stood behind the prince
with a fan, another with a shield, a third with a dart, and the
procession began. The heir walked under the baldachin, before him a
priest with a tube in which incense was burning; there were maidens
also who scattered roses on the path over which the prince was to
travel.

The people in holiday garments, with branches in their hands, formed a
line and shouted; they sang songs, or prostrated themselves before the
lieutenant of the pharaoh. But the prince saw that in spite of the loud
sounds of joy their faces were unenlivened and anxious. He saw also
that the crowd was divided into groups which people of some sort were
directing, and that the rejoicing took place by command. And again he
felt in his heart a chill of contempt for that throng which knew not
how to rejoice even.

Gradually the retinue approached the walled column which indicated the
boundary between Aa and Memphis. On three sides of the column were
inscriptions describing the extent of the province, its population, and
the number of its cities; on the fourth side was a statue of Ptah,
surrounded from foot to breast with an envelope; he had the usual cap
on his head and a staff in his hand.

One of the priests gave the prince a golden spoon with burning incense.
The heir uttered prescribed prayers, whirled the censer to the height
of the divinity's head, and bowed low a number of times in succession.

The shouts of the people and of the priests rose ever higher, though
among youthful exquisites smiles and jests were observable. Since his
reconciliation with Herhor the prince had shown great respect for gods
and priests; so he frowned somewhat. In one moment the young men
changed their bearing. All became serious, while some fell on their
faces before the column.

"Indeed," thought the prince, "people of noble birth are better than
that rabble. Whatever nobles do they do it with spirit, not like those
who make an uproar in my honor but are glad to hurry back to their
workshops and stables."

Now he measured better than ever the distance between him and the
lowest people, and he understood that the aristocracy was the only
class to which he was bound by a community of feeling. If suddenly they
should vanish, those stately young men and beautiful women whose
flashing glances followed every one of his movements, so as to serve
him straightway and carry out his orders, if they should vanish, the
prince would feel more alone among