l upon Egypt and
not upon Israel, Rachel may have fled safely--she may have escaped
them!" Mentu assented with a nod.

"She may have returned to her people," Kenkenes went on. "And if she
be in Goshen I must reach her, find her, before her people depart.
Having found her--" but Kenkenes stopped and made no effort to resume.
Mentu set his teeth, his hands clenched and his whole figure seemed to
denote intense physical restraint. Suddenly he whirled upon his son.

"Thou wilt go with her, out of Egypt?" he demanded.

"I shall go with her, out of Egypt."

Mentu gained his feet. "And dost thou remember that while I live my
commands are yet law over thee?" he continued in a tone of increasing
intensity. "Mine it is to say whether thou shall do this thing or do
it not!"

He turned away and strode back to his post against the door-frame, his
face toward the night. Kenkenes had slowly risen to his feet. Not for
an instant did his father's authority appear to him as an obstacle. He
knew that the murket's outburst was a final stand before capitulation.
Kenkenes was troubled only for what might follow after his father had
surrendered.

He followed the murket to the door and laid his arm across the broad
shoulders.

"Father," he said persuasively. Mentu did not move.

"Look at me, father," Kenkenes insisted. Still no movement. The young
man put his arm closer about the shoulders, and lifting his hand, would
have turned the face toward him. But the palm touched a wet cheek.

The murket had consented.

* * * * * *

An hour later, when it was far into the second watch, Kenkenes changed
his dress and made himself presentable. Then, without further counsel
with the murket, he went silently and unseen to the portal of Senci's
house. After a long time, for her household had been asleep, he was
admitted, and the Lady Senci, perplexed and surprised, joined him in
the chamber of guests.

With few and simple words he told his story, pictured his father's
loneliness and, while she wept silently, begged her to become his
father's wife--on the morrow.

There was no long persuasion; the need of the occasion was sufficient
eloquence for the murket's noble love.

An hour after the next day's sunrise Mentu and Senci repaired together
to the temple, and when they returned Senci went not again into her own
house.

In preparing for his departure, Kenkenes asked at the hands of his
father