Wilt thou not permit me? I am thy friend and
nothing harsher--above all things, not thy master."
Never before had he spoken so to her. She ventured to look at him at
last. His face was grave and a little passionate and his eyes demanded
an answer.
"Aye, I shall gladly be thy friend," she answered; "but never hast thou
been so much of a master as in the denial that thou art." The first
gleam of girlish mischief danced in her blue eyes. The young sculptor
noted it with gladness. He took the free hand and pressed it, and when
she turned toward the roadway through the wheat he turned with her and
hand in hand they went. As they neared it he spoke again.
"Again would I ask, when wilt thou advise me concerning the statue?
Here is my boat. Let us turn it into a high seat of council and I will
sit at thy feet and learn."
"Nay, if I sit I shall linger too long, and there is a
taskmaster--albeit a gentle one--waiting with other things for me to
do."
Kenkenes kicked the turf and frowned.
"It sounds barbarous--this talk of master upon thy lips, Rachel. Thou
art out of thy place," he answered.
"I am no more worthy of freedom than my people," she replied with
dignity.
"Thy people! They should be lawgivers and advisers among Egypt's high
places, rather than brick-makers and quarry-slaves, if thou art a
typical Israelite.
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