VI. Ambition As Seen By A Queen 1 In the year 39 Bil Mark Ante bickering "in the: political world Ringel "eld stay, paid sate ud Antony toon tu holiday. mood, for genip. aged 44, tired out with donot Athens. As i was the wage at Rome News of his departure reached Cleopatra while she was holding her court in Syria, She had been strenuous fortnight entertain ambassadors from Arabia and Somaliland, whence came the ivory, Teopard skins and spices necessary to Egypt. One elaborate form of entertainment succeeded another for two weeks.and at the end of that time the queen was ready for a well-earned rest.
She retired to her apartments the windows of which were screened by fmvaid-servant in. attendant jasmine trellises. Iras the sedate
The queen had just finished her early evening repast and was sitting by tthe window enjoying the scent of the night-blooming jasmine when further particulars regarding Antony's visit to Athens were brought to her by an old tutor of the Roman's when the latter had been learning the vermeular at the Egyptian court. After the teacher had gone, the queen felt the need for human companionship, She called Tras to brush her hhait, which the girl did with a Soothing stroke. When the curative effects of this occupation had begun to permeate the queen's point of view, she grew talkative.
Tras,' she said, "It is a great mistake for a woman to have any anibition. A. woman's place is primarily in the home. I hope you will find some nice under-princeling and settle down in a pleasant villa Outside Alexandra and forget all about the intrigues of the court. I would see to it that you would get a nice wedding feast if you would only' decide to do this. There is no use in imagining that women get any-Where outside the home; I see it only too plainly in my own case. Teas, will you believe me when I tell you that only a few short months ago, Mark Antony and Cleopatra wore making plans to rule the world, partitioning it between them." The n's voice trailed off in rominis-
Jo of her ambition." Tras knew no answer was expected of her.
"Winstead of that Tras, my child, there is now this stupid non-workable scheme by which Lepidus rules Afviea and Octavian the West. Antony is supposed to be in charge of the East but can't say that i'm particularly impressed with his achievements so far, Mark Antony with me for a partner would have been the greatest power in the world. As it is he is dwindling away in Athens, And the whole of Egynt 4s full of dissension. Together we could have done wonders."
"Your Majesty has had such a full life, though," answered Tras.
[ras, you are a sweet child, real-the queen as a small breeze found its way through the trellises and stirred the hair on her brow. "But don't forget what I have just ing been telling you. Pick out a nice rinceling and get yourself married. Ti see to it that you have a hand-sorite wedding and T'l be godmother to your first baby. Anything else is waste of time. Believe it,.from a queen who knows." think that I shall enter the Temple of Isis as a junior priestess, Your Majesty, when Your Majesty has no more need of me," the gir! replied. "There doesn't seem to be very much to this other idea which so many people have."
"1 suppose you're right, Tras," the qugon seid then, "T's'all in the way one gets started; yet, it surprises me to hear you say' at your age that you are bored with love. If anyone should be bored with the idea it is surely 1, Yet at this very moment I am looking forward to the return of Antony. Ho has been eon-ducting himself badly in Athens, Tras, where they are calling him Dionysius, so you may be sure that he is a very naughty boy indeed for my countrymen to dub him in this way. But Tam convinced that he will be returning to Egypt before Tong."
"Court gossip;" volunteered 1 yas it that it is a, very bad sign that Antony has gone to Ath They say it means that he is losing round in Rome, "Ie is;" said the queen, "an omen. She purposely used no qualifying adjective, and she trailed out on the balcony to sit in the cool of evening and to listen to the musicians who were playing for her benefit in the garden below until drowsiness suc-Seeded to her rare sentimental mood, As soon as it did she went to bed and slept soundly.—Jill O'Lantern.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.