Usually the day did not harass her with
oppression, but if she grew suddenly afraid, Rachel was at her side to
comfort her--never urging, either to rebellion or submission, but ever
offering hope.
So the little Egyptian came to love the Israelite with the love that
demands rather than gives--the love of a child for the mother, of the
benefited for the benefactor. Gradually Rachel lost sight of her own
trouble in her devotion to Masanath. She had no time for her own
thoughts. Each passing day brought the Egyptian's martyrdom nearer,
and Rachel's uses hourly increased.
This day Masanath, who had been ill, was unusually downcast.
"It may be," she said with more cheer in her tones than had been in her
previous remarks, "that I shall die before they can wed me to Rameses."
"Nay, why not say that the Lord God will interfere before that time?"
"Evil and power have joined hands against me, and even the gods are
helpless against such collusion," Masanath answered drearily.
"The sorrows of Egypt are not yet at an end; mayhap the hand of the God
of Israel will overtake the prince."
"Thy God is afflicting, not helping; He will not spare me."
"The hand of the Lord is lifted against Egypt.
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