ing's ancestors,
Nefert? No? no more do I; but it seemed to me that Ahmes I., who expelled
the Hyksos--from whom our grandmother was descended--headed the
procession, and not my grandfather Seti, as he should have done. Here
come the soldiers; they are the legions which Ani equipped, and who
returned victorious from Ethiopia only last night. How the people cheer
them! and indeed they have behaved valiantly. Only think, Bent-Anat and
Nefert, what it will be when my father comes home, with a hundred captive
princes, who will humbly follow his chariot, which your Mena will drive,
with our brothers and all the nobles of the land, and the guards in their
splendid chariots."

"They do not think of returning yet!" sighed Nefert. While more and more
troops of the Regent's soldiers, more companies of musicians, and rare
animals, followed in procession, the festal bark of Amon started from the
shore.

It was a large and gorgeous barge of wood, polished all over and overlaid
with gold, and its edge was decorated with glittering glass-beads, which
imitated rubies and emeralds; the masts and yards were gilt, and purple
sails floated from them. The seats for the priests were of ivory, and
garlands of lilies and roses hung round the vessel, from its masts and
ropes.

The Regent's Nile-boat was not less splendid; the wood-work shone with
gilding, the cabin was furnished with gay Babylonian carpets; a
lion's-head formed the prow, as formerly in Hatasu's sea-going vessels,
and two large rubies shone in it, for eyes. After the priests had
embarked, and the sacred barge had reached the opposite shore, the people
pressed into the boats, which, filled almost to sinking, soon so covered
the whole breadth of the river that there was hardly a spot where the sun
was mirrored in the yellow waters.

"Now I will put on the dress of a gardener," cried Rameri, "and cross
over with the wreaths."

"You will leave us alone?" asked Bent-Anat.

"Do not make me anxious," said Rameri.

"Go then," said the princess. "If my father were here how willingly I
would go too."

"Come with me," cried the boy. "We can easily find a disguise for you
too."

"Folly!" said Bent-Anat; but she looked enquiringly at Nefert, who
shrugged her shoulders, as much as to say: "Your will is my law."

Rameri was too sharp for the glances of the friends to have escaped him,
and he exclaimed eagerly:

"You will come with me, I see you will! Every beggar to-day flings h