who resembled his mother in
spirit, he had but little affection or sympathy.

"Very well," he said at last in a tone of irritation very unusual to
him, "if Mysa has reached the age when we must begin to think whom she
is to marry, we will think of it, but there is no occasion whatever
for haste. As to Plexo, I have marked him often when he has been here
with Chebron, and I do not like his disposition. He is arrogant and
overbearing, and, at the same time, shallow and foolish. Such is not
the kind of youth to whom I shall give Mysa."

The answer did not quite satisfy his wife. She agreed with him in
objecting to the proposed alliance, but on entirely different grounds.
She had looked forward to Mysa making a brilliant match, which would
add to her own consequence and standing. On ceremonial occasions, as
the wife of the high priest, and herself a priestess of Osiris, she
was present at all the court banquets; but the abstemious tastes and
habits of Ameres prevented her from taking the part she desired in
other festivities, and she considered that were Mysa to marry some
great general, or perhaps even one of the princes of the blood, she
would then be able to take that position in society to which she
aspired, and considered, indeed, that she ought to fill as the wife of
Ameres, high priest of Osiris and one of the most trusted counselors
of the king.

Such result would certainly not flow from Mysa's marriage to the son
of one of less rank in the temple than her husband, and far inferior
in public estimation. Being content, however, that her husband
objected to the match on other grounds, she abstained from pressing
her own view of the subject, being perfectly aware that it was one
with which Ameres would by no means sympathize. She therefore only
said:

"I am glad that you object to the match, Ameres, and am quite in
accord with you in your opinion of the son of Ptylus. But what reason
shall I give Nicotis for declining the connection?"

"The true one, of course!" Ameres said in surprise. "What other reason
could there be? In respect to position no objection could arise, nor
upon that of wealth. He is an only son, and although Ptylus may not
have so large an income as myself (for I have had much state
employment), he can certainly afford to place his son in at least as
good a position as we can expect for Mysa. Were we to decline the
proposal without giving a reason Ptylus would have good ground for
offense."

"