about noon
Perhaps even he had himself picked the roses for her , but had not dared to give them to her as her father was so near . But the young sculptor had not been at the gatehouse when Arsinoe went by . He had thought of her often enough since meeting her again by the bust of her mother ; but on this particular afternoon his time and thoughts were fully claimed by another fair damsel . Balbilla had arrived at Lochias about noon , accompanied , as was fitting , by the worthy Claudia , the not wealthy widow of a senator , who for many years had filled the place of lady-in-attendance and protecting companion to the rich fatherless and motherless girl . At Rome , she conducted Balbilla 's household affairs with as much sense and skill as satisfaction in the task . Still she was not perfectly content with her lot , for her ward 's love of travelling , often compelled her to leave the metropolis , and in her estimation , there was no place but Rome where life was worth living . A visit to Baiae for bathing , or in the winter months a flight to the Ligurian coast , to escape the cold of January and February -- these she could endure ; for she was certain there to find , if not Rome , at any rate Romans ; but Balbilla 's wish to venture in a tossing ship , to visit the torrid shores of Africa , which she pictured to herself as a burning oven , she had opposed to the utmost .