“What need is there of ever telling men we are grateful for what they do for us?” returned the queen.  “I should think there were not a noble in the Great King’s guard who would not give his right hand to take care of you for a month, even if you never so much as noticed his existence.”

Nehushta laughed lightly at the compliment.

“You honour me too much,” she said, “but I suppose it is because most women think as you do that men call us so ungrateful.  I think you judge from the standpoint of the queen, whereas I—­”

“Whereas you look at things from the position of the beautiful princess, who is worshipped for herself alone, and not for the bounty and favour she may, or may not, dispense to her subjects.”

“The queen is dispensing much bounty and favour to one of her subjects at this very moment,” answered Nehushta quietly, as though deprecating further flattery.

“How glad you must be to have left that dreadful fortress at last!” cried the queen sympathetically.  “My father used to go there every summer.  I hated the miserable place, with those tiresome mountains and those endless gardens without the least variety in them.  You must be very glad to have come here!”

“It is true,” replied Nehushta, “I never ceased to dream of Shushan.  I love the great city, and the people, and the court.  I thought sometimes that I should have died of the weariness of Ecbatana.  The winters were unbearable!”

“You must learn to love us, too,” said Atossa, very sweetly.  “The Great King wishes well to your race, and will certainly do much for your country.  There is, moreover, a kinsman of yours, who is coming soon, expressly to confer with the king concerning the further rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem.”

“Zorobabel?” asked Nehushta, quickly.

“Yes—­that is his name, I believe.  Do you say Zerub-Ebel, or Zerub-Abel?  I know nothing of your language.”

“His name is Zorob-Abel,” answered Nehushta.  “Oh, I wish he might persuade the Great King to do something for my people!  Your father would have done so much if he had lived.”

“Doubtless the Great King will do all that is possible for establishing the Hebrews and promoting their welfare,” said the queen; but a distant look in her eyes showed that her thoughts were no longer concentrated on the subject.  “Your friend Zoroaster,” she added presently, “could be of great service to you and your cause, if he wished.”

“I would that he were a Hebrew!” exclaimed Nehushta, with a little sigh, which did not escape Atossa.

“Is he not?  I always thought that he had secretly embraced your faith.  With his love of study and with his ideas, it seemed so natural.”

“No,” replied Nehushta, “he is not one of us, nor will he ever be.  After all, though, it is perhaps of little moment what one believes when one is so just as he.”