."

"Thou art something higher," replied she, blushing deeply. "Thou art a
chief who has won victory. Thou art as impetuous as a lion, as swift as
a vulture. Millions fall on their faces before thee, and kingdoms
tremble. Do I not know what fear is roused by thy name in Tyre and
Nineveh? Gods might be jealous of thy influence."

Ramses was confused.

"O Hebron, Hebron," said he. "If Thou knew what alarm Thou art sowing
in my heart."

"For this very reason," continued Hebron, "I marry Tutmosis. I shall be
nearer thee, and shall see thee, though for a few days only."

She rose and left the hall.

Antefa noted her action and hastened in alarm to Ramses.

"O lord!" cried he, "has my daughter said anything improper? She is an
untamable lioness!"

"Be at rest," said Ramses. "Thy daughter is full of wisdom and dignity.
She went out because she saw that thy wine was gladdening the guests
rather powerfully."

In fact a great uproar had risen in the hall, all the more since
Tutmosis, abandoning the role of assistant host, had become a most
animated talker.

"I will say to thee in confidence, holiness, that poor Tutmosis must
guard himself greatly in presence of my daughter," remarked Antefa.

That first feast continued till morning. The pharaoh, it is true,
departed immediately, but others remained, first in their chairs and
then on the floor. Finally Antefa had to send them home as if they had
been lifeless objects.

The marriage ceremony took place some days later.

To Antefa's palace went the high priests Herhor and Mefres, the
nomarchs of the neighboring provinces, and the chief officials of
Thebes. Later appeared Tutmosis on a two-wheeled chariot, attended by
officers of the guard, and finally his holiness, the pharaoh.

Ramses was attended by the chief scribe, the commander of the archers,
the commander of the cavalry, the chief judge, the chief treasurer, Sem
the high priest, and the adjutant generals.

When that splendid assembly was in the hall of the ancestors of the
most worthy Antefa, Hebron appeared in white robes with a numerous
retinue of damsels and maids in attendance. Her father, after he had
burned incense before Amon and the statue of his own father, and Ramses
XIII, who was sitting on a raised platform, declared that he freed his
daughter Hebron from guardianship and provided her with a dowry. Then
he gave her, in a gold tube, a document securing her dowry, and written
before the court on