She became more at ease as each successive messenger came into the city, bearing the tidings of the Gallic proconsul's advance.

Too innocent herself of the political turmoils of the day to decide upon the merits of the parties, her hopes and wishes had gone with those of her nephew; so pure and unquestioning was her belief that he would espouse only the right.

And when the great panic came; when trembling consulars and pallid magistrates rushed to the Temple of Vesta to proffer their last hurried vows, before speeding away to Capua, their refuge; Fabia stood all day beside the altar, stately, gracious, yet awe-inspiring, the fitting personification of the benignant Hearth Goddess, who was above the petty passions of mortals and granted to each an impartial favour.
Yet Fabia was sorely distressed, and that too on the very day of the great exodus of the Senate.

She had heard for some time past rumours of the depredations of a certain band of robbers upon the Sabine and AEquian country.

It was said that a gang of bandits, headed by a gigantic Gaul, had plundered some farms near Carsioli and infested the mountain regions round about.