sob:

"I am glad that you are comforted with meat, but do not mock us, Friend,
seeing that we are but lost wanderers who very soon must starve, since
now our food is done."

"What, Daughter?" asked the old man in an astonished voice, "what? Can I
believe that you gave all you had to a beggar of the wilderness, and sat
still while he devoured it? And is it for this reason that you weep?"

"Forgive me, Father, but it is so," answered Tua. "I am ashamed of such
weakness, but recently my friend here and I have known hunger, very sore
hunger, and the dread of it moves me. Come, Asti, let us be going while
our strength remains in us."

Kepher looked up at the name, then turned to Tua and said:

"Daughter, your face is fair, and your heart is perfect, since otherwise
you would not have dealt with me as you have done. Still, it seems
that you lack one thing--undoubting faith in the goodness of the gods.
Though, surely," he added in a slow voice, "those who have passed yonder
lion-haunted forest without hurt should not lack faith. Say, now, how
came you there?"

"We are ladies of Egypt," interrupted Asti, "or at least this maiden is,
for I am but her old nurse. Man-stealing pirates of Phoenicia seized us
while we wandered on the shores of the Nile, and brought us hither in
their ship, by what way we do not know. At length they put into yonder
river for water, and we fled at night. We are escaped slaves, no more."

"Ah!" said Kepher, "those pirates must mourn their loss. I almost wonder
that they did not follow you. Indeed, I thought that you might be
other folk, for, strangely enough, as I slept in the sand last night, a
certain spirit from the Under-world visited me in my dreams, and told
me to search for one Asti and another lady who was with her--I cannot
remember the name of that lady. But I do remember the name of the
spirit, for he told it to me; it was Mermes."

Now Asti gave a little cry, and, springing up, searched Kepher's face
with her eyes, nor did he shrink from her gaze.

"I perceive," she said slowly, "that you who seem to be a beggar are
also a seer."

"Mayhap, Asti," he answered. "In my long life I have often noted that
sometimes men are more than they seem--and women also. Perhaps you have
learned the same, for nurses in great houses may note many things if
they choose. But let us say no more. I think it is better that we should
say no more. You and your companion--how is she named?"

"Neferte," a