as many noted, was spotted with ill-omened blood, nor even
the royal crown which now, for the first time, was set upon his huge,
round head, could hide from those who watched that this bridegroom was
ill at ease. Even as he stood there, bowing in answer to the obsequious
shouts of the multitude, the sceptre in his fat hand shook, and his red
lips blanched and trembled. Still he smiled and bowed on, till at length
the shouting died away, and quiet fell upon the place.

Abi was forgotten, they waited the coming of the Queen, and though no
herald called her advent, yet every heart of all those thousands felt
that she drew near to them. Look! Yonder she stood. They had watched
closely enough, yet none saw her come, doubtless because the shadows
were thick. But there she stood, quite alone upon the edge of the dais
in front of the two thrones, and, oh! she was different from what they
had expected. Thus now she wore no gorgeous robes, but only a simple
garment of purest white, cut low upon her bosom, where the red rays of
the sinking sun, striking up the hall, revealed to every eye that dark
mole shaped like the Cross of Life, which was her wondrous birthmark.
But two ornaments adorned her, the double snakes of royalty, golden with
red eyes, set in front of her tall white head-dress, which none but
she might wear, the crowns of Upper and of Lower Egypt, and of all
the subject lands, and in her hand a sceptre fashioned of gold, and
surmounted by a lotus-bloom of sapphire, that sceptre of which rumour
had told the magic tale.

Yes, she was different. They had thought to see a woman weak and pale,
her eyes still red with grief, her face still stained with tears, one
who had been tamed by misfortune, hunger, and the fear of death, whence
she had bought herself by marriage with her conqueror. But it was not
so, for never had the Star of Amen shone half so beautiful, never had
they seen such majesty in those deep blue eyes that looked them through
and through as though they read the secret heart of every one of them.
Her tall and lovely form had not wasted, her cheeks were red with the
glow of health; power and dignity flowed from her presence, fear seemed
beneath her feet.

Now no voice was lifted up; they stared at her, and, smiling a little,
she answered them with her calm eyes till their heads sank beneath her
gaze. Then at length in the midst of that dead, oppressive silence which
none dared to break, she turned, and they