rk of a family owning an
unspotted name, and living with wise liberality and secure solidity, in
which each had his assigned place, his allotted duty to fulfil, and his
fixed rights to demand. How often have I prayed to the Hathors that they
may send you a wife after my own heart."

"A Setchem I shall never find!" said Paaker kissing his mother's
forehead, "women of your sort are dying out."

"Flatterer!" laughed Setchem, shaking her finger at her son. But it is
true. Those who are now growing up dress and smarten themselves with
stuffs from Kaft,--[Phoenicia]--mix their language with Syrian words, and
leave the steward and housekeeper free when they themselves ought to
command. Even my sister Katuti, and Nefert--

"Nefert is different from other women," interrupted Paaker, "and if you
had brought her up she would know how to manage a house as well as how to
ornament it."

Setchem looked at her son in surprise; then she said, half to herself:
"Yes, yes, she is a sweet child; it is impossible for any one to be angry
with her who looks into her eyes. And yet I was cruel to her because you
were hurt by her, and because--but you know. But now you have forgiven, I
forgive her, willingly, her and her husband."

Paaker's brow clouded, and while he paused in front of his mother he said
with all the peculiar harshness of his voice:

"He shall pine away in the desert, and the hyaenas of the North shall
tear his unburied corpse."

At these words Setchem covered her face with her veil, and clasped her
hands tightly over the amulets hanging round her neck. Then she said
softly:

"How terrible you can be! I know well that you hate the charioteer, for I
have seen the seven arrows over your couch over which is written 'Death
to Mena.'

"That is a Syrian charm which a man turns against any one whom he desires
to destroy. How black you look! Yes, it is a charm that is hateful to the
Gods, and that gives the evil one power over him that uses it. Leave it
to them to punish the criminal, for Osiris withdraws his favor from those
who choose the fiend for their ally."

"My sacrifices," replied Paaker, "secure me the favor of the Gods; but
Mena behaved to me like a vile robber, and I only return to him the evil
that belongs to him. Enough of this! and if you love me, never again
utter the name of my enemy before me. I have forgiven Nefert and her
mother--that may satisfy you."

Setchem shook her head, and said: "What will it lead