Now her proud and noble personality stood before his inward eye, and he felt as if he must look up to it as to a vision high out of his reach.

It vexed him that he had followed Katuti's advice, and he began to wish his suit had been repulsed.

Marriage with Bent-Anat seemed to him beset with difficulties.

His mood was that of a man who craves some brilliant position, though he knows that its requirements are beyond his powers--that of an ambitious soul to whom kingly honors are offered on condition that he will never remove a heavy crown from his head.

If indeed another plan should succeed, if--and his eyes flashed eagerly--if fate set him on the seat of Rameses, then the alliance with Bent-Anat would lose its terrors; there would he be her absolute King and Lord and Master, and no one could require him to account for what he might be to her, or vouchsafe to her..