and
with clasped hands, exclaimed: "By Mithras, my mistress, I cannot
understand you. Either you are ill, or that ugly bit of grey stuff must
contain some magic which makes you blind to everything else. Put
that roll away and look at the splendid presents that the great king
(Auramazda grant him victory!) has sent while you were at the sacrifice.
Look at this wonderful purple robe with the white stripe and the rich
silver embroidery; and then the tiara with the royal diamonds! Do not
you know the high meaning of these gifts? Cambyses begs, (the messenger
said 'begs,' not 'commands') you to wear these splendid ornaments at
the banquet to-day. How angry Phaedime will be! and how the others
will look, for they have never received such presents. Till now only
Kassandane has had a right to wear the purple and diamonds; so by
sending you these gifts, Cambyses places you on a level with his mother,
and chooses you to be his favorite wife before the whole world.' O pray
allow me to dress you in these new and beautiful things. How lovely you
will look! How angry and envious the others will feel! If I could only
be there when you enter the hall! Come, my mistress, let me take off
your simple dress, and array you, (only as a trial you know,) in the
robes that as the new queen you ought to wear."

Nitetis listened in silence to the chattering girl, and admired the
gifts with a quiet smile. She was woman enough to rejoice at the sight,
for he, whom she loved better than life itself, had sent them; and
they were a proof that she was more to the king than all his other
wives;--that Cambyses really loved her. The long wished-for letter fell
unread to the ground, the girl's wish to dress her was granted without a
word, and in a short time the splendid toilette was completed. The royal
purple added to her beauty, the high flashing tiara made her slender,
perfect figure seem taller than it really was, and when, in the metal
mirror which lay on her dressing table, she beheld herself for the first
time in the glorious likeness of a queen, a new expression dawned on her
features. It seemed as if a portion of her lord's pride were reflected
there. The frivolous waiting-woman sank involuntarily on her knees,
as her eyes, full of smiling admiration, met the radiant glance of
Nitetis,--of the woman who was beloved by the most powerful of men.

For a few moments Nitetis gazed on the girl, lying in the dust at her
feet; but soon shook her beauti