earn that all that lives and breathes, that weeps and rejoices, is the
image of their sublime nature, and born to equal joy and equal sorrow."

Pentaur had raised his eyes to heaven; now they met the proud and joyful
radiance of the princess' glance, while she frankly offered him her
hand. He humbly kissed her robe, but she said:

"Nay--not so. Lay thy hand in blessing on mine. Thou art a man and a
true priest. Now I can be satisfied to be regarded as unclean, for my
father also desires that, by us especially, the institutions of the past
that have so long continued should be respected, for the sake of the
people. Let us pray in common to the Gods, that these poor people may
be released from the old ban. How beautiful the world might be, if men
would but let man remain what the Celestials have made him. But Paaker
and poor Nefert are waiting in the scorching sun-come, follow me."

She went forward, but after a few steps she turned round to him, and
asked:

"What is thy name?"

"Pentaur."

"Thou then art the poet of the House of Seti?"

"They call me so."

Bent-Anat stood still a moment, gazing full at him as at a kinsman whom
we meet for the first time face to face, and said:

"The Gods have given thee great gifts, for thy glance reaches farther
and pierces deeper than that of other men; and thou canst say in words
what we can only feel--I follow thee willingly!"

Pentaur blushed like a boy, and said, while Paaker and Nefert came
nearer to them:

"Till to-day life lay before me as if in twilight; but this moment shows
it me in another light. I have seen its deepest shadows; and," he added
in a low tone "how glorious its light can be."

CHAPTER VII.

An hour later, Bent-Anat and her train of followers stood before the
gate of the House of Seti.

Swift as a ball thrown from a man's hand, a runner had sprung forward
and hurried on to announce the approach of the princess to the
chief priest. She stood alone in her chariot, in advance of all her
companions, for Pentaur had found a place with Paaker. At the gate of
the temple they were met by the head of the haruspices.

The great doors of the pylon were wide open, and afforded a view into
the forecourt of the sanctuary, paved with polished squares of
stone, and surrounded on three sides with colonnades. The walls and
architraves, the pillars and the fluted cornice, which slightly curved
in over the court, were gorgeous with many colored figures and