? Whatsoever befalls us results from our use at the
hands of men, or from the nature of our abiding-place. We must defend
ourselves, prosper ourselves and live for what we make of life. After
that we shall not know the troubles and the joys of the world, for the
tombs are restful and soundless. Is it not so, my Rachel?"

She shook her head. "Thou hast gone astray, Kenkenes. But thou wast
untaught--"

"I have reasoned, Rachel, and the Power I have found in my ponderings,
makes all the gods seem little. Thy God must manifest himself more
fearfully; he must overthrow my reasoning before I can bow to him. And
if, of a surety, he is greater than the Power I have made, will he need
my adoration or listen to my prayers? Nay, nay, my Rachel. If thou
wilt have me worship, let me fall on my face to thee--"

She interrupted him with a quick gesture.

"Kenkenes, have I prayed in vain for the light to fall on thee?" she
asked sadly.

He smiled and moved closer, looking down into her face as he had done
when he studied it as Athor.

"Nay, hast thou done that, and hast thou not been heard? Thou dost but
fix me in mine unbelief. Did any god exist he would have heard thy
supplications. Come, let us make an end of this. There are sweeter
themes I would discuss. Where hast thou been, these many months? Not
here in this haunted cave?"

His lightness sank her hope to the lowest ebb. A sudden hurt reached
her heart. His unregeneracy suggested unfaithfulness to her. Their
positions had been reversed. It was she that had been denied. Duty
reasserted itself with a chiding sting.

"I have been a guest with Masanath--"

"The daughter of Har-hat!" he cried, retreating a step.

"The daughter of mine enemy," she went on. "She found me here by
accident and took me to her home in Memphis. There Deborah died. And
there, eighteen days agone, I discovered who it was that sheltered me,
and now I return to my people."

"The fan-bearer did not find thee?" he demanded at once.

"Nay. Unseen, I looked upon his man. Alas! the wound to the
daughter-love in Masanath! On the morrow she departeth for Tanis where
she will wed with the Prince Rameses."

Kenkenes' hands fell to his sides. "Nay, now! Of a surety, this is
the maddest caprice the Hathors ever wrought. In the house of thine
enemy! Well for me I did not know it! I should have died from very
apprehension. And all these months thou wast within sight of my
fa