experienced intended to fill us with twofold gratitude for the
delights of the mild spring in this blessed room?"

"Perhaps so," she answered sullenly, and then added in a low tone: "Here
at Lochias the seasons do not follow their usual course. They change
according to the pleasure of the supreme will. Instead of four, the
Egyptians, as you know, have but three; in the palaces on the Nile
they are countless. What is the meaning of this sudden entry of summer?
Winter would have pleased me better."

The Queen--Iras knew not why--had changed her arrangements for
Barine's reception. This vexed her, and her features assumed a gloomy,
threatening expression as the young beauty, casting aside her cloak and
kerchief, stood awaiting Cleopatra in a white robe of fine material and
perfect fit. The thick, fair braids, wound simply around her shapely
head, gave her an appearance of almost childish youth, and the sight
made Iras feel as if she, and Cleopatra also, were outwitted.

In the dimly lighted atrium of the house near the Paneum garden, she
had noticed only that Barine wore something white. Had it been merely
a night robe, so much the better. But she might have appeared in her
present garb at the festival of Isis. The most careful deliberation
could have selected nothing more suitable or becoming. And did this vain
woman go to rest with costly gold ornaments? Else how did the circlet
chance to be on her arm? Each of Cleopatra's charms seemed to Iras, who
knew them all, like a valuable possession of her own. To see even the
least of them surpassed by another vexed her; and to behold in yonder
woman a form which she could not deny was no less beautiful, enraged,
nay, pierced her to the heart.

Since she had known that because of Barine she could hope for nothing
more from the man to whose love she believed she possessed a claim
dating from their childhood, she had hated the young beauty. And now
to the many things which contributed to increase her hostile mood, was
added the disagreeable consciousness that during the last few hours she
had treated her contemptibly. Had she only seen earlier what her foe's
cloak concealed, she would have found means to give her a different
appearance. But she must remain as she was; for Chairman had already
entered. Other hours, however, would follow, and if the next did not
decide the fate of the woman whom she hated, future ones should.

For this purpose she did not need the aid of Charmia