Do thou go with the children in the
morning when they are sent for the camp supply, and get it above the
wharf."
"I hear," she answered.
"The gods attend thee," he said, riding away.
"Be thy visit pleasant," she responded, and turned again up the valley.
The taskmaster was forgotten at her second step, and her contrition and
humiliation came back with a rush. There was little sleep for her that
night, so heavy was her heart.
The next morning Rachel obeyed Atsu and followed the children to the
Nile. Crossing the field, absorbed in her trouble, she did not hear
the beat of hoofs or the grind of wheels until she was face to face
with the attendants of a company of charioteers. The troop of
water-carriers had scattered out of the road-way and each little
bronzed Israelite was bending with his right hand upon his left knee in
token of profound respect. Rachel hastily joined them.
When she looked again the retinue of servants had passed. After them
came a gilded chariot with a sumptuous Egyptian within. By the
annulets over his temples and the fringed ribbons pendent therefrom,
the Israelite knew him to be royal.
Behind, a second chariot was driven by a single occupant, who wore the
badges of princehood also.
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