Without pausing for an answer she swept on, her maidens following, damp of brow and bright of eye.

Kenkenes turned toward the tent.  A Hebrew at the entrance lifted the side without a word and signed him to enter.

The interior was not yet fully furnished.  A rug of Memphian weave covered the sand and a taboret was placed in the center.

Presently the serving-man entered with a laver of sea-water, and an Israelitish robe, fringed and bound at the selvage with blue.  With the despatch and adroitness of one long used to personal service, he attended the young Egyptian, and dressed him in the stately garments of his own people.  When his service was complete, he took up the bowl and cast-off dress and went forth.

After a time he brought in a couch-like divan, dressed it with fringed linen and strewed it with cushions; next, he suspended a cluster of lamps from the center-pole; set a tiny inlaid table close to the couch, and on the table put a bottle of wine and a beaker; and brought last a heap of fine rugs and coverings which he laid in one corner.  The tent was furnished and nobly.  The man bowed before Kenkenes, awaiting the Egyptian’s further pleasure, but at a sign from the young man, bowed again and retired.

Kenkenes went over to the divan and sat down on it, to wait.

Presently some one entered behind him.  He arose and turned.  Before him was the most welcome picture his bereaved eyes could have looked upon.  His visitor was all in shimmering white and wore no ornament except a collar of golden rings.  What need of further adornment when she was mantled and crowned with a glory of golden hair?  Except that the face was marble white and the eyes dark and large with quiet sorrow, it was the same divinely beautiful Rachel!

It may have been that he was beyond the recuperative influence of sudden joy, or that the unexpected restoration of his love might have swept away his forces had he been in full strength; but whatever the cause, Kenkenes sank to his knees and forward into the eager arms flung out to receive him.  Her cry of great joy seemed to come to him from afar.

“Kenkenes!  O my love!  Not dead; not dead!”

Then it was he learned that she had despaired, grieving beyond any comfort, for she had counted him with the first-born of Egypt.  And even though thoughts came to him but slowly now, he said to himself: 

“Praise God, I did not think of it, or I had gone distracted with her trouble.”

How rich woman-love is in solicitude and ministering resource!  It made Rachel strong enough to raise him, and having led him back to the divan, gently to lay him down among the cushions.  The wine was at her hand, and she filled the beaker, and held it while he drank.  Then she kissed him and, hiding her face in his breast, wept soft tears.  And though he held her very close and had in his heart a great longing to soothe her, he could not speak.