of both knew to their cost that in their own homes
their bearing was very different.

In their entertainments and feasts there was constant rivalry between
them, although the wife of the high priest considered it nothing short
of insolence that the wife of one inferior to her husband's rank
should venture to compete with her; while upon the other hand, the
little airs of calm superiority her rival assumed when visiting her
excited the deepest indignation and bitterness in the heart of the
wife of Ptylus. She, too, was aware of the enmity that her husband
bore to Ameres, and did her best to second him by shaking her head and
affecting an air of mystery whenever his name was mentioned, leaving
her friends to suppose that did she choose she could tell terrible
tales to his disadvantage.

Ameres on his part had never alluded at home either to his views
concerning religion or to his difference of opinion with his
colleagues. There was but little in common between him and his
wife. He allowed her liberty to do as she chose, to give frequent
entertainments to her female friends, and to spend money as she liked
so long as his own mode of life was not interfered with. He kept in
his own hands, too, the regulation of the studies of Chebron and Mysa.

One day when he was in his study his wife entered. He looked up with
an expression of remonstrance, for it was an understood thing that
when occupied with his books he was on no account to be disturbed
except upon business of importance.

"You must not mind my disturbing you for once, Ameres; but an
important thing has happened. Nicotis, the wife of Ptylus, has been
here this afternoon, and what do you think she was the bearer of--a
proposal from her husband and herself that their son Plexo should
marry our Mysa."

Ameres uttered an exclamation of surprise and anger.

"She is a child at present; the thing is ridiculous!"

"Not so much a child, Ameres, after all. She is nearer fifteen than
fourteen, and betrothal often takes place a year earlier. I have been
thinking for some time of talking the matter over with you, for it is
fully time that we thought of her future."

Ameres was silent. What his wife said was perfectly true, and Mysa
had reached the age at which the Egyptian maidens were generally
betrothed. It came upon him, however, as an unpleasant surprise. He
had regarded Mysa as still a child, and his affections were centered
in her and Chebron; for his eldest son,