ce which would in
every respect be more advantageous. Of course she replied that she was
glad to hear it, but she could not but know that I was lying, for the
lotus flower I was holding in my hand trembled with the rage that
devoured me."

"And it was, you say, against Plexo personally that the objection was
made?" Ptylus said gloomily.

"So she seemed to say. Of course she would not tell me that she had
set her mind on her daughter marrying one of the royal princes, though
it is like enough that such is her thought, for the woman is pushing
and ambitious enough for anything. She only said, in a formal sort of
way, that while the alliance between the two families would naturally
be most agreeable to them, her husband was of opinion that the
dispositions of the young people were wholly dissimilar, and that he
feared such a union would not be for the happiness of either; and that
having perhaps peculiar ideas as to the necessity for husband and wife
being of one mind in all matters, he thought it better that the idea
should be abandoned. I had a mind to tell her that Ameres did not seem
to have acted upon those ideas in his own case, for everyone knows
that he and Amense have not a thought in common--that she goes her way
and he goes his."

"Let them both beware!" Ptylus said. "They shall learn that we are not
to be insulted with impunity. This Ameres, whom the people regard as
so holy, is at heart a despiser of the gods. Had he not been a
favorite of Thotmes he would ere now have been disgraced and degraded,
and I should be high priest in his place; for his son, Neco, is too
young for such a dignity. But he is ascending in the scale, and every
year that his father lives and holds office he will come more and more
to be looked upon as his natural successor. A few more years and my
chance will be extinguished."

"Then," Nicotis said decidedly, "Ameres must not hold office for many
more years. We have talked the matter over and over again, and you
have always promised me that some day I should be the wife of the high
priest, and that Plexo should stand first in the succession of the
office. It is high time that you carried your promises into effect."

"It is time, Nicotis. This man has too long insulted the gods by
ministering at their services, when in his heart he was false to them.
It shall be so no longer; this last insult to us decides me! Had he
agreed to our proposal I would have laid aside my own claims, and w