Will He bless the land,
then, with such a queen as thou wouldst be?"
"Nay, but thine is a strange God! Mark thou, I doubt Him not! But ai!
I should face Him for ever in sackcloth and ashes lest He smite me for
smiling and living my life without care."
"Hath an ill befallen Israel?"
"If thou art Israel, nay! Thou hast flourished in this dread time like
a palm by a deep well."
"So he prospereth all his chosen."
Masanath shook her head and looked away. From the stairway Nan
approached.
"Unas hath come from Tanis, my Lady," she said with suppressed
excitement. Masanath sat up, trembling.
"Isis grant he hath not come to take thee to marriage," the waiting
woman breathed. Rachel laid an inquiring hand on the little Egyptian's
arm.
"My father's courier," she explained. "Let him come up," she continued
to Nari. The waiting woman bowed and left her.
Rachel arose and took a place on the farther side of the hypostyle,
with the screens of matting between her and Masanath. She was still in
hiding.
The fat servitor came up presently.
"The gracious gods have had thee under their sheltering wings during
these troublous times," he said, bowing. "It is worth the trip from
Tanis to look upon thee.
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