Ki considered her, till she who ever feared and hated him shrank before his gaze.

“Crown of Hathor, I greet you.  Beloved of Isis, shine on perfect in the sky, shedding light and wisdom ere you set.”

Now this saying puzzled me.  Indeed, I did not fully understand it until Bakenkhonsu reminded me that Merapi’s name was Moon of Israel, that Hathor, goddess of love, is crowned with the moon in all her statues, that Isis is the queen of mysteries and wisdom, and that Ki who thought Merapi perfect in love and beauty, also the greatest of all sorceresses, was likening her to these.

“Yes,” I answered, “but what did he mean when he talked about her setting?”

“Does not the moon always set, and is it not sometimes eclipsed?” he asked shortly.

“So does the sun,” I answered.

“True; so does the sun!  You are growing wise, very wise indeed, friend Ana.  Oho—­ho!”

To return:  When Seti heard these words, he laughed again, and said: 

“I must think that saying over, but it is clear that you have a pretty turn for praise.  Is it not so, Merapi, Crown of Hathor, and Holder of the wisdom of Isis?”

But Merapi, who, I think, understood more than either of us, turned pale, and shrank further away, but outwards into the sunshine.

“Well, Ki,” went on Seti, “finish your greetings.  What for the babe?”

Ki considered it also.

“Now that it is no longer in the shadow, I see that this shoot from the royal root of Pharaoh grows so fast and tall that my eyes cannot reach its crest.  He is too high and great for greetings, Prince.”

Then Merapi uttered a little cry, and bore the child away.

“She is afraid of magicians and their dark sayings,” said Seti, looking after her with a troubled smile.

“That she should not be, Prince, seeing that she is the mistress of all our tribe.”

“The lady Merapi a magician?  Well, after a fashion, yes—­where the hearts of men are concerned, do you not think so, Ana?  But be more plain, Ki.  It is still early, and I love riddles best at night.”

“What other could have shattered the strong and holy house where the majesty of Amon dwells on earth?  Not even those prophets of the Hebrews as I think.  What other could fence this garden round against the curses that have fallen upon Egypt?” asked Ki earnestly, for now all his mocking manner had departed.

“I do not think she does these things, Ki.  I think some Power does them through her, and I know that she dared to face Amon in his temple because she was bidden so to do by the priests of her people.”

“Prince,” he answered with a short laugh, “a while ago I sent you a message by Ana, which perhaps other thoughts may have driven from his memory.  It was as to the nature of that Power of which you speak.  In that message I said that you were wise, but now I perceive that you lack wisdom like the rest of us, for if you had it, you would know that the tool which carves is not the guiding hand, and the lightning which smites is not the sending strength.  So with this fair love of yours, and so with me and all that work marvels.  We do not the things we seem to do, who are but the tool and the lightning.  What I would know is who or what guides her hand and gives her the might to shield or to destroy.”