And if Merenra return ere
thou art safely gone, thou art of a surety undone."
Rachel moved away a little and stood thinking. The old woman went on
with a note of despondency in her voice.
"Alas, Rachel! thou art in eternal peril because of thy lovely face.
Beauty is a curse to a bondwoman. What I beheld in truth yesterday I
have seen in dreams--the discourteous hand put forth to seize thee and
the power back of it to enforce its demand. And yet, I would not wish
thee old and uncomely, for that, too, is a curse to the bondwoman," she
added with a reflective shrug of the shoulders.
"If I but knew his name--" Rachel pondered aloud.
"What matter?" the old woman answered almost roughly. "Suffice it to
know that he is a knave and a noble and hath evil in his heart against
thee."
"Now, if I might dye my hair or stain my face--" Rachel began after a
pause.
"Thou foolish child! It would not wear, nor hide thy charm at all!"
"But I dread the quarries for thee, Deborah. If only we might be
hidden here, somewhere."
"Come, dost thou want to marry Atsu?" the old woman demanded harshly.
The girl turned toward her, her face flushed with resentment.
"Nay! And that thou knowest. For this very mingling with Egypt is
Israel cursed.
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