But she failed entirely, as women of her sort always do.

She was brave enough if need be; if it must come, she had the courage to be poor.

But she had not the skill to paint to herself what it would be like.

She could not help thinking of Claudius.

It would be so pleasant just now to have him sitting there by her side, reading some one of those wise books he was so fond of.
It was so hot.