly.

  'And you! I remember you being stouter in body and whiter in face. Whencehave you come?' inquired Masthlion.

  'It is a long story, kinsman, and I will tell you at leisure,' repliedCestus; 'enough for the present to tell you I have been at death's door,and have come to gain back my strength in the pure air of Surrentum. Ihave come to tarry a season in your house, Masthlion, if you arewilling--it shall cost you nothing, save the infliction of my company.'

  'Stop, and welcome, till you are hale and strong; but, for the rest, I canyet afford to house my kinsman, as a guest, without turning tavernkeeper--no man who tastes my bread and salt under my roof must pay for thesame.'

  'Well, as you like. I am delighted to see you, by Jupiter.'

  'And I thee--I have needed thee, and have much to say.'

  'And I also; most especially to have my eyes gladdened with Neaera, my fairniece--but come, there yet remains sister Tibia.'

  'Ay, true,' said Masthlion, going to the door. 'Into the house! Hastethee, girl--take thy uncle's wallet! Prepare his room! Get water! TheCenturion will excuse thee for a little time. I will go and get rid of myclay coating and be with you soon--come!'

  They all, therefore, left the workshop, and proceeded into the house. Thepotter's wife, in the meantime, had re-entered, and met them. She lookedcuriously at the strange figure of Cestus for a moment, and then rushedforward and embraced him, giving vent to as many signs and expressions ofastonishment and delight as her quiet mild nature was capable of. Therewas, indeed, a faint similarity between the character of their faces, butvery little between their dispositions.

  'Hark'ee, brother-in-law!' said Cestus to Masthlion, as the latter waswithdrawing out of the little guest chamber, whither Neaera had conveyedthe appliances wherewith the traveller was to refresh himself after hisjourney, 'tell me something more of that tall young fellow downstairs.'Tis a gay young cock to be haunting a potter's house.'

  ''Tis a matter which has already given much trouble--nor am I yetsatisfied,' returned Masthlion, knitting his heavy brows.

  'Just so; the girl is handsome, and people tattle. One of his breed is adangerous visitor to your pigeon-cote,' said Cestus.

  'He has acted fairly and honestly, and is in haste to wed her.'

  'Bid him wait, and be patient for a while.'

  'What was I to do? I bade her tell him to come no more--to give her up asunfitting. He refused, and I went to Rome to find thee.'

  'Aha! Hast been to the great city, Masthlion, a-seeking me--well?'

  'I could not find you, nor yet Balbus, with whom you dwelt.'

  Cestus grinned.

  'No, it is not likely, for Balbus is not there.'

  'I did my best; I was in despair, and could not but let things go as theywere fated. You never came nigh all these years--it was reasonable tosuppose that you were dead.'

  'And nearly dead I have been.'

  'Even as you were entering, he was pressing me for her marriage.'

  'I came just pat, did I not?'

  'Thank the kind gods you have thereby relieved me of a heavy load, and Ifear have--but that is for me alone.'

  'But know you nothing more than the young fellow's name?' demanded Cestus.

  'I inquired in Rome. He bears a high character.'

  'He is a citizen then. What brought him here?'

  'He is a Pretorian Centurion with the Prefect at present in Capreae.'

  'Ho! ho!' murmured Cestus, 'this may be useful. I am sorry you had yourjourney to Rome for nothing, kinsman; but I am not too late, as ithappens, to ease your mind. I can, as you know, help y
ou in this matter,and I really came with much the same business in my head. It is a longstory, and had best be entered upon when we have a flagon of wine betweenus, and the women asleep in bed upstairs.'

  'Good; that will be to-night, if you are not too tired,' repliedMasthlion, with a sigh of deep satisfaction.

  'Meanwhile, fob the Pretorian off; it may, perhaps, be worth his while--whoknows?'

  Masthlion retired to make himself presentable, and when both men appearedbelow, they found a simple meal ready awaiting them.

  They did not recline on couches to their food, after the luxurious mannerof the higher classes, but sat round the table in the simple old-fashionedway. Cestus ate and drank vigorously. Nor did his tongue remain idle.Among many things, he informed them that he had met with a severeaccident, in which he had broken some ribs, and in consequence of whichhis master had granted him leave of absence to visit his kinsfolk, as soonas he was able to move.

  He had nearly all the conversation to himself. His sister was naturallysilent, and her husband was too busy with his thoughts to speak much. Asfar as the lovers were concerned, Neaera's mind was divided between disgustat having her blissful day spoiled by the unexpected visitor, and thedisagreeable feeling of knowing that his stay was to be more or lessprolonged. Her nature shrank from this unknown relative--his appearance,his loud, over-confident, self-sufficient style of talk, not unmixed withcoarse wit or impertinence. He was an unwelcome addition to her familycircle, especially in the presence of her lover. Many a time did the warmblood flame in her cheeks, and the fire flash in her eyes, as theSuburan's tongue wagged on with its accustomed fluency; and, not theleast, on account of the free and easy bearing of the talker towards herCenturion. Thus, when at length the Pretorian grew wearied of thepertinacity and familiarity of these attentions, and seized the earliestopportunity of taking his leave, the fair, indignant girl was relieved,even though the movement was to cost her the company of her lover. Angry,vexed, and ashamed, she laid her head on his shoulder as they stood alonebefore parting. He noted the red cheeks and the clouded brow, and hesmiled.

  'What think you of your new-found uncle?' he said.

  'Would he had never been better known to me than hitherto,' she answered.

  'You do not like him?'

  'How could I?'

  'And you never before heard of him?'

  'Never; would it were the same now!'

  'It is strange,' he muttered. These last words were not audible to Neaera,and after a moment's consideration he bade her bring her father for a fewwords.

  'You are angered--you are vexed at this man?' she said anxiously.

  'He can be of no consequence to me, nor need I ever see him again.'

  'You will never come while he is here, and he may stay--oh, so long.'

  'We will see,' he replied, smiling, as he took her in his arms again. 'Butgo,' he said, rousing himself; 'time begins to press upon me; it will besunset ere I reach the island. Go, bring your father.'

  'Lucius, what meant he when he said, "Not father!" in the workshop?' askedNeaera earnestly, looking up into the soldier's face ere she loosed herselffrom his embrace.

  They gazed into each other's eyes. The black piercing orbs met thelustrous gray ones, shining with their lovelight, as if to read eachother's souls, and then he shook his head.

  'I know not,' he said; 'it may be nothing--it may be something; you willdiscover in time, my beloved. Think no more of it.'

  Neaera departed, and brought Masthlion. Martialis proceeded to impress uponhim the desirability of fixing a time for his marriage with Neaera. He usedall his arguments, but to no purpose, for the potter refused allnegotiation.

  'In a reasonable time you shall know, but not thus soon.'

  'Good. The next time I come I will demand it,' answered the lover, in someheat. 'Farewell!'

  Masthlion left the room, and the Centurion, as he embraced his betrothed,said, 'Your father is unreasonable,--of what use is it to delay?'

  She murmured something to appease him, and he finally tore himself away.

  In order that she might come into contact as little as possible withCestus, she began to engage herself in household work elsewhere than wherehe was. This she managed to protract until near the time for retiring,which she made earlier than usual; and, thus, was almost altogether quitof the object of her dislike. By and by the dame Tibia thought fit tofollow her example, so the potter and his brother-in-law were lefttogether.