nusually downcast.

"It may be," she said with more cheer in her tones than had been in her
previous remarks, "that I shall die before they can wed me to Rameses."

"Nay, why not say that the Lord God will interfere before that time?"

"Evil and power have joined hands against me, and even the gods are
helpless against such collusion," Masanath answered drearily.

"The sorrows of Egypt are not yet at an end; mayhap the hand of the God
of Israel will overtake the prince."

"Thy God is afflicting, not helping; He will not spare me."

"The hand of the Lord is lifted against Egypt. Will He bless the land,
then, with such a queen as thou wouldst be?"

"Nay, but thine is a strange God! Mark thou, I doubt Him not! But ai!
I should face Him for ever in sackcloth and ashes lest He smite me for
smiling and living my life without care."

"Hath an ill befallen Israel?"

"If thou art Israel, nay! Thou hast flourished in this dread time like
a palm by a deep well."

"So he prospereth all his chosen."

Masanath shook her head and looked away. From the stairway Nan
approached.

"Unas hath come from Tanis, my Lady," she said with suppressed
excitement. Masanath sat up, trembling.

"Isis grant he hath not come to take thee to marriage," the waiting
woman breathed. Rachel laid an inquiring hand on the little Egyptian's
arm.

"My father's courier," she explained. "Let him come up," she continued
to Nari. The waiting woman bowed and left her.

Rachel arose and took a place on the farther side of the hypostyle,
with the screens of matting between her and Masanath. She was still in
hiding.

The fat servitor came up presently.

"The gracious gods have had thee under their sheltering wings during
these troublous times," he said, bowing. "It is worth the trip from
Tanis to look upon thee."

"Thy words are fair, Unas. How is it with my father?" Masanath asked
with stiff lips.

"The gods are good to the Pharaoh. They permit the wise Har-hat to
continue in health to render service to his sovereign."

Masanath, dreading the news, asked after it at once. Men have killed
themselves for fear of death.

"Thou hast come to conduct me to court?"

"That is the gracious will of my master."

Masanath half rose from her seat. "When?" she asked almost inaudibly.

"In twenty days; no more. I have a mission to perform and shall go
hence immediately. But I shall return in twenty days, never fear, my
Lady."

Masan