ster, came back
from Thebes quite unexpectedly yesterday evening. Just as the Isis-star
was rising, he came suddenly on to our roof where Kerimama was playing
at draughts with my father; and he brought her such a beautiful golden
bridal wreath."

[Among the Egyptians the planet Venus bore the name of the goddess
Isis. Pliny II. 6. Arist De mundo II. 7. Early monuments prove
that they were acquainted with the identity of the morning and
evening star. Lepsius, Chronologie p. 94.]

"Tachot kissed the child and gave her her own costly fan. When we were
at home again she smiled archly at me and said: 'You know, mother dear,
that the words children say in the temple-courts are believed to be
oracles.' So, if the little one spoke the truth, he must come; and did
not you hear that he is to bring the bridal-wreath? O mother, I am sure,
quite sure, that I shall see him again.'

"I asked her yesterday if she had any message for you, and she begged me
to say that she sent you thousands of kisses, and messages of love, and
that when she was stronger she meant to write, as she had a great deal
to tell you. She has just brought me the little note which I enclose; it
is for you alone, and has cost her much fatigue to write.

"But now I must finish my letter, as the messenger has been waiting for
it some time.

"I wish I could give you some joyful news, but sadness and sorrow
meet me whichever way I turn. Your brother yields more and more to the
priests' tyranny, and manages the affairs of state for your poor blind
father under Neithotep's guidance.

"Amasis does not interfere, and says it matters little whether his place
be filled a few days sooner or later by his successor.

"He did not attempt to prevent Psamtik from seizing the children of
Phanes in Rhodopis' house, and actually allowed his son to enter into a
negotiation with the descendants of those two hundred thousand soldiers,
who emigrated to Ethiopia in the reign of Psamtik I. on account of
the preference shown to the Greek mercenaries. In case they declared
themselves willing to return to their native land, the Greek mercenaries
were to have been dismissed. The negotiation failed entirely, but
Psamtik's treatment of the children of Phanes has given bitter offence
to the Greeks. Aristomachus threatened to leave Egypt, taking with him
ten thousand of his best troops, and on hearing that Phanes' son had
been murdered at Psamtik's command applied for his disc