"Hast thou not something more to tell me?" he asked kindly. "Do thou
rest here on the wharf while we talk. Art thou not quite breathless?"
"Nay, I thank thee," she faltered. "I may not linger." The hand once
again sought the folds over her breast.
"Then let me walk with thee on thy way. It will be dark soon."
"Nay," she protested flushing, "and again, I thank thee. It is not
needful." She made a movement as if to leave him, but he stepped to
her side.
"Out upon thee, daughter of Israel, thou art ungracious," he
remonstrated laughingly. "I can not think thee so wondrous brave. For
it is a long walk to the camp and the night will be pitch-black. Why
may I not go with thee?"
"There is naught to be feared."
"Of a truth? Those hills are as full of wild beasts as Amenti is of
spirits. And even if no hurt befell thee, the trepidation of that long
journey would be cruel. Nay; Ptah, the gallant god, would spurn my
next offering, did I send thee back to camp alone. Wilt thou come?"
She bowed and dropped behind him. Her resolution to maintain the forms
of different rank between them was not characteristic of other slaves
he had known. There was no presumption or humble gratitude in her
manner when he would offer her the courtesies of an equal, but he had
met the disdain of a peer once when he thought he talked with a slave.
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