"
"Nay, but how shall that restore my pride in my father?" Masanath
sobbed. "How shall I ever think of him without the bitterness of
shame? What must the world think of him--of me? Now I know what the
murket meant. He knew, and Kenkenes knew and all-- Alas! alas!" she
broke forth in fresh grief, "and Hotep knows!"
Rachel could say no more, for in this sorrow no comfort could avail.
She stroked the little Egyptian's hair and let the wounded heart soothe
itself.
Presently Masanath's mind wandered from the new villainy of her father
to the memory of the older offense and she wept afresh.
"If thou goest, Rachel, there is none left to comfort me," she mourned.
"I am alone--desolate, and the powers of Egypt are arrayed against me!"
Rachel was hearing her own plight given expression. She put aside any
thought of herself and applied herself to Masanath's need.
"Nay, there is Hotep," she whispered. "He loves thee, and if there is
aught in prophecy, he will comfort thee when I am gone."
"But thou shalt not go," Masanath cried. "Stay with me, Rachel."
"Thy father's servant returneth in twenty days. As I have said, if I
go now, I can reach my people and be hidden safely."
The Egyptian held fast to the Israelite and wept.
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