NowUsertishiftedhereyesfrommetoSeti，watchinghimveryclosely。Seatedathissideuponthegroundwithmywritingrollspreadacrossmyknee，I，too，watchedhimclosely，andnotedthathislipsturnedwhiteandhisfacegrewfixedandstrange。
　　“IhearthecommandofPharaoh，“hesaidinalowvoicemakingobeisance，andhesitated。
　　“Haveyouaughttoadd？“askedMeneptahsharply。
　　“Only，OPharaoh，thatthoughthiswouldbeamarriagedecreedforreasonsoftheState，stillthereisaladywhomustbegiveninmarriage，andshemyhalf-sisterwhoheretoforehasonlylovedmeasarelative。Therefore，Iwouldknowfromherlipsifitisherwilltotakemeasahusband。“
　　NowalllookedatUsertiwhorepliedinacoldvoice：
　　“Inthismatter，Prince，asinallothersIhavenowillbutthatofPharaoh。“
　　“Youhaveheard，“interruptedMeneptahimpatiently，“andasinourHouseithasalwaysbeenthecustomforkintomarrykin，whyshoulditnotbeherwill？Also，whoelseshouldshemarry？Amenmesesisalreadywed。ThereremainsonlySaptahhisbrotherwhoisyoungerthanherself-“
　　“SoamI，“murmuredSeti，“bytwolongyears，“buthappilyUsertididnothearhim。
　　“Nay，myfather，“shesaidwithdecision，“neverwillItakeadeformedmantohusband。“
　　Nowfromtheshadowonthefurthersideofthethrone，whereIcouldnotseehim，therehobbledforwardayoungnoble，shortinstature，light-hairedlikeSeti，andwithasharp，cleverfacewhichputmeinmindofthatofajackalindeedforthisreasonhewasnamedThothbythecommonpeople，afterthejackal-headedgod。Hewasveryangry，forhischeekswereflushedandhissmalleyesflashed。
　　“MustIlisten，Pharaoh，“hesaidinalittlevoice，“whilemycousintheRoyalPrincessreproachesmeinpublicformylamefoot，whichI
　　havebecausemynurseletmefallwhenIwasstillinarms？“
　　“Thenhisnurselethisgrandfatherfallalso，forhetoowasclub-
　　footed，asIwhohaveseenhimnakedinhiscradlecanbearwitness，“
　　whisperedoldBakenkhonsu。
　　“Itseemsso，CountSaptah，unlessyoustopyourears，“repliedPharaoh。
　　“Shesaysshewillnotmarryme，“wentonSaptah，“mewhofromchildhoodhavebeenaslavetoherandtonootherwoman。“
　　“Notbymywish，Saptah。Indeed，Iprayyoutogoandbeaslavetoanywomanwhomyouwill，“exclaimedUserti。
　　“ButIsay，“continuedSaptah，“thatonedaysheshallmarryme，forthePrinceSetiwillnotliveforever。“
　　“Howdoyouknowthat，Cousin？“askedSeti。“TheHigh-priestherewilltellyouadifferentstory。“
　　Nowcertainofthosepresentturnedtheirheadsawaytohidethesmileupontheirfaces。YetonthisdaysomegodspokewithSaptah’svoicemakinghimaprophet，sinceinayeartocomeshedidmarryhim，inorderthatshemightstayuponthethroneatatimeoftroublewhenEgyptwouldnotsufferthatawomanshouldhavesoleruleovertheland。
　　ButPharaohdidnotsmilelikethecourtiers；indeedhegrewangry。
　　“Peace，Saptah!“hesaid。“Whoareyouthatwranglebeforeme，talkingofthedeathofkingsandsayingthatyouwillwedtheRoyalprincess？
　　Onemoresuchwordandyoushallbedrivenintobanishment。Hearkennow。AlmostamImindedtodeclaremydaughter，theRoyalPrincess，soleheiresstothethrone，seeingthatinherthereismorestrengthandwisdomthaninanyotherofourHouse。“
　　“IfsuchbePharaoh’swill，letPharaoh’swillbedone，“saidSetimosthumbly。“WellIknowmyownunworthinesstofillsohighastation，andbyallthegodsIswearthatmybelovedsisterwillfindnomorefaithfulsubjectthanmyself。“
　　“Youmean，Seti，“interruptedUserti，“thatratherthanmarrymeyouwouldabandonyourrighttothedoublecrown。TrulyIamhonoured。
　　Seti，whetheryoureignorI，Iwillnotmarryyou。“
　　“WhatwordsaretheseIhear？“criedMeneptah。“IsthereindeedoneinthislandofEgyptwhodarestosaythatPharaoh’sdecreeshallbedisobeyed？Writeitdown，Scribes，andyou，OOfficers，letitbeproclaimedfromThebestothesea，thatonthethirddayfromnowatthehourofnooninthetempleofHathorinthiscity，thePrince，theRoyalHeir，SetiMeneptah，BelovedofRa，willwedtheRoyalPrincessofEgypt，LilyofLove，BelovedofHathor，Userti，Daughterofme，thegod。“
　　“Life!Blood!Strength!“calledalltheCourt。
　　Then，guidedbysomehighofficer，thePrinceSetiwasledbeforethethroneandthePrincessUsertiwassetbesidehim，orratherfacinghim。Accordingtotheancientcustomagreatgoldcupwasbroughtandfilledwithredwine，tomeitlookedlikeblood。Usertitookthecupand，kneeling，gaveittothePrince，whodrankandgaveitbacktoherthatshemightalsodrinkinsolemntokenoftheirbetrothal。IsnotthescenegravenonthebroadbraceletsofgoldwhichinafterdaysSetiworewhenhesatuponthethrone，thosesamebraceletsthatatafuturetimeIwithmyownhandsclaspedaboutthewristsofdeadUserti？
　　Thenhestretchedouthishandwhichshetouchedwithherlips，andbendingdownhekissedheronthebrow。Lastly，Pharaoh，descendingtotheloweststepofthethrone，laidhissceptre，firstupontheheadofthePrince，andnextuponthatofthePrincess，blessingthembothinthenameofhimself，ofhisKaorDouble，andofthespiritsandKasofalltheirforefathers，kingsandqueensofEgypt，thusappointingthemtocomeafterhimwhenhehadbeengatheredtothebosomofthegods。
　　Thesethingsdone，hedepartedinstate，surroundedbyhiscourt，precededandfollowedbyhisguardsandleaningonthearmofthePrincessUserti，whomhelovedbetterthananyoneintheworld。
　　AwhilelaterIstoodalonewiththePrinceinhisprivatechamber，whereIhadfirstseenhim。
　　“Thatisfinished，“hesaidinacheerfulvoice，“andItellyou，Ana，thatIfeelquite，quitehappy。Haveyouevershivereduponthebankofariverofawintermorning，fearingtoenter，andyet，whenyoudidenter，haveyounotbeenpleasedtofindthattheicywaterrefreshedyouandmadeyounotcoldbuthot？“
　　“Yes，Prince。Itiswhenonecomesoutofthewater，ifthewindblowsandnosunshines，thatonefeelscolderthanbefore。“
　　“True，Ana，andthereforeonemustnotcomeout。Oneshouldstoptheretillone——drownsoriseatenbyacrocodile。But，say，didIdoitwell？“
　　“OldBakenkhonsutoldme，Prince，thathehadbeenpresentatmanyroyalbetrothals，Ithinkhesaideleven，andhadneverseenoneconductedwithmoregrace。HeaddedthatthewayinwhichyoukissedthebrowofherHighnesswasperfect，aswasallyourdemeanourafterthefirstargument。“
　　“Andsoitwouldremain，Ana，ifIwerenevercalledupontodomorethankissherbrow，towhichIhavebeenaccustomedfromboyhood。Oh!
　　Ana，Ana，“headdedinakindofcry，“alreadyyouarebecomingacourtierliketherestofthem，acourtierwhocannotspeakthetruth。
　　Well，norcanI，sowhyshouldIblameyou？Tellmeagainallaboutyourmarriage，Ana，ofhowitbeganandhowitended。“
　　WhetherornothePrinceSetisawUsertiagainbeforethehourofhismarriagewithherIcannotsay，becausehenevertoldme。IndeedIwasnotpresentatthemarriage，forthereasonthatIhadbeengrantedleavetoreturntoMemphis，theretosettlemyaffairsandsellmyhouseonenteringuponmyappointmentasprivatescribetohisHighness。ThusitcameaboutthatfourteenfulldayswentbyfromthatoftheholdingoftheCourtofBetrothalbeforeIfoundmyselfstandingoncemoreatthegateofthePrince’spalace，attendedbyaservantwholedanassonwhichwereladenallmymanuscriptsandcertainpossessionsthathaddescendedtomefrommyancestorswiththetitle-deedsoftheirtombs。Differentindeedwasmyreceptiononthismysecondcoming。EvenasIreachedthestepstheoldchamberlainPambasaappeared，runningdownthemsofastthathiswhiterobesandbeardstreamedupontheair。
　　“Greeting，mostlearnedscribe，mosthonourableAna，“hepanted。“GladindeedamItoseeyou，sinceveryhourhisHighnessasksifyouhavereturned，andblamesmebecauseyouhavenotcome。VerilyIbelievethatifyouhadstayedupontheroadanotherdayIshouldhavebeensenttolookforyou，whohavehadsharpwordssaidtomebecauseI
　　didnotarrangethatyoushouldbeaccompaniedbyaguard，asthoughtheVizierNehesiwouldhavepaidthecostsofaguardwithoutthedirectorderofPharaoh。OmostexcellentAna，givemeofthecharmwhichyouhavedoubtlessusedtowintheloveofourroyalmaster，andIwillpayyouwellforitwhofinditeasiertoearnhiswrath。“
　　“Iwill，Pambasa。Hereitis——writebetterstoriesthanIdoinsteadoftellingthem，andhewillloveyoumorethanhedoesme。Butsay——
　　howwentthemarriage？Ihavehearduponthewaythatitwasverysplendid。“
　　“Splendid!Oh!itwastentimesmorethansplendid。ItwasasthoughthegodOsiriswereoncemorewedtothegoddessIsisintheveryhallsofheaven。IndeedhisHighness，thebridegroom，wasdressedasagod，yes，heworetherobesandtheholyornamentsofAmon。Andtheprocession!AndthefeastthatPharaohgave!ItellyouthatthePrincewassoovercomewithjoyandallthisweightofglorythat，beforeitwasover，lookingathimIsawthathiseyeswereclosed，beingdazzledbythegleamofgoldandjewelsandthelovelinessofhisroyalbride。Hetoldmethatitwassohimself，fearingperhapslestIshouldhavethoughtthathewasasleep。Thentherewerethepresents，somethingtoeveryoneofusaccordingtohisdegree。Igot——
　　wellitmattersnot。And，learnedAna，Ididnotforgetyou。KnowingwellthateverythingwouldbegonebeforeyoureturnedIspokeyournameintheearofhisHighness，offeringtokeepyourgift。“
　　“Indeed，Pambasa，andwhatdidhesay？“