h debts."

"We shall see. I wish sincerely to help thee, but I have not the
means," said the lady, sadly. "Do, then, as Thou art able, but remember
that the Phoenicians in our state are like rats in a granary; when one
pushes in through a crevice, others follow."

Ramses loitered in leave-taking.

"Hast Thou something more to tell me?" inquired the queen.

"I should like to ask My heart divines that thou, mother, hast some
plans regarding me. What are they?"

She stroked his face.

"Not now not yet. Thou art free today, like every young noble in the
country; then make use of thy freedom. But, Ramses, the time is coming
when Thou wilt have to take a wife whose children will be princes of
the blood royal and whose son will be thy heir. I am thinking of that
time."

"And what?"

"Nothing defined yet. In every case political wisdom suggests to me
that thy wife should be a priest's daughter."

"Perhaps Herhor's?" said the prince, with a laugh.

"What would there be blamable in that? Herhor will be high priest in
Thebes very soon, and his daughter is only fourteen years of age."

"And would she consent to occupy the place of the Jewess?" asked
Ramses, ironically.

"Thou shouldst try to have people forget thy present error."

"I kiss thy feet, mother, and I go," said the prince, seizing his own
head. "I hear so many marvelous things here that I begin to fear lest
the Nile may flow up toward the cataract, or the pyramids pass over to
the eastern desert."

"Blaspheme not, my child," whispered the lady, gazing with fear at
Ramses. "In this land most wonderful miracles are seen."

"Are not they this, that the walls of the palace listen to their
owners?" asked her son, with a bitter smile.

"Men have witnessed the death of pharaohs who had reigned a few months
only, and the fall of dynasties which had governed nine nations."

"Yes, for those pharaohs forgot the sword for the distaff," retorted
Ramses.

He bowed and went out.

In proportion as the sound of Ramses' steps grew less in the immense
antechamber, the face of the worthy lady changed; the place of majesty
was taken by pain and fear, while tears were glistening in her great
eyes.

She ran to the statue of the goddess, knelt, and sprinkling incense
from India on the coals, began to pray,

"O Isis, Isis, Isis! three times do I pronounce thy name. O Isis, who
givest birth to serpents, crocodiles, and ostriches, may thy name be
thrice praised. O Isis