regret
her. The other ladies who remained in Memphis, frightened at the
loftiness of Masanath's future, were uneasy in her presence and seemed
more inclined to bend the knee before her than to continue the girlish
companionship that had once been between them.

So she must entertain herself, if she were entertained at all.

For a time after the departure of Meneptah, Masanath had given herself
up to tears and gloom. When she had worn out her grief, the elastic
spirit of youth reasserted itself and once again she was as cheerful as
she felt it becoming to be under the circumstances.

The fan-bearer had taken a house for his daughter's use, during her
year of solitary residence, and her own servants, a lady-in-waiting,
the devoted Nari, Pepi, a courier and upper servant, lean, brown and
taciturn, and several slaves, both black and white, had been left with
her. The older daughter of the fan-bearer lived with her husband in
Pelusium. Her home could have been an asylum for the younger, but
Masanath was determined to know one year of absolute independence
before she entered the long bondage of queenship.

It was now the middle of June, the height of Egyptian summer. In a
little space the marshes, which had been, for eight months, favorite
haunts of fowlers, would be submerged, for the inundation was not far
away.

Masanath would hunt for wild-duck and marsh-hen, while there was yet
time.

It was an hour after sunrise. Her raft, built of papyrus, was
boat-shaped and graceful as a swan. Pepi was at the long-handled sweep
in the stern. Masanath sat in the middle, which was heaped with nets,
throw-sticks, and bows and arrows. A pair of decoy birds, tame and
unfettered, stood near her, craning their small heads, puzzled at the
movement of the boat which was undecipherable since they were
motionless. Nari sat in the prow, her hands folded, her face quite
expressionless. The service of the day was out of the routine, but as
a good servant, she was capable of adapting herself to the change.

The little craft darted away from the painted landing for pleasure
boats, and reaching midstream, was turned toward the north. The
current caught it and swept it along like a leaf.

As they passed the stone wharf at Masaarah, Nari looked toward the
quarries with a show of interest on her face. She even caught her
breath to speak. Masanath noted her animation.

"What is it, Nari?"

"Naught but a bit of gossip that came