Asti her foster-mother, took up their abode.



CHAPTER VIII

THE MAGIC IMAGE

That night Pharaoh and Tua rested in privacy with those members of the
Court whom they had brought with them, but on the morrow began a round
of festivals such as history scarcely told of in Egypt. Indeed, the
feast with which it opened was more splendid than any Tua had seen at
Thebes even at the time of her crowning, or on that day of blood and
happiness when Amathel and his Nubian guards were slain and she and
Rames declared their love. At this feast Pharaoh and the young Queen sat
in chairs of gold, while the Prince Abi was placed on her right hand,
and not on that of Pharaoh as he should have been as host and subject.

"I am too much honoured," said Tua, looking at him sideways. "Why do you
not sit by Pharaoh, my uncle?"

"Who am I that I should take the seat of honour when my sovereigns come
to visit me?" answered Abi, bowing his great head. "Let it be reserved
for the high-priest of Osiris, that Holy One whom, after Ptah, we
worship here above all other deities, for he is clothed with the majesty
of the god of death."

"Of death," said Tua. "Is that why you put him by my father?"

"Indeed not," replied Abi, spreading out his hands, "though if a choice