Anger rose to his head, and humiliation crushed him because he, the
heir to the throne, thanks to the fables of creatures like those who
nodded all their lives over wells of dirty water, was not now the vice-
pharaoh.

At that moment he heard a low rustle among the trees, and delicate
hands rested on his shoulder.

"Well, Sarah?" asked the prince, without turning his head.

"Thou art sad, my lord. Moses was not so delighted at sight of the
promised land as I was at those words of thine:

"I am coming to live with thee. But Thou art a day and a night here,
and I have not seen thy smile yet. Thou dost not even speak to me, but
goest about in gloom, and at night Thou dost not fondle me, but only
sighest."

"I have trouble."

"Tell me what it is. Grief is like a treasure given to be guarded. As
long as we guard it ourselves even sleep flees away, and we find relief
only when we put some one else to watch for us."

Ramses embraced Sarah, and seated her on the bench at his side.

"When an earth-tiller," said he, smiling, "is unable to bring in all
his crops from the field before the overflow, his wife helps him. She
helps him to milk cows too, she takes out food to the field for him,
she washes the man on his return from labor. Hence the belief has come
that woman can lighten man's troubles."

"Dost Thou not believe this, lord?"

"The cares of a prince," answered Ramses, "cannot be lightened by a
woman, even by one as wise and powerful as my mother."

"In God's name, what are thy troubles? Tell me," insisted Sarah,
drawing up to the shoulder of Prince Ramses. "According to our
traditions, Adam left Paradise for Eve; and he was surely the greatest
king in the most beautiful kingdom."

The prince became thoughtful.

"Our sages also teach," said he, "that man has often abandoned
dignities for woman, but it has not been heard that any man ever
achieved something great through a woman; unless he was a leader to
whom a pharaoh gave his daughter, with a great dowry and high office.
But a woman cannot help a man to reach a higher place or even help him
out of troubles."

"This may be because she does not love as I do," whispered Sarah.

"Thy love for me is wonderful, I know that. Never hast Thou asked for
gifts, or favored those who do not hesitate to seek success even under
the beds of princes' favorites. Thou art milder than a lamb, and as
calm as a night on the Nile. Thy kisses are like perfume from the land