ath saw that he mocked her. Her wrath was an effective
counter-irritant for her trouble. She was calm again.

"Then, if thy message is delivered, go!"

He backed out and descended the stairway.

When she was sure he was gone she flung herself, in a paroxysm of wild
grief and despair, face down on her cushions. At that moment a cold
hand caught her arm. She looked up and saw Rachel. All the blue had
gone from the Israelite's eyes, leaving them black with dreadful
conviction. The color had receded from her cheeks and her figure was
rigid.

"Who was that man?" she demanded in a voice low with concentrated
emotion.

"Unas, my father's man. What is amiss, Rachel?"

The Israelite stood for a moment as though she permitted the
intelligence to assemble all the further facts that it entailed. Then
she turned away and walked swiftly toward the well of the stair.

"Rachel! Thou--what--thou hast not answered me," Masanath called.

"There is naught to be said. I--it were best that I go to my people
now, since thou goest to marriage," was the unready reply.

"Thou wilt return to thy people! Rachel! Nay, nay I Thou art all I
have. Come back! Come back!" Masanath cried, running after her.

Rachel hesitated, trembling with a multitude of emotions.

"It were better I should go," she insisted, trying to escape Masanath's
clasp. "If I go now I can reach my people and be hidden safely."

The little Egyptian flung herself upon the Israelite, weeping.

"Art thou, too, deserting me--thou, who art the last to befriend me?
What have I done that thou shouldst desert me?"

"Naught! Naught! Thou dear unfortunate!" was the passionate reply.
"But I must go! I must!"

"Thou must flee from sure safety to only possible security!" Masanath
demanded through her tears. "If I must wed this terrible prince, I
shall put my misery to some use. I shall ask thy liberty at his hands
and thou shalt live with me for ever, my one comfort, my one support."

"But Israel departeth shortly--"

"Thou shalt not go," Masanath declared hysterically. "I will not
suffer thee! The doors shall be barred against thy departure!"

Rachel turned her head away and pushed back her hair. Her plight was
desperate. Meanwhile Masanath went on.

"It is not like thee, Rachel, to desert me! I had not dreamed thee so
selfish--so cruel!"

"Sister!" Rachel cried, "thou torturest me!" On a sudden Masanath
raised her head and gazed at the Israeli