This joyful news was received with loud rejoicings by Atossa, and with a grateful smile by the Egyptian girl.

“And lastly,” said Croesus, “I have brought some balls and hoops with me from Sais, that you may be able to amuse yourselves in Egyptian fashion.”

“Balls?” asked Atossa in amazement; “what can we do with the heavy wooden things?”

“That need not trouble you,” answered Croesus, laughing.  “The balls I speak of are pretty little things made of the skins of fish filled with air, or of leather.  A child of two years old can throw these, but you would find it no easy matter even to lift one of those wooden balls with which the Persian boys play.  Are you content with me, Nitetis?”

[In Persia games with balls are still reckoned among the amusements of the men.  One player drives a wooden hall to the other, as in the English game of cricket.  Chardin (Voyage en Perse.  III. p. 226.) saw the game played by 300 players.]

“How can I thank you enough, my father?”

“And now listen to my plan for the division of your time.  In the morning you will visit Kassandane, chat with Atossa, and listen to the teaching of your noble mother.”

Here the blind woman bent her head in approval.  “Towards noon I shall come to teach you, and we can talk sometimes about Egypt and your loved ones there, but always in Persian.  You would like this, would you not?”

Nitetis smiled.

“Every second day, Oropastes will be in attendance to initiate you in the Persian religion.”

“I will take the greatest pains to comprehend him quickly.”

“In the afternoon you can be with Atossa as long as you like.  Does that please you too?”

“O Croesus!” cried the young girl and kissed the old man’s hand.

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