him intently, yet seemed to find no words to say. At length she spoke in
a sweet, low voice.

"It is many years since we were playmates in the courts of the temple
yonder, and since then we have never been alone together, have we,
Rames?"

"No, Great Lady," answered Rames, "for you were born to be a queen, and
I am but a humble soldier who cannot hope to consort with queens."

"Who cannot hope! Would you wish to then if you could?"

"O Queen," answered Rames, biting his lips, "why does it please you to
make a mock of me?"

"It does not please me to do any such thing, for by my father Amen,
Rames, I wish that we were children once more, for those were happy
days before they separated us and set you to soldiering and me to
statecraft."

"You have learnt your part well, Star of the Morning," said Rames,
glancing at her quickly.

"Not better than you, playmate Rames, if I may judge from your
sword-play this night. So it seems that we both of us are in the way of
becoming masters of our trades."

"What am I to say to your Majesty? You have saved my life when it was
forfeit----"