n the temple steps. It was Archibius, who with
grave composure bade them follow him, and silently led them around the
sanctuary to a side door, through which, a short time before, a litter
had passed, accompanied by several attendants.

Ascending a flight of steps within the long building, they reached the
dimly lighted cella.

As in the Temple of Osiris at Abydos seven corridors, here three led
to the same number of apartments, the holy place of the sanctuary.
The central one was dedicated to Isis, that on the left to her husband
Osiris, and that on the right to Horus, the son of the great goddess.
Before it, scarcely visible in the dim light, stood the altars, loaded
with sacrifices by Archibius.

Beside that of Horus was the litter which had been borne into the temple
before the arrival of the women. From it, supported by two friends,
descended a slender young man.

A hollow sound echoed through the pillared hall. The iron door at the
main entrance of the temple had been closed. The shrill rattle that
followed proceeded from the metal bolts which an old servant of the
sanctuary had shot into the sockets.

Barine started, but neither inquired the cause of the noise nor
perceived the wealth of objects here presented to the senses; for the
man who, leaning on another's arm, approached the altar, was Dion, the
lover who had perilled his life for her sake. Her eyes rested intently
on his figure, her whole heart yearned towards him and, unable to
control herself,--she called his name aloud.

Charmian gazed anxiously around the group, but soon uttered a sigh
of relief; for the tall man whose arm supported Dion was Gorgias, the
worthy architect, his best friend, and the other, still taller and
stronger, her own brother Archibius. Yonder figure, emerging from
the disguise of wraps, was Berenike, Barine's mother. All trustworthy
confidants! The only person whom she did not know was the handsome young
man standing at her brother's side.

Barine, whose arm she still held, had struggled to escape to rush to her
mother and lover; but Archibius had approached, and in a whisper
warned her to be patient and to refrain from any greeting or question,
"supposing," he added, "that you are willing to be married at this altar
to Dion, the son of Eumenes."

Charmian felt Barine's arm tremble in hers at this suggestion, but the
young beauty obeyed her friend's directions. She did not know what had
befallen her, or whether, in the e