ful child! And that woman who sacrificed
herself for me after I had wronged her grievously. Never have I thought
that misfortunes of such sort could happen, and that people's hearts
could endure them."

"Time heals time and prayer," whispered the priest.

The prince nodded, and again there was such silence in the tent that
the dropping of sand in the hour glass was audible.

Again the heir rallied,

"Tell me, holy father," said he, "unless it belongs to the great
secrets, what is the real difference between burning the dead and the
making of mummies? for though I have heard something at school I do not
understand clearly this question, to which the Greeks attach such
importance."

"We attach far more, the greatest importance to this question," replied
Mentezufis. "To this our cities of the dead testify; they occupy a
whole region in the western desert. The pyramids testify to it also;
they are the tombs of the pharaohs of the ancient kingdom, and the
immense tombs which are cut in cliffs for the rulers of our period.

"Burial and the tomb are of great importance the very greatest human
importance. For while we live in bodily form fifty or a hundred years,
our shades endure tens of thousands till they are perfectly purified.

"The Assyrian barbarians laugh at us, saying that we give more to the
dead than the living; but they would weep over their own lack of care
for the dead did they know the mystery of death and the tomb as do the
priests of Egypt."

The prince started up.

"Thou dost terrify me," said he. "Dost forget that among the dead there
are two beings dear to me, and these are not buried according to
Egyptian ritual."

"On the contrary. Just now men are embalming them. Both Sarah and thy
son will have everything which may profit them in the long journey."

"Will they?" asked Ramses, as if comforted.

"I guarantee," answered Mentezufis, "that everything will be done which
is needed, and should this earthly life ever be unpleasant to thee Thou
wilt find them happy in the other."

On hearing this Ramses was greatly affected.

"Then dost Thou think, holy man," inquired he, "that I shall find my
son some time, and that I shall be able to say to that woman: 'Sarah, I
know that I have been too harsh to thee?'"

"I am as certain of it as that I see thee now, worthy lord," replied
the prophet.

"Speak, speak of this!" exclaimed the prince. "A man does not think of
the grave till he has put a part of