young, and youth is like to make much
of the little first sorrows. Furthermore, these are troublous days.
Saw you not the temper of the assembly to-night? Egypt is a-quiver
with irritation. Every little ripple in the smooth current of life
seems magnified--each man seeketh provocation to vent his causeless
exasperation. And when such ferment worketh in the gathering of the
young, it is portentous. It bodeth evil! You are but caught in the
fever, my Kenkenes, and your little vexations are inflamed until they
hurt, of a truth. Get to your rest, and to-morrow her smile will be
more propitious."

Kenkenes looked at the uplifted face and noted the laugh in the eyes.

"What a tattling face is mine," he said, "Is her name written there
also?" He drew his fingers across his forehead.

"No need; I have been young and many are the young that have wooed and
wed beneath mine eyes. I know the signs." She nodded sagely and
continued after a little pause:

"I shall not pry further into your sorrow, Kenkenes; but you are good
and handsome, and winsome, and wealthy, and young, and it is a stony
heart that could hold out long against you. I would wager my mummy
that the maiden is this instant well-nigh ready to cast herself at your
feet, save that your very excellence deters her. Go, now, and let your
dreams be sweeter than these last waking hours have been."

Again she kissed him and let him go.

In the corridor without, he received his mantle and kerchief from a
servant and continued toward the outer portals. But before he reached
them, Ta-meri stepped out of a cross-corridor and halted. Never before
did her eyes so shine or her smile so flash within the cloud of gauzes
that mantled and covered her. Kenkenes wondered for a moment if he
must explain the change in his countenance to her also. But the beauty
had herself in mind at that moment.

"Kenkenes, thou hast given me no opportunity to wish thee well, as the
son of the murket."

"Ah, but in this nook thy good wishes will be none the less sincere nor
my delight any less apparent."

"Most heartily I give thee joy!"

Kenkenes kissed her hand. "And wilt thou say that to Nechutes and put
him in the highest heaven?"

"Already have I wished him well," she responded, pretending to pout,
"but he repaid me poorly."

"Nay! What did he?"

"Begged me to become his wife."

"And having given him the span, thou didst yield him the cubit also
when he asked it?"