The Big Fisherman by Lloyd C. Douglas Read Free Book Online Page A

becoming a stranger even to myself.' Her voice broke completely. 'Please—may I not go home—just for a little while?'
    There was a long delay before Mariamne replied.
    'I wish you might, Arnon. Doubtless the King would consent if it were not for this military alliance. If it should come to the ears of the Emperor—'
    'I understand,' said Arnon weakly. 'Let us think no more about it. . . . And—I should like to go with you to the Temple. Is the Prince going with us?'
    Mariamne frowned and shook her head.
    'Antipas set off early this morning for the north. You know he has been made the ruler of Galilee?'
    'Yes, mother. He did not tell me, but I heard a friend congratulate him on it, at our wedding. Are we to live in Galilee?'
    'Part of the time, perhaps,' said Mariamne uncertainly. 'Antipas is a restless fellow. He does not like to stay long in one place. The King is building a Galilean embassy here in the city. Antipas will spend a couple of months every year in Jerusalem, attending to provincial business. He loves Rome, and I dare say he will want to be there occasionally. At the moment he is infatuated with the idea of building a beautiful villa on the western shore of the Lake Gennesaret in Galilee.'
    Arnon brightened.
    'That would be lovely!' she exclaimed. 'I have heard so much of that beautiful Sea of Galilee. Perhaps there would be sailing!'
    Mariamne did not share Arnon's sudden enthusiasm.
    'I doubt whether the Prince would be interested in sailing. There are some warm springs on the western shore. Antipas, who loves bathing, will build commodious bath-houses in connection with his villa. I think he hopes to induce a few of his wealthy Roman friends to build villas there.'
    Arnon's interest gradually faded. Instinctively she gathered that the Queen had thought it time for her to know what manner of life she should anticipate. But perhaps Antipas had not included her in all—or any—of his plans. If he had expected her to live with him in Galilee, he might have inquired what sort of home she would like.
    'Has the Prince planned the villa?' she asked.
    Mariamne stirred uneasily, reluctant to discuss the matter.
    'Perhaps,' she said. 'He spent all last week in Petra inspecting a few of the beautiful marble villas built by wealthy Athenians. He may have told you.'
    'He tells me nothing,' said Arnon.
    Mariamne sighed deeply and rose to her feet.
    'If you wish to go with us to the Temple, dear, you should be ready at noon. Your maid will tell you what you are to wear. His Majesty expects to leave the palace promptly at mid-day. It has been announced.'
    'I hope I shall be prepared for the blessing,' said Arnon wistfully. 'I am much in need of it. Is there anything I should do? I'm afraid I do not owe anything that should be paid back; and I have spoken no hot words, though I have had them in my mind, which is probably just as bad. Perhaps if my husband were here I might ask him to forgive me for all the unkind things I have thought about him.'
    The Queen drew a slow, sober smile and shook her head.
    'In that case,' she said quietly, 'it is just as well that he isn't here.'
    * * * * * *
    It was traditionally considered a misfortune in royal households if a titled infant was a girl. The father of the hapless child was expected to be grumpy and the mother was ashamed of herself. But nobody seemed much upset over the sex of Princess Arnon's baby; certainly not Arnon herself, whose experience with one Prince had not made her eager to produce another.
    Antipas was up in Galilee when it happened. But for a handful of servants, he had been spending his time alone. The new villa, on which more than two hundred skilled stone-masons had been engaged for five months, had risen a few feet above the massive foundation. One could easily imagine its oncoming beauty, even in the bewildering clutter of construction. The great oval pool, to be related to the house by a series of graceful arcades, had been completed—all but the mosaic