Alas! her earthly eyes never saw them, and it was no wonder that Mr. Gordon should feel most wretched when he returned to his Oriental home, and knew that she would never grace it with her presence.
His only tie to life now was Max, but even with him there was anxiety, for the stern business man—the successful merchant had only seen the frivolous side of his son’s life.
To him he was the madcap.
To him the boy was the practical joker, the mischievous lad, whose thoughts were of fun and amusement.
Early next morning they took train to Cairo.
How strange it seems to the Biblical student, to think of traveling by a railroad in that country, so famous in Bible stories!
The comic rhyme of one who indulged in the ludicrous fancy of traveling by means of steam through Egypt and Palestine:
“Stop her. Now, then, for Joppa!
Ease her. Anyone for Gizeh?”
has come to be literally true, for Max heard the conductor shout out: “Gizeh—all out for Gizeh,” on the route between Alexandria and Cairo.