here are certain matters in which
I will be my own law, and if the people do not like it, they may find
another Pharaoh."

Asti started at her words, and a light of joy shone in her deep eyes.

"Truly your heart is high," she said; "but, oh! if you love me--and
another--bury that thought, bury it deep, or he will never live to see
you placed alone upon the golden seat. Know, Lady, that already from
hour to hour I fear for him--lest he should drink a poisoned cup,
lest at night he should chance to stumble against a spear, lest an
arrow--shot in sport--should fall against his throat and none know
whence it came."

Tua clenched her hands.

"If so, there should be such vengeance as Egypt has not heard of since
Mena ruled."

"Of what use is vengeance, Child, when the heart is empty and the tomb
is sealed?"

Again Tua thought. Then she said:

"There are other gods besides Osiris. Now what do men call me, Mother?
Nay, not my royal names."

"They call you Morning Star of Amen; they call you Daughter of Amen."

"Is that story true, Asti the Magician?"

"Aye, at least your mother dreamed the dream, for she told it to me and
I have read its record, who am a priestess of Amen."

"Then this high god should love me, should he not? He should hear my
prayers and give me power--he should protect those who are dear to me.
Mother, they say that you, the Mistress of secret things, can open the
ears of the gods and cause their mouths to speak. Mother, I command you
as your Queen, call up my father Amen before me, so that I may talk with
him, for I have words to which he must listen."

"Are you not afraid?" asked Asti, looking at her curiously. "He is the
greatest of all the gods, and to summon him lightly is a sacrilege."

"Should a daughter fear her father?" answered Tua.

"When the divine Queen your mother and Pharaoh knelt before him in his
shrine, praying that a child might be given to them, Amen did not deign
to appear to them, save afterwards in a dream. Will you dare more than
they? Lie down and dream, O Star of the Morning."

"Nay, I trust no dreams which change like summer clouds and pass as
soon," answered the girl boldly. "If the god is my father, in the spirit
or the flesh, I know not which, let him appear before me face to face.
I ask his wisdom for myself and his favour for another. Call him, if you
have the power, Asti. Call him even if he slay me. Better that I should
die than----"

"Hush!" said Asti, la