At this hour of the day many are struck with sickness." "I know it," said Nefert, covering her neck with her hand.

Then she went towards two blocks of stone which leaned against each other, and between them afforded the spot of shade, not many feet wide, which Paaker had pointed out as a shelter from the sun.

Paaker preceded her, and rolled a flat piece of limestone, inlaid by nature with nodules of flint, under the stone pavilion, crushed a few scorpions which had taken refuge there, spread his head-cloth over the hard seat, and said, "Here you are sheltered." Nefert sank down on the stone and watched the Mohar, who slowly and silently paced backwards and forward in front of her.

This incessant to and fro of her companion at last became unendurable to her sensitive and irritated nerves, and suddenly raising her head from her hand, on which she had rested it, she exclaimed "Pray stand still." The pioneer obeyed instantly, and looked, as he stood with his back to her, towards the hovel of the paraschites.
After a short time Nefert said, "Say something to me!" The Mohar turned his full face towards her, and she was frightened at the wild fire that glowed in the glance with which he gazed at her.
Nefert's eyes fell, and Paaker, saying: "I would rather remain silent," recommenced his walk, till Nefert called to him again and said, "I know you are angry with me; but I was but a child when I was betrothed to you.

I liked you too, and when in our games your mother called me your little wife, I was really glad, and used to think how fine it would be when I might call all your possessions mine, the house you would have so splendidly restored for me after your father's death, the noble gardens, the fine horses in their stables, and all the male and female slaves!" Paaker laughed, but the laugh sounded so forced and scornful that it cut Nefert to the heart, and she went on, as if begging for indulgence: "It was said that you were angry with us; and now you will take my words as if I had cared only for your wealth; but I said, I liked you.