prostrated themselves, began to play and sing very sweetly, Nubian songs
melancholy and wild, whereof few could understand the meaning. So well
did they sing, indeed, that when they had done, Neter-Tua said:

"You have pleased me much, and in payment I give you a royal gift. I
give you your freedom, and appoint that henceforth you shall sing before
the Court, if you think fit to stay here, not as slaves but for hire."

Then the two women prostrated themselves again before her Majesty and
blessed her, for they knew that they could earn wealth by their gift,
and the rich courtiers taking the Queen's cue, flung rings and ornaments
to them, so that in a minute they got more gold than ever they had
dreamed of, who were but kidnapped slaves. But Prince Amathel grew angry
and said:

"Some might have been pleased to keep the priceless gift of the best
singers in the world."

"Do you say that these sweet-voiced women are the best singers in the
world, O Prince?" asked Tua, speaking to him for the first time. "Now
if you will be pleased to listen, you provoke me to make trial of my own
small skill that I may learn how far I fall short of 'the best singers
in the world.'"

Then she lifted up the ivory harp with the strings of gold and swept
her fingers over it, trying its notes and adjusting them with the agate
screws, looking at Amathel all the while with a challenge in her lovely
eyes.

"Nay, nay, my daughter," said Pharaoh, "it is scarcely fitting that a