hed neck at the boy, stared in dumb
amazement at the wet cloths. Then she timidly enquired:

"Are the evil spirits driven out of the child?"

"Certainly," replied the physician. "Klea there has exorcised them, and
I have helped her; now you know."

"Then I may go out for a little while? I have to sweep the pavement of
the forecourt."

Klea nodded assent, and when the woman had disappeared the physician
said:

"How many evil demons we have to deal with, alas! and how few good ones.
Men are far more ready and willing to believe in mischievous spirits
than in kind or helpful ones; for when things go ill with them--and it
is generally their own fault when they do--it comforts them and flatters
their vanity if only they can throw the blame on the shoulders of evil
spirits; but when they are well to do, when fortune smiles on them of
course, they like to ascribe it to themselves, to their own cleverness
or their superior insight, and they laugh at those who admonish them of
the gratitude they owe to the protecting and aiding demons. I, for
my part, think more of the good than of the evil spirits, and you, my
child, without doubt are one of the very best.

"You must change the compress every quarter of an hour, and between
whiles go out into the open air, and let the fresh breezes fan your
bosom--your cheeks look pale. At mid-day go to your own little room, and
try to sleep. Nothing ought to be overdone, so you are to obey me."

Klea replied with a friendly and filial nod, and Imhotep stroked down
her hair; then he left; she remained alone in the stuffy hot room, which
grew hotter every minute, while she changed the wet cloths for the
sick child, and watched with delight the diminishing hoarseness and
difficulty of his breathing. From time to time she was overcome by a
slight drowsiness, and closed her eyes for a few minutes, but only for a
short while; and this half-awake and half-asleep condition, chequered
by fleeting dreams, and broken only by an easy and pleasing duty, this
relaxation of the tension of mind and body, had a certain charm of
which, through it all, she remained perfectly conscious. Here she was
in her right place; the physicians kind words had done her good, and
her anxiety for the little life she loved was now succeeded by a
well-founded hope of its preservation.

During the night she had already come to a definite resolution, to
explain to the high-priest that she could not undertake the office of