"Nay, it is as well that I do not; she might bewitch me. And seeing that
she is born of slaves, how shall she be pampered above her parents? Put
the folly from thy mind, Masanath, and trouble me not concerning a single
slave. Shall I let one go, seeing that I am holding the body at the
sacrifice of Egypt?"

Great was Masanath's distress to make her seize him so beseechingly.

"Turn not away, my Lord," she begged. "See what havoc I have wrought for
Rachel when I sought to help her. And behold the honesty of thy boast of
love for me. My first boon and thou dost deny it!"

He laughed, and slipping an arm about her, pressed her to him.

"First am I a king--next a lover," he said. "Thy prayer seeketh to come
between me and my rule over the Israelites. Ask for something which hath
naught to do with my scepter."

"Surely if thou sendest her to the brick-fields Kenkenes will go into
slavery with her," she persisted, enduring his clasp in the hope that he
might soften.

"Then it were time for the dreamer to be awakened by his prince."

"Thou wilt not come between them!" she exclaimed.

"Nay, no need. Seven days of the lash and the sun of the slave-world
will heal Kenkenes."

"Thou shalt see!" Masanath declared, endeavoring to free herself. "And
the gods judge thee for thy savage use of maidenhood!"

Again he laughed, and this time he kissed her in spite of her resistance.

"The gods judge me rather for this sweeter use of maidenhood," he said.
"Let them continue to prosper me in it and hasten the day of her
willingness. Meanwhile," he continued, still holding her, as if he
enjoyed the mastery over her, "get thee back to thy sleep and put the
thought of slaves out of thy mind. To-morrow thou settest thy feet in
the path to the throne; to-morrow there will be ceremonies and prayers
and blessings out of number; and to-morrow sunset thou art no longer
betrothed but a bride! My bride! Go now, and be proud of me if thou
canst not love me!"

He released her and, as he entered his apartments, lifted the curtain and
stood for an instant looking back at her.

Masanath saw him through her despairing tears--strong, immovable,
terrible--in his youth and his purposes and his capabilities.

Then the curtain fell behind him.

Crushed and stunned with despair and horror, she made her way to her
apartments in a mist of tears.

There was no help for the beloved Rachel or for the young lover. All
whom she might a