the twentieth century as the Pharaohs in their
tombs and the painted figures of men and women and dancing girls on the
temple and tomb-walls were typical of the world's evolution three
thousand years ago.

After dinner she drank her coffee in the fine lounge of the hotel,
under tall palm-trees, while a Hungarian band played music which
stirred her blood and pulses. It made her feel very much alone and a
little desolate. She had been happier before the music began; it made
calls upon her heart, it gave re-birth to a thousand wants. Her sense
of loneliness increased as she watched more than one pair of lovers
gradually drift off and settle themselves down somewhere out of sight.
She heard one radiant couple making arrangements for going to see the
Pyramids by moonlight.

She had never seen the Pyramids or the Sphinx. Perhaps when she was
staying with the Iretons, they would take her to see them. She had
certainly no desire to make the excursion alone.

As she thought of the Pyramids, and Mike's association with them, a
wave of hate and rage spread over Margaret like a blush. She wondered
if any of the curious eyes of the tourists had noticed it; she had been
conscious of being freely criticized all the evening. She looked about
her quickly. The place had become almost devoid of young people; only
some elderly men and women were left, reclining in big chairs. With
the absence of youth, Margaret's spirits sank very low; it was not
bracing to her strained nerves and lonely condition to sit with the
elderly invalids and watch them passing the time away in a semi-dozing
condition until it was the recognized hour for going to bed.

To be true to Michael she must not allow herself to grow despondent.
Hadassah Ireton had gone through far greater trials and suffering than
she was facing, and what had been her reward? Margaret visualized her
married life, her expression of happiness as she greeted her, her pride
in the small son who was toddling at her side. It was a condition of
life well worth suffering and waiting for.

When the clock struck ten, Margaret rose from her retired seat. She
felt justified in going early to bed after such a long and trying day.
There was nothing better to do. As she entered the lift which was to
take her up to her floor, she suddenly found herself face to face with
Millicent Mervill.

She was so wholly unprepared for the meeting that she never afterwards
was able to understand why