"Unas, my father's man. What is amiss, Rachel?"
The Israelite stood for a moment as though she permitted the
intelligence to assemble all the further facts that it entailed. Then
she turned away and walked swiftly toward the well of the stair.
"Rachel! Thou--what--thou hast not answered me," Masanath called.
"There is naught to be said. I--it were best that I go to my people
now, since thou goest to marriage," was the unready reply.
"Thou wilt return to thy people! Rachel! Nay, nay I Thou art all I
have. Come back! Come back!" Masanath cried, running after her.
Rachel hesitated, trembling with a multitude of emotions.
"It were better I should go," she insisted, trying to escape Masanath's
clasp. "If I go now I can reach my people and be hidden safely."
The little Egyptian flung herself upon the Israelite, weeping.
"Art thou, too, deserting me--thou, who art the last to befriend me?
What have I done that thou shouldst desert me?"
"Naught! Naught! Thou dear unfortunate!" was the passionate reply.
"But I must go! I must!"
"Thou must flee from sure safety to only possible security!" Masanath
demanded through her tears. "If I must wed this terrible prince, I
shall put my misery to some use.
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