"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.