"She may be ashamed; perhaps she does not herself know," replied the queen. "In every case the journey."
"I have no intention of taking her!" exclaimed Ramses. "But why does she hide this from me as if the child were not mine?"
"Be not suspicious," chided the lady. "This is the usual timidity of young women. Moreover, she may be hiding her condition from fear lest Thou cast her away from thee."
"For that matter, I shall not take her to my court!" broke out the prince, so impatiently that the queen's eyes were smiling, but she covered them with their long lashes.
"It is not well to be over-harsh with a woman who loved thee. I know that Thou hast given an assured support to her. We will give her something also. And a child of the royal blood must be reared well, and have property."
"Naturally," answered Ramses. "My first son, though without princely rights, must be so placed that I may not be ashamed of him, and he must not regret separation from me."
After parting with the queen, Ramses wished to go to Sarah, and with that object returned to his chambers.
Two feelings were roused in him, anger at Sarah for hiding the cause of her weakness, and pride that he was going to be a father.
He a father! This title gave him an importance which, as it were, supported his titles of commander and viceroy. Father! that did not mean a stripling who must look perforce with reverence on older people.
He was roused and enraptured. He wished to see Sarah, to scold, then embrace her and give her presents.