ght a friend up the valley, to see all that
tourists had to see. He had been put into her hands by a letter of
introduction from friends in America. They had seen all that her
health would allow her to see, on such a hot day. She had noticed
their camp in passing up the valley and could not resist visiting it on
her way back. Might she ask for an hour's rest from the sun? Her
friend was going to call back for her on the return journey.

"I knew you wouldn't mind," she said. "And I'm not going to stop your
work, or bother you."

"I'm not busy," Michael said--"at least, not for the moment." His eyes
avoided Millicent's, which seemed to him bluer than usual; but his
voice was less cold. His first greeting had been curt and almost
impatient. Millicent was evidently wiser and less difficult; she was
the same Millicent who had behaved so delightfully at the Pyramids.
When she was like that he was glad to be nice to her; he was almost
pleased to see her.

As their conversation continued--it was mostly about the tomb and its
great importance--a subconscious thought that she had come to the hut
for some reason which she was not divulging forced itself more and more
strongly on Michael. He became convinced of it; she seemed so
unusually contented and satisfied with the plan of confining her visit
to a short rest in the hut and their conversation to "the things of
Egyptology," that even Michael was suspicious. She was "_douce comme
un lupin blanc_," as she expressed it to herself later on. Her usual
insistence had vanished. She treated Michael as a friend, with the
proper touch of intimacy. This was when they were alone.

When Margaret came into the room, she hardened. Naturally Margaret
invited her to stay for lunch. She was Michael's friend.

"It is always a very light meal with us," she said. "But such as it
is, you are welcome to share it."

"Freddy likes his proper meal at night," Michael said.

"Thanks ever so much," Millicent said; she had noticed the coldness of
Margaret's voice. "I'd love to stay--that's to say, if it won't really
be giving you any trouble--you're looking fagged." She turned to
Michael. "What have you been doing with her?" Millicent spoke as if
she really cared. "You're too young for such tired eyes, for these
lines," she touched Meg's eyes and pulled open the corners. Meg's
shrinking gave her satisfaction. "Don't let Egypt ruin your looks, my
dear--a woman is only half a w