ll the
lands beyond with glory such as has not been known in Egypt."

Now, at length, Tua seemed to awake. She rubbed her eyes and looked.
There was the sleeping Asti; there on the table beside her were the
water and the bread; there at the foot of the couch, glimmering in the
low lights of dawn, was the glorious figure of herself draped in the
splendid robes.

"Who, and what are you?" she cried. "Are you a god or a spirit, or are
you but a mocking vision caught in the web of my madness?"

"I am none of these things, O Morning-Star, I am yourself. I am that Ka
whom our father Amen gave to you at birth to dwell with you and protect
you. Do you not remember me when as a child we played together?"

"I remember," answered Tua. "You warned me of the danger of the sacred
crocodile in the Temple tank, but since then I have never seen you. What
gives you the strength to appear in the flesh before me, O Double?"

"The magic of Asti with which she has been endowed from on high to save
you, Neter-Tua, that gives me strength. Know that although you cannot
always see me, I am your eternal companion. Through life I go with
you, and when you die I watch in your tomb, perfect, incorruptible,
preserving your wisdom, your loveliness, and all that is yours, until
the day of resurrection. I have power, I have the secret knowledge which
dwells in you, although you cannot grasp it; I remember the Past, the
infinite, infinite Past that you forget, I foresee the Future, the
endless, endless Future that is hidden from you, to which the life you
know is but as a single leaf upon the tree, but as one grain of sand in
the billions of the Desert. I look upon the faces of the gods, and hear
their whisperings; Fate gives me his book to read; I sleep secure in the
presence of the Eternal who sent me forth, and to whom at last I return
again, my journey ended, my work fulfilled, bearing you in my holy arms.
O Morning-Star, the spells of Asti have clothed me in this magic flesh,
the might of Amen has set me on my feet. I am here, your servant, to
obey."

Now, amazed, bewildered, Tua called out:

"Awake, Nurse, awake, for I am mad. It seems to me that a messenger from
on high, robed in my own flesh, stands before me and speaks with me."

Asti opened her eyes, and, perceiving the beautiful figure, rose and did
obeisance to it, but said no word.

"Be seated," said the Ka, "and hear me, time is short. I awoke at the
summons, I came forth, I am pre