generations. Have you thought of that?"

"Yes, my father, I thought of it, and if this last should happen through
no fault of ours, would Egypt weep, think you?"

Now Pharaoh stared at Tua, and Tua looked back at Pharaoh and smiled.

"I perceive, Daughter," he said slowly, "that in you are the makings of
a great queen, for within the silken scabbard of a woman's folly I see
the statesman's sword of bronze. Only run not too fast lest you should
fall upon that sword and it should pierce you."

Now Tua, who had heard such words before from Asti, smiled again but
made no answer.

"You need a husband to hold you back," went on Pharaoh; "some great man
whom you can love and respect."

"Find me such a man, my father, and I will wed him gladly," answered Tua
in a sweet voice. "Only," she added, "I know not where he may be sought
now that the divine Amathel is dead at the hand of the Count Rames, our
general and ambassador to Kesh."

So when he grew stronger Pharaoh renewed his search for a husband meet
to marry the Queen of Egypt. Now, as before, suitors were not lacking,
indeed, his ambassadors and councillors sent in their names by twos and
threes, but always when they were submitted to her, Tua found something
against everyone of them, till at last it was said that she must be
destined for a god since no mere mortal would serve her turn. But when
this was reported to her, Tua only answered with a smile that she was