At the sight of Marius he paused suddenly, and with a modest blush on recognising his companion, who straightway took with the youth, so prettily enthusiastic, the freedom of an old friend.
In a few moments the three were seated together, immediately above the fragrant borders of a rose-farm, on the marble bench of one of the exhedrae for the use of foot-passengers at the roadside, from which they could overlook the grand, earnest prospect of the Campagna, and enjoy the air.

Fancying that the lad's plainly written enthusiasm had induced in the elder speaker somewhat more fervour than was usual with him, Marius listened to the conversation which follows .-- "Ah! Hermotimus! Hurrying to lecture! [145] -- if I may judge by your pace, and that volume in your hand.

You were thinking hard as you came along, moving your lips and waving your arms.

Some fine speech you were pondering, some knotty question, some viewy doctrine--not to be idle for a moment, to be making progress in philosophy, even on your way to the schools.

To-day, however, you need go no further.