As it chanced the only seat left vacant was that next to myself, which she took before she recognized me, for she was engaged in asking pardon for her lateness of the Prince and Princess, saying that she had been detained by the ceremonies at the temple.

Seeing suddenly that I was her neighbour, she made as though she would change her place, then altered her mind and stayed where she was.
"Greeting, Cousin Shabaka," she said, "though not for the first time to-day.

Oh! my heart was glad when looking up, outside the temple, I caught sight of you clad in that strange Eastern armour, and knew that you had returned safe from your long wanderings.

Yet afterwards I must do penance for it by saying two added prayers, since at such a time my thoughts should have been with the goddess only." "Greeting, Cousin Amada," I answered, "but she must be a jealous goddess who grudges a thought to a relative--and friend--at such a time." "She is jealous, Shabaka, as being the Queen of women she must be who demands to reign alone in the hearts of her votaries.

But tell me of your travels in the East and how you came by that rope of wondrous pearls, if indeed there can be pearls so large and beautiful." This at the time I had little chance of doing, however, since the young Princess on the other side of her began to talk to Amada about some forthcoming festival, and the Prince's son next to me who was fond of hunting, to question me about sport in the East and when, unhappily, I said that I had shot lions there, gave me no peace for the rest of that feast.