Hebrews. Moreover, it is not Pharaoh's wish."

She turned and answered with cold courtesy:

"Then I crave your pardon and thank you for your kind thought for
the safety of my person. I knew not this mission was so dangerous. Be
careful, Seti, that the scribe Ana comes to no harm."

So saying she bowed and vanished through the curtains.

"Ana," said Seti, "tell me, for I never was quick at figures, how many
minutes is it from now till the fourth hour to-morrow morning when I
shall order my chariot to be ready? Also, do you know whether it is
possible to travel from Goshen across the marshes and to return by
Syria? Or, failing that, to travel across the desert to Thebes and sail
down the Nile in the spring?"

"Oh! my Prince, my Prince," I said, "I pray you to dismiss me. Let me go
anywhere out of the reach of her Highness's tongue."

"It is strange how alike we think upon every matter, Ana, even of Merapi
and the tongues of royal ladies. Hearken to my command. You are not to
go. If it is a question of going, there are others who will go first.
Moreover, you cannot go, but must stay and bear your burdens as I bear
mine. Remember the broken cup, Ana."

"I remember, my Prince, but sooner would I be scourged with rods than by
such words as those to which I must listen."

Yet that very night, when I had left the Prince, I was destined to hear
more pleasant words from this same changeful, or perchance politic,
royal lady. She sent for me and I went, much afraid. I found her in a
small chamber alone, save for one old lady of honour who sat the end of
the room and appeared to be deaf, which perhaps was why she was chosen.
Userti bade me be seated before her very courteously, and spoke to me
thus, whether because of some talk she had held with the Prince or not,
I do not know.

"Scribe Ana, I ask your pardon if, being vexed and wearied, I said to
you and of you to-day what I now wish I had left unsaid. I know well
that you, being of the gentle blood of Egypt, will make no report of
what you heard outside these walls."

"May my tongue be cut out first," I answered.

"It seems, Scribe Ana, that my lord the Prince has taken a great love of
you. How or why this came about so suddenly, you being a man, I do not
understand, but I am sure that as it is so, it must be because there
is much in you to love, since never did I know the Prince to show deep
regard for one who was not most honourable and worthy. Now things being
so