The litter came, with a horse for Basil; Felix, together with Aurelia's grey-headed porter and a female slave--these two the only servants that had remained in the house at Cumae--followed on foot, and the baggage was carried up on men's shoulders.
'Decius!' cried Basil, in a passionate undertone, when he encountered his kinsman in the vestibule.

'Decius! we are here--and one with us whom you know not.

Hush! Stifle your curiosity till to-morrow.

Let them pass.' So had the day gone by, and not once had he looked upon the face of Veranilda.
He saw her early on the morrow.

Aurelia, though the whole villa was now at her command, chose still to inhabit the house of Proba; and thither, when the day was yet young, she summoned Basil.