CHAPTER V.

"'That night the white slave slept upon the King of Egypt's breast and the boy (her brother) the king in his pleasure, made such provision for that he was safe and happy evermore.'"

As Miriam repeated these last words, Alric bent close, and his eyes seemed to be striving, to find in her expression some thing that her words did not reveal to him. "It was a spring song, this last love of Tothmes the first," went on Miriam, "for the blossom he had gathered, could not bear the transplanting, even though the garden was the home of a king, and so it came to pass that when her child was born, Grunheld, in a delirium of fever, that followed the hours of pain, talked in the language of a strange people, and one, who stood near--the great physician of the realm, a man versed in many tongues told the King,--that she spoke of an island home, over a great waste of waters, of breeze swept, rain washed hills, and then laying upon the altar, of some unknown God, chaplets of prayer,--the King's love, passed out of Mizram, and was not.--That she should not, in her journey of three thousand years, be forced to abide in the bodies of bird, beast, or reptile, the King, had her fair form, made ready, for sacred embalmment, and while the work progressed, there was no pause for breath, so thick and fast came the prayers, that the long sleep might not be broken.

"And when the body was wrapped, and the priestly office for the dead accomplished, they laid the young stranger, in a rock chamber, and for her comfort, filled the room with all things needful, for a soul's journey should she by chance (in spite of prayer and charm) awake.

"Then all that human love could do, being accomplished, the King turned him to his motherless child, Hatsu.

"Now from her earliest childhood, the Princess Hatsu was beloved by the people, for in her outward form, she bore no trace of her alien mother's race; her skin was Egypt's clear transparent olive, her eyes dark, and langourous, her hair long, smooth, and easily dyed to the royal color.

"But the soul of Hatsu, was the soul of her mother, not proud, and distant, was she, like Egypt's royal women, but gentle, and kind to all men, reverent to the Gods, and obedient to those in authority.

"So it was not strange that she was beloved save by one, and that one the mother of her half brother the Idiot prince, now, King Tothmes the Second of Egypt.

"The Idiot prince was her devoted slave, following her about like a faithful dog, and only showing glimmerings of intelligence, when his sister addressed him.

"The other brother,--the concubine's son,--honored her too--and though selfish and crafty by nature he seemed--and seems to this day--her true and faithful friend.

"This Princess is the story of thy life, until this hour as it is written in the sacred chronicle of our most holy order."

As Zelas has thus spoken our Princess has drawn nearer, and nearer to his side.

His quiet unmoved voice, has fallen like a benediction of peace upon her troubled heart. Hope is springing anew within her breast, and now that he has ceased, they are looking into each other's eyes, she kneels at his feet.

"Holy father," she says. "I come to thee, in this my hour of need for council and guidance. Listen my lord! Standing beside the form of my departing father, I took solemn oath to Osirus to wed Tothmes the Second, to be Egypt's Queen.

"My Lord, it is said, that the great Osirus, has given to you, the power to read the innermost thoughts of men. If this be true--small need, to tell you that the girl kneeling at your feet would joyfully lay down her young life, and enter the body of the most degraded thing that walks or crawls. Aye that she would rather abide in any evil form, through every hour of the next three thousand years! than endure one fleeting day, of such life as the coming Queenship implies.

"My lord, I will speak to you, that which I dare scarce breathe to my own soul. I _know_ what it is to love. He, who is dearer to me than aught else in time, or endless eternity hath not a dream, that this is so; but, love like mine, is satisfied with the giving, it asks no more, than just to _love silently_ on, to live a _lonely_ empty _life_ made fragrant by purity, and sanctified by prayer. Let me, I pray thee, my Lord, be committed to some sisterhood. With thy mighty power save me from the awful doom that Queenship with my brother Tothmes means."

Miriam stops, she leans forward, and sways as though about to fall. "I can see no more," she says slowly, "a mist has arisen, my eyes, can not pierce it. I pray thee, let me rest."

Alric, white to the lips, made with precision, a series of passes, before the fixed glassy eyes. His strong breast heaved, the muscles of his brawny arms stood out, and drops of sweat beaded his brow. With a deep sigh, the lips of the girl began to move, and she said: "I see the lips of the high priest quiver, there are tears in his God-like eyes, and he has laid two trembling hands upon Hatsu's head.

"'My sister's child,' he is saying, 'gather my words and garner them deep in your heart, for you alone I live, for you--if need be--I die.'

"'To the Idiot you must plight a solemn troth; but listen, Tothmes the Second, has been taken from his mother's side. Never will she speak word to him more, for ere this, by my command she has entered one of the nunneries, set apart for holy women, who night and day, for the enduring glory of Osirus, keep the lamps, filled with sacred oil, and tend the temple fires. Princess, thou shall make marriage vow to Tothmes; but he shall be safe kept, by one to whom I would trust _my life, my all_, a man who is honor's self! Whose every thought is known to me, as mine to him, in the hands and under the guidance of Alric, captain of the King's guards, I place the so-called _King_.'"

A great sob broke from Alric's throat, and he made a movement, as though to break the trance, but the action was so rapid as to almost be lost sight of in the look of intense resolve the look of indomitable will that took its place.

"'If,' went on Miriam, 'Tothmes the Second die, and Tothmes the Third ascend the throne, thou shalt still, be queen, for over Tothmes the Third, does Alric hold an influence that is plastic as meal, and as strong as death. Aye, Hatsu, while I live, and while Alric lives thou shalt reign in Egypt. Aye, I swear it!'"

At the echo of his words, which are uttered in a voice loud and clear, there comes a clash of brazen instruments of music, and the ear catches the cries, and the moans, and the twitter, and the coos of the sacred beasts and birds in the great temple beyond.

Now the temple door creaks on its hinges! and there comes, the slow muffled droning notes, of a myriad voices, men's, and women's, and the voices of youths and maidens.

Hatsu has again risen to her feet, her eyes are bright, a red rose glows in each cheek, and the great Zelas has bent and kissed her upon her brow.

He is calling the doves that have been fluttering about the apartment. They come at his bidding, and he places them upon Hatsu's shoulders; and upon her outstretched arms.

Into her hand he has put a great bunch of heliotrope, and now he sprinkles a strong elixir of catnip over the hem of the Princess' gown, and upon her sandalled feet.

"Go," he says, "and stand before the people." And opening the curtains a little way, he thrusts her forth! and as the silken folds fall back, behind her, the people hear the voice! that makes all men, high or low, rich, or poor, simple, or wise, tremble! the voice of the awful invisible High Priest Zelas, calling to them:

"Behold your Queen! Hatsu, beloved of Osirus, dear to all the Gods, Hatsu, the Queen!"

And there she stands, so young, so fair, so dove encircled! and all about her are fawning the sacred cats licking her sandalled feet, and the hem of her garment, and the people are crying out as with one voice:

"ALL HAIL TO OUR GODDESS, QUEEN HATSU!! ALL HAIL!! AMEN AND AMEN!!"