deep sympathy, a nameless anguish seized her soul,
and before Pentaur could open his lips, she had sunk slowly down before
Ameni, saying in low tones:

"I have sinned and defiled myself; thou hast said it--as Pentaur said it
by the hut of the paraschites. Restore me to cleanness, Ameni, for I am
unclean."

Like a flame that is crushed out by a hand, so the fire in the
high-priest's eye was extinguished. Graciously, almost lovingly, he
looked down on the princess, blessed her and conducted her before the
holy of holies, there had clouds of incense wafted round her, anointed
her with the nine holy oils, and commanded her to return to the royal
castle.

Yet, said he, her guilt was not expiated; she should shortly learn by
what prayers and exercises she might attain once more to perfect purity
before the Gods, of whom he purposed to enquire in the holy place.

During all these ceremonies the priests stationed in the forecourt
continued their lamentations.

The people standing before the temple listened to the priest's chant, and
interrupted it from time to time with ringing cries of wailing, for
already a dark rumor of what was going on within had spread among the
multitude.

The sun was going down. The visitors to the Necropolis must soon be
leaving it, and Bent-Anat, for whose appearance the people impatiently
waited, would not show herself. One and another said the princess had
been cursed, because she had taken remedies to the fair and injured
Uarda, who was known to many of them.

Among the curious who had flocked together were many embalmers, laborers,
and humble folk, who lived in the Necropolis. The mutinous and refractory
temper of the Egyptians, which brought such heavy suffering on them under
their later foreign rulers, was aroused, and rising with every minute.
They reviled the pride of the priests, and their senseless, worthless,
institutions. A drunken soldier, who soon reeled back into the tavern
which he had but just left, distinguished himself as ringleader, and was
the first to pick up a heavy stone to fling at the huge brass-plated
temple gates. A few boys followed his example with shouts, and
law-abiding men even, urged by the clamor of fanatical women, let
themselves be led away to stone-flinging and words of abuse.

Within the House of Seti the priests' chant went on uninterruptedly; but
at last, when the noise of the crowd grew louder, the great gate was
thrown open, and with a solemn step