g a change. The pity he
had felt that night a month agone for her sanguine anticipation of
freedom seemed useless and wasted. Her confidence was no longer
fatuous. He admitted in entirety the truth of her last words. If all
Israel--nay, if but part, if but its leaders were as able and
determined as she, did Meneptah guess his peril? Was not Egypt most
ominously menaced? He remembered that he had been amused at his
father's perturbation over the Israelitish unrest, but he vindicated
Mentu then and there. Furthermore, if all Israel were like unto her,
what heinous injustice had been perpetrated upon an able people? He
found himself hoping that they would assert themselves and enter
freedom, whether it be in Canaan or in Egypt.

"If ever Israel come to her own," he said impulsively, "I pray thee,
Rachel, remember me to her powers as her partizan in her darker days.
And take this into account when thou comest to judge Egypt. The half
of the nation know not thy people, even as I have been ignorant; and
Osiris pity the hand that would oppress them if all Egypt is made
acquainted with them as I have been in these past days. Art thou
indeed typical of thy race?"

"Hast thou not been among us often enough to discover?" she parried
smilingly.

He shook his head. "Nay, I have known but one Israelite, and she keeps
me perpetually aghast at Egypt."

Rachel's eyes fell.

"We did speak of the statue," she began.

"O, aye! I meant to tell thee how I had fortified myself against
mischance. I can not break up the statue; sooner would I assail sweet
flesh with a sledge; but when it is done I shall bury it in the sands.
It will wrench me sorely to do even that. During the carving I feel
most secure, for Memphis and Masaarah think I come hither to look after
the removal of stones, since I am a sculptor. But if an Egyptian
should come upon it by mischance before it is complete, I have left no
trace of myself upon it. Most of all I trust to the generosity of the
Hathors, who have abetted me so openly thus far."

Rachel heard him thoughtfully.

"What a pity it is that thou must follow after the pattern of God and
sate thy love of beauty by stealth under ban and in fear. Till what
time Mizraim sets this law of sculpture aside she may not boast her
wisdom flawless. It is past understanding why she exacts obedience to
this law most diligently, which fathers these ill-favored images of her
gods, when their habitations