However, she answered before us all, ‘I am myself but a stranger here.’  This, I fancy, was because Statius had gone on in advance to see after the lunch.  ‘See,’ said Quintus, ‘this is what I have to put up with every day.’  Perhaps you will say, ‘What was there in this?’ It was really serious, so serious as to disturb me much, so unreasonably, so angrily did she speak and look.  I did not show it, but I was greatly vexed.  We all sat down to table, all, that is, but her.  However, Quintus sent her something from the table.  She refused it Not to make a long story of it, no one could have been more gentle than my brother, and no one more exasperating than your sister—­in my judgment at least, and I pass by many other things which offended me more than they did Quintus.  I went on to Aquinum.” (The lady’s behavior was all the more blameworthy because her husband was on his way to a remote province.) “Quintus remained at the Retreat.  The next day he joined me at Arpinum.  Your sister, he told me, would have nothing to do with him, and up to the moment of her departure was just in the same mood in which I had seen her.”

Another specimen of letters touching on a more agreeable topic may interest my readers.  It is a hearty invitation.

“To my delight, Cincius” (he was Atticus’ agent)” came to me between daylight on January 30th, with the news that you were in Italy.  He was sending, he said, messengers to you, I did not like them to go without a letter from me, not that I had any thing to write to you, especially when you were so close, but that I wished you to understand with what delight I anticipate your coming ...  The day you arrive come to my house with all your party.  You will find that Tyrannio” (a Greek man of letters) “has arranged my books marvelously well.  What remains of them is much more satisfactory than I thought[10].  I should be glad if you would send me two of your library clerks, for Tullius to employ as binders and helpers in general; give some orders too to take some parchment for indices.  All this, however, if it suits your convenience.  Any how, come yourself and bring Pilia[11] with you.  That is but right.  Tullia too wishes it.”

[Footnote 10:  They had suffered with the rest of Cicero’s property at the time of his exile.]

[Footnote 11:  Pilia was the lady to whom Atticus was engaged]

CHAPTER XV.

ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS.

There were some things in which Mark Antony resembled Caesar.  At the time it seemed probable that he would play the same part, and even climb to the same height of power.  He failed in the end because he wanted the power of managing others, and, still more, of controlling himself.  He came of a good stock.  His grandfather had been one of the greatest orators of his day, his father was a kindly, generous man, his mother a kinswoman of Caesar, a matron of the best Roman type.  But he seemed little likely