Pi-Bailos, enchanting
serpents."

The two young men fell into perfect humor.

"But who art thou?" asked Ramses of the girl, taking her hand, which
she drew back.

"Be not so bold. I am Sarah, the daughter of Gideon, the manager of
this estate."

"A Jewess," said Ramses; and a shadow passed over his face.

"What harm in that? what harm in that?" cried Tutmosis.

"Dost think that Jewesses are less sweet than Egyptian girls? They are
only more modest and more difficult, which gives their love an uncommon
charm."

"So ye are pagans," said Sarah, with dignity. "Rest, if ye are tired,
pluck some grapes for yourselves, and go with God. Our servants are not
glad to see guests like you."

She wished to go, but Ramses detained her.

"Stop! Thou hast pleased me, and may not leave us in this way."

"The evil spirit has seized thee; no one in this valley would dare to
speak thus to me," said Sarah, now indignant.

"Yes; for, seest thou," interrupted Tutmosis, "this young man is an
officer of the priestly regiment of Ptah, and a secretary of the
secretary of a lord who carries his fan over the fan-carrier of the
nomarch of Habu."

"Surely he must be an officer," answered Sarah, looking with
thoughtfulness at Ramses. "Maybe he is a great lord himself?" added
she, putting her finger on her lips.

"Whoever I am, thy beauty surpasses my dignity," answered he, suddenly.
"But tell me, is it true that the Jews eat pork?"

Sarah looked at him offended; and Tutmosis added,

"How evident it is that Thou knowest not Jewesses! I tell thee that a
Jew would rather die than eat pork, which, for my part, I do not
consider as the worst."

"But do they eat cats?" insisted Ramses, pressing Sarah's hand and
looking into her eyes.

"And that is a fable, a vile fable!" exclaimed Tutmosis. "Thou mightst
have asked me about those things instead of talking nonsense. I have
had three Jewish mistresses."

"So far Thou hast told the truth, but now Thou art lying," called out
Sarah. "A Jewess would not be any man's mistress," added she, proudly.

"Even the mistress of the secretary of a lord who carries the fan for
the nomarch of Memphis?" asked Tutmosis, jeeringly.

"Even."

"Even the mistress of the lord who carries the fan?"

Sarah hesitated, but answered,

"Even."

"Then perhaps she would not become the mistress of the nomarch?"

The girl's hands dropped. With astonishment she looked in turn at the
young men; her lips quive