he
mountains, and others sort them according to the instructions of a
physician; in the kitchens no banquets are prepared, but fruits are
preserved in sugar for the loved ones, and the sick in the camp. Joints
of meat are salted, dried, and smoked for the army on its march through
the desert. The butler no longer thinks of drinking-bouts, but brings me
wine in great stone jars; we pour it into well-closed skins for the
soldiers, and the best sorts we put into strong flasks, carefully sealed
with pitch, that they may perform the journey uninjured, and warm and
rejoice the hearts of our heroes. All that, and much more, I manage and
arrange, and my days pass in hard work. The Gods send me no bright
visions in the night, for after utter fatigue--I sleep soundly. But I
know that I am of use. I can hold my head proudly, because in some degree
I resemble my great father; and if the king thinks of me at all I know he
can rejoice in the doings of his child. That is the end of it,
Nefert--and I only say, Come and join me, work with me, prove yourself of
use, and compel Mena to think of his wife, not with affection only, but
with pride." Nefert let her head sink slowly on Bent-Anat's bosom, threw
her arms round her neck, and wept like a child. At last she composed
herself and said humbly:

"Take me to school, and teach me to be useful." "I knew," said the
princess smiling, "that you only needed a guiding hand. Believe me, you
will soon learn to couple content and longing. But now hear this! At
present go home to your mother, for it is late; and meet her lovingly,
for that is the will of the Gods. To-morrow morning I will go to see you,
and beg Katuti to let you come to me as companion in the place of my lost
friend. The day after to-morrow you will come to me in the palace. You
can live in the rooms of my departed friend and begin, as she had done,
to help me in my work. May these hours be blest to you!"

CHAPTER XXII.

At the time of this conversation the leech Nebsecht still lingered in
front of the hovel of the paraschites, and waited with growing impatience
for the old man's return.

At first he trembled for him; then he entirely forgot the danger into
which he had thrown him, and only hoped for the fulfilment of his
desires, and for wonderful revelations through his investigations of the
human heart.

For some minutes he gave himself up to scientific considerations; but he
became more and more agitated by anxiety