g about your daughter--in
what way can I serve her? I have now accompanied her in her walks for
months, and would lay down my life for her."

"I fear that you can do nothing," Ameres said after a pause. "We have
many friends, one of whom will doubtless receive her. At first I
would, if it were possible, that she should go to some relatives of
mine who live at Amyla, fifty miles up the river. She was staying with
them two years ago and will know the house; but I do not see how you
could take her--the boys will be sufficient charge on your hands. She
will have her mother with her, and though I fear that the latter has
little real affection for her, having no time to think of aught but
her own pleasure and amusement, she will be able to place her among
the many friends she has.

"It is not her present so much I am thinking of as her future. I
should like my little Mysa to marry happily. She is a little
self-willed, and has been indulged; and although, of course, she would
marry as I arrange for her, I would not give her to any one who was
not altogether agreeable to her. I fear that should anything happen to
me the same consideration might not be paid to her inclinations.
However, Jethro, I see no manner in which you can be useful to Mysa.
So far as she is concerned things must be left to take their own
course."

"I trust," Jethro said, "that your forebodings will not be verified. I
cannot believe that an absurd suspicion can draw away the hearts of
the people from one whom they have so respected as yourself."

Ameres shook his head.

"The people are always fickle, Jethro, and easily led; and their love
and respect for the gods renders it easy for any one who works on that
feeling to lash them into fury. All else is as nothing in their eyes
in comparison with their religion. It is blind worship, if you will;
but it is a sincere one. Of all the people in the world there are none
to whom religion counts so much as to the Egyptians. It is interwoven
with all their daily life. Their feasts and processions are all
religious, they eat and drink and clothe themselves according to its
decrees, and undertake no action, however trifling, without consulting
the gods. Thus, therefore, while in all other respects obedience is
paid to the law, they are maddened by any supposed insult to their
religion, or any breach of its observances. I know that we are in
danger. The ideas that I have held of the regeneration of the people
by p