bending down he kissed her on the brow. Lastly, Pharaoh, descending to
the lowest step of the throne, laid his sceptre, first upon the head of
the Prince, and next upon that of the Princess, blessing them both in
the name of himself, of his Ka or Double, and of the spirits and Kas of
all their forefathers, kings and queens of Egypt, thus appointing them
to come after him when he had been gathered to the bosom of the gods.

These things done, he departed in state, surrounded by his court,
preceded and followed by his guards and leaning on the arm of the
Princess Userti, whom he loved better than anyone in the world.

A while later I stood alone with the Prince in his private chamber,
where I had first seen him.

"That is finished," he said in a cheerful voice, "and I tell you, Ana,
that I feel quite, quite happy. Have you ever shivered upon the bank
of a river of a winter morning, fearing to enter, and yet, when you did
enter, have you not been pleased to find that the icy water refreshed
you and made you not cold but hot?"

"Yes, Prince. It is when one comes out of the water, if the wind blows
and no sun shines, that one feels colder than before."

"True, Ana, and therefore one must not come out. One should stop there
till one--drowns or is eaten by a crocodile. But, say, did I do it
well?"

"Old Bakenkhonsu told me, Prince, that he had been present at many royal
betrothals, I think he said eleven, and had never seen one conducted
with more grace. He added that the way in which you kissed the brow