known, and write upon the portal, _Here, in the last temple of
her pride, dwells that tired builder, Meriamun, the Queen_.'

"Thus she talked wildly in words with little reason.

"'Nay, speak not so,' I said, 'for is it not thy bridal night? What dost
thou here at such a time?'

"'What do I here? Surely I come to be a child again! See, Rei, in all
wide Khem there is no woman so shamed, so lost, so utterly undone as is
to-night the Royal Meriamun, whom thou lovest. I am lower than she who
plies the street for bread, for the loftier the spirit the greater is
the fall. I am sold into shame, and power is my price. Oh, cursed be the
fate of woman who only by her beauty can be great. Oh, cursed be that
ancient Counsellor thou wottest of, and cursed be I who wakened That
which slept, and warmed That which was a-cold in my breath and in my
breast! And cursed be this sin to which he led me! Spurn me, Rei; strike
me on the cheek, spit upon me, on Meriamun, the Royal harlot who sells
herself to win a crown. Oh, I hate him, hate him, and I will pay him in
shame for shame--him, the clown in king's attire. See here,'--and from
her robe she drew a white flower that was known to her and me--'twice
to-day have I been minded with this deadly blossom to make an end of me,
and of all my shame, and all my empty greed of glory. But this thought
has held my hand: I, Meriamun, will live to look across his grave and
break his images, and beat out the writings of his name from every
temple wall in Khem, as they beat out the hated name of Hatshepu. I----'
and suddenly she burst into a rain of tears; she who was not wont to
weep.

"'Nay, touch me not,' she said. 'They were but tears of anger. Meriamun
is mistress of her Fate, not Fate of Meriamun. And now, my lord awaits
me, and I must be gone. Kiss me on the brow, old friend, whilst yet I
am the Meriamun thou knewest, and then kiss me no more for ever. At the
least this is well for thee, for when Meriamun is Queen of Khem thou
shalt be first in all the land, and stand on the footsteps of my throne.
Farewell.' And she gathered up her raiment and cast her white flower of
death in the flame of the brazier, and was gone, leaving me yet sadder
at heart. For now I knew that she was not as other women are, but
greater for good or evil.

"On the morrow night I sat again at my task, and again there came a
knocking at the door, and again a woman entered and threw aside her
wrappings. It was Meriamun.