e creature, and to fill every day of her life with joy. When
he built his palace at Alexandria, he graced it with the inscription
that had been engraved on Thomas' ring: "God hath set the sweat of man's
brow before virtue."

Philippus and his Pulcheria also found a new home in Alexandria. He had
no long wooing to do; for when, on his return, the girl of whom he had
thought constantly during his long journeying, met him for the first
time in her mother's house and held out both her hands with trustful
warmth of welcome, he clasped her to him and would not release her till
Joanna had given them her maternal blessing. The widow lived in the
leech's house with her children and grandchildren, and often visited
her husband's grave. At length she was laid to rest by him and his
soft-hearted mother, in the cemetery of Alexandria.

Rustem, made a rich man by Orion, became a famous breeder of horses and
camels in his own country, while Mandane ruled mildly but prudently over
his possessions--which he never shared with others, though he remained
a Masdakite till he died. The first daughter his wife bore him was named
Mary, and the first boy Haschim; but she would not agree to Rustem's
proposal that the second should be called Orion; she preferred to give
him the name of Rufinus, and his successors were Rustem and Philippus.

The senator and his wife were only too glad to quit Egypt. Martina,
however, had the satisfaction of assisting at the marriage of her
dear Heliodora on the shores of the Nile; not, indeed, to her "Great
Sesostris," but to her nephew Narses, who by the young widow's devoted
care was restored, if not to perfect vigor, at any rate to very
endurable good health.

Paula's wedding gift to her was the great emerald, which had meanwhile
been brought back again to Memphis. Justinus and Martina always remained
on terms of cordial friendship with the young Mukaukas and his wife:
Nilus lived long after to perform his duties with industry and judgment;
and whenever Haschim came to Alexandria there was a contest between
Orion and Philippus, for neither would yield him to the other. But
Philip could no longer envy his former rival the wife he had won. He had
not, indeed, ceased to admire her; but at the same time he would say:
"My comfortable little Pulcheria has not her match; our rooms would be
too small for Paula, but they suit my golden-haired girl best."

He remained unselfishly devoted to his work till the end, and