ter of two
mighty souls--tremendous charm against tremendous resistance--and Io, I
know that they have sounded to the deepest the depth of each other's
strength. I long to see Ta-user conquer--and yet, again I would not."

Thereafter followed matters which Kenkenes did not read. He rolled the
letter and gave it back to Io. The little girl sat expectantly
watching his face.

"Nay, I would not take Seti's boyish transports seriously," he said
gently. "His very frankness disclaims any heart interest in Ta-user.
Besides, she is as old as I--three whole Nile-floods older than the
prince. She thinks on him as Senci looks on me--he regards her as a
lad looks up to gracious womanhood. Nay, fret not, thou dear jealous
child."

Io's lips quivered as she looked away.

"It is over and over--ever the same in every letter--Ta-user, Ta-user,
till I hate the name," she said at last.

"Then when thou seest him at midday up the Nile, be thou gracious to
some other comely young nobleman and see him wince. Naught is so good
for a lover as uncertainty. It is a mistake to load him with the great
weight of thy love. Doubt not, thou shalt carry all the burden of
jealousy and pain if thou dost. Divide this latter with him, and he
shall be content to share more of the first with thee. But thou hast
condemned him without trial, Io. Spare thy heart the hurt and wait."

The young face cleared and with a little sigh she settled back in the
chair and said no more.

It was noon when the royal flotilla was sighted. There were nineteen
barges approaching in the form of two crescents like a parenthesis, the
horns up and down the Nile, and in the center of the inclosed space was
Meneptah's float. Here was only the royal family, the king, queen,
Ta-user, and the two princes, who took the place of fan-bearers in
attendance on their father. The vessel was manned by two reliefs of
twelve oarsmen from Theban nobility.

If magnificence came to conduct Meneptah, it met splendor as its
charge. The pastoral solitude of the Middle country was routed for the
moment by an assemblage of the brilliance and power of all Egypt.

With a shout that made the remote hills reply again and again, the
convoy divided, a half retreating to either side of the Nile and the
home-coming fleet entered the hollow. The nomarch's boat detached
itself from its following and took up a position in the center, beside
the royal barge. The advance was delayed only