makers，areoftencustom-breakers。Andofallwomen，Meriamunleastlovestobeobedient，eventothedead。Andyetshehasobeyed，anditcameaboutthus。HerbrotherMeneptah——whonowisPharaoh——thePrinceofKushwhileherdivinefatherlived，hadmanyhalf-sisters，butMeriamunwasthefairestofthemall。Sheisbeautiful，aMoon-childthecommonpeoplecalledher，andwise，andshedoesnotknowthefaceoffear。Andthusitchancedthatshelearned，whatevenourRoyalwomenrarelylearn，alltheancientsecretwisdomofthisancientland。ExceptQueenTaiaofold，nowomanhasknownwhatMeriamunknows，whatIhavetaughther——Iandanothercounsellor。“
Hepausedhere，andhismindseemedtoturnonunhappythings。
“Ihavetaughtherfromchildhood，“hewenton——“wouldthatIhadbeenheronlyfamiliar——and，afterherdivinefatherandmother，shelovedmemorethanany，forshelovedfew。ButofallwhomshedidnotloveshelovedherRoyalbrotherleast。Heisslowofspeech，andsheisquick。Sheisfearlessandhehasnoheartforwar。Fromherchildhoodshescornedhim，mockedhim，andmasteredhimwithhertongue。Sheevenlearnedtoexcelhiminthechariotraces——thereforeitwasthattheKinghisfathermadehimbutaGeneraloftheFootSoldiers——andinguessingriddles，whichourpeoplelove，shedelightedtoconquerhim。Thevictorywaseasyenough，forthedivinePrinceisheavy-
witted；butMeriamunwasnevertiredofgirdingathim。Plainly，evenasalittlechildshegrudgedthatheshouldcometowieldthescourgeofpower，andwearthedoublecrown，whilesheshouldliveinidleness，andhungerforcommand。“
“Itisstrange，then，thatofallhissisters，ifonemustbeQueen，heshouldhavechosenher，“saidtheWanderer。
“Strange，andithappenedstrangely。ThePrince’sfather，thedivineRameses，hadwilledthemarriage。ThePrincehateditnolessthanMeriamun，butthewillofafatheristhewilloftheGods。InonesportthedivinePrinceexcelled，intheGameofPieces，anoldgameinKhem。Itisnopastimeforwomen，butevenatthisMeriamunwasdeterminedtomasterherbrother。Shebademecarveheranewsetofthepiecesfashionedwiththeheadsofcats，andshapedfromthehardwoodofAzebi。[*]Icarvedthemwithmyownhands，andnightbynightsheplayedwithme，whohavesomenameforskillatthesport。
“OnesunsetitchancedthatherbrothercameinfromhuntingthelionintheLibyanhills。Hewasinanevilhumour，forhehadfoundnolions，andhecausedthehuntsmentobestretchedout，andbeatenwithrods。Thenhecalledforwine，anddrankdeepatthePalacegate，andthedeeperhedrankthedarkergrewhishumour。
“HewasgoingtohisownCourtinthePalace，strikingwithawhipathishounds，whenhechancedtoturnandseeMeriamun。Shewassittingwherethosethreegreatpalm-treesare，andwasplayingatpieceswithmeinthecooloftheday。Thereshesatintheshadow，cladinwhiteandpurple，andwiththeredgoldofthesnakeofroyaltyintheblacknessofherhair。ThereshesatasbeautifulastheHathor，theQueenofLove；orastheLadyIsiswhensheplayedatpiecesinAmentiwiththeancientKing。Nay，anoldmanmaysayit，thereneverwasbutonewomanmorefairthanMeriamun，ifawomanshebe，shewhomourpeoplecallthe/StrangeHathor/。“
NowtheWandererbethoughthimofthetaleofthepilot，buthesaidnothing，andReiwenton。
“ThePrincesawher，andhisangersoughtforsomethingnewtobreakitselfon。Uphecame，andIrosebeforehim，andbowedmyself。ButMeriamunfellindolentlybackinherchairofivory，andwithasweepofherslimhandshedisorderedthepieces，andbadeherwaitingwoman，theladyHataska，gatheruptheboard，andcarryallaway。ButHataska’seyesweresecretlywatchingthePrince。
“’Greeting，Princess，ourRoyalsister，’saidMeneptah。’Whatartthoudoingwiththese？’andhepointedwithhischariotwhipatthecat-headedpieces。’Thisisnowoman’sgame，thesepiecesarenotsoftheartsofmentobemovedontheboardbylove。Thisgameneedswit！
Gettheetothybroidery，fortherethoumay’stexcel。’
“’Greeting，Prince，ourRoyalbrother，’saidMeriamun。’Ilaughtoheartheespeakofagamethatneedswit。Thyhuntinghasnotprospered，sogettheetothebanquetboard，forthere，Ihear，theGodshavegrantedtheetoexcel。’
“’Itislittletosay，’answeredthePrince，throwinghimselfintoachairwhenceIhadrisen，’itislittletosay，butatthegameofpiecesIhaveenoughwittogivetheeatemple，apriestandfivebowmen，andyetwin，’——forthese，OWanderer，arethenamesofsomeofthepieces。
“’Itakethechallenge，’criedMeriamun，fornowshehadbroughthimwhereshewanted；’butIwilltakenoodds。Hereismywager。Iwillplaytheethreegames，andstakethesacredcircletuponmybrow，againsttheRoyaluraeusonthine，andthewinnershallwearboth。’
“’Nay，nay，Lady，’Iwasboldtosay，’thisweretoohighastake。’
“’Highorlow，Iacceptthewager，’answeredthePrince。’Thissisterofminehasmockedmetoolong。Sheshallfindthatherwoman’switcannotmatchmeatmyowngame，andthatmyfather’sson，theRoyalPrinceofKushandthePharaohwhoshallbe，ismorethantheequalofagirl。Iholdthywage，Meriamun！’
“’Gothen，Prince，’shecried，’andaftersunsetmeetmeinmyantechamber。Bringascribetoscorethegames；Reishallbethejudge，andholdthestakes。ButbewareofthegoldenCupofPasht！
Drainitnotto-night，lestIwinalove-game，thoughwedonotplayforlove！’
“ThePrincewentscowlingaway，andMeriamunlaughed，butIforesawmischief。Thestakesweretoohigh，thematchwastoostrange，butMeriamunwouldnotlistentome，forshewasverywilful。
“Thesunfell，andtwohoursaftertheRoyalPrinceofKushcamewithhisscribe，andfoundMeriamunwiththeboardofsquaresbeforeher，inherantechamber。
“Hesatdownwithoutaword，thenheasked，whoshouldfirsttakethefield。
“’Wait，’shesaid，’firstletussetthestakes，’andliftingfromherbrowthegoldensnakeofroyalty，sheshookhersofthairloose，andgavethecoronettome。’IfIlose，’shesaid，’nevermayIweartheuraeuscrown。’
“’ThatshaltthouneverwhileIdrawbreath，’answeredthePrince，ashetooliftedthesymbolofhisroyaltyfromhisheadandgaveittome。Therewasadifferencebetweenthecirclets，thecoronetofMeriamunwascrownedwithonecrestedsnake，thatofthedivinePrincewascrownedwithtwain。
“’Ay，Meneptah，’shesaid，’butperchanceOsiris，GodoftheDead，waitsthee，forsurelyhelovesthosetoogreatandgoodforearth。
Takethouthefieldandtotheplay。’Atherwordsofevilomen，hefrowned。Buthetookthefieldandreadily，forheknewthegamewell。
“Shemovedinanswerheedlesslyenough，andafterwardssheplayedatrandomandcarelessly，pushingthepiecesaboutwithlittleskill。Andsohewonthisfirstgamequickly，andcrying，’/Pharaohisdead/，’
sweptthepiecesfromtheboard。’SeehowIbetterthee，’hewentoninmockery。’Thineisawoman’sgame；allattackandnodefence。’
“’Boastnotyet，Meneptah，’shesaid。’Therearestilltwosetstoplay。See，theboardissetandItakethefield。’
“Thistimethegamewentdifferently，forthePrincecouldscarcemakeaprisonerofasinglepiecesaveofonetempleandtwobowmenonly，andpresentlyitwastheturnofMeriamuntocry’/Pharaohisdead/，’
andtosweepthepiecesfromtheboard。ThistimeMeneptahdidnotboastbutscowled，whileIsettheboardandthescribewrotedownthegameuponhistablets。NowitwasthePrince’sturntotakethefield。
“’InthenameofholyThoth，’hecried，’towhomIvowgreatgiftsofvictory。’
“’InthenameofholyPasht，’shemadeanswer，’towhomImakedailyprayer。’For，beingamaid，shesworebytheGoddessofChastity，andbeingMeriamun，bytheGoddessofVengeance。
“’’Tisfittingthoushould’stvowbyheroftheCat’sHead，’hesaid，sneering。
“’Yes；veryfitting，’sheanswered，’forperchanceshe’lllendmeherclaws。Playthou，PrinceMeneptah。’
“Andheplayed，andsowellthatforawhilethegamewentagainsther。Butatlength，whentheyhadstruggledlong，andMeriamunhadlostthemostofherpieces，alightcameintoherfaceasthoughshehadfoundwhatshesought。AndwhilethePrincecalledforwineanddrank，shelaybackinherchairandlookedupontheboard。Thenshemovedsoshrewdlyanduponsodeepaplanthathefellintothetrapthatshehadlaidforhim，andcouldneverescape。InvainhevowedgiftstotheholyThoth，andpromisedsuchatempleastherewasnoneinKhem。
“’Thothhearstheenot；heistheGodofletteredmen，’saidMeriamun，mockinghim。Thenhecursedanddrankmorewine。
“’Foolsseekwitinwine，butonlywisemenfindit，’quothsheagain。
’Behold，Royalbrother，/Pharaohisdead/，andIhavewonthematch，andbeatentheeatthineowngame。Rei，myservant，givemethatcirclet；nay，notmyown，thedoubleone，whichthedivinePrincewagered。Sosetitonmybrow，foritismine，Meneptah。Inthis，asinallthingselse，Ihaveconqueredthee。’
“Andsherose，andstandingfullinthelightofthelamps，theRoyaluraeusonherbrow，shemockedhim，biddinghimcomedohomagetoherwhohadwonhiscrown，andstretchingforthhersmallhandforhimtokissit。AndsowondrouswasherbeautythatthedivinePrinceofKushceasedtocallupontheevilGodsbecauseofhisillfortune，andstoodgazingonher。
“’ByPtah，butthouartfair，’hecried，’andIpardonmyfatheratlastforwillingtheetobemyQueen！’
“’ButIwillneverpardonhim，’saidMeriamun。
“NowthePrincehaddrunkmuchwine。
“’ThoushaltbemyQueen，’hesaid，’andforearnestIwillkissthee。
This，attheleast，beingthestrongest，Icando。’Andereshecouldescapehim，hepassedhisarmaboutherandseizedherbythegirdle，andkissedheronthelipsandlethergo。
“Meriamungrewwhiteasthedead。Byhersidetherehungadagger。
Swiftlyshedrewit，andswiftlystruckathisheart，sothathadhenotshrunkfromthesteelsurelyhehadbeenslain；andshecriedasshestruck，’Thus，Prince，Ipaythykissesback。’
“Butasitchanced，sheonlypiercedhisarm，andbeforeshecouldstrikeagainIhadseizedherbythehand。
“’Thouserpent，’saidthePrince，palewithrageandfear。’ItelltheeIwillkisstheeyet，whetherthouwiltornot，andthoushaltpayforthis。’
“Butshelaughedsoftlynowthatherangerwasspent，andIledhimforthtoseekaphysician，whoshouldbinduphiswound。Andwhenhewasgone，Ireturned，andspoketoher，wringingmyhands。
“’Oh，RoyalLady，whathastthoudone？ThouknowestwellthatthydivinefatherdestinestheetowedthePrinceofKushwhombutnowthoudidstsmitesofiercely。’
“’Nay，Rei，Iwillnoneofhim——thedullclod，whoiscalledthesonofPharaoh。Moreover，heismyhalf-brother，anditisnotmeetthatI
shouldwedmybrother。Fornaturecriesaloudagainstthecustomoftheland。’
“’Nevertheless，Lady，it/is/thecustomofthyRoyalhouse，andthyfather’swill。ThustheGods，thineancestors，werewed；IsistoOsiris。ThusgreatThothmesandAmenemhatdidanddecreed，andalltheirforefathersandalltheirseed。Oh，bethinkthee——Ispeakitforthineear，forIlovetheeasmineowndaughter——bethinkthee，forthoucanstnotescape，thatPharaoh’sbedisthesteptoPharaoh’sthrone。Thoulovestpower；hereisthegateofpower，andmayhapuponatimethemasterofthegateshallbegoneandthoushaltsitinthegatealone。’
“’Ah，Rei，nowthouspeakestlikethecounsellorofthosewhowouldbekings。Oh，didInothatehimwiththishatred！AndyetcanIrulehim。Why，’twasnochancegamethatweplayedthisnight:thefuturelayupontheboard。See，hisdiademisuponmybrow！Atfirsthewon，forIchosethatheshouldwin。Well，somayhapitshallbe；mayhapI
