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And so to them the nooning came； and the evening。
The sun at its going down behind a spur of the old Bashan； left the party halted by a pool of clear water of the rains out in the Abilene Desert。 There the tent was pitched； the supper eaten； and preparations made for the night。
The second watch was Ben…Hur's； and he was standing； spear in hand； within arm…reach of the dozing camel； looking awhile at the stars； then over the veiled land。 The stillness was intense； only after long spells a warm breath of wind would sough past； but without disturbing him； for yet in thought he entertained the Egyptian； recounting her charms； and sometimes debating how she came by his secrets； the uses she might make of them； and the course he should pursue with her。 And through all the debate Love stood off but a little waya strong temptation； the stronger of a gleam of policy behind。 At the very moment he was most inclined to yield to the allurement； a hand very fair even in the moonless gloaming was laid softly upon his shoulder。 The touch thrilled him； he started； turnedand she was there。
〃I thought you asleep；〃 he said； presently。
〃Sleep is for old people and little children； and I came out to look at my friends； the stars in the souththose now holding the curtains of midnight over the Nile。 But confess yourself surprised！〃
He took the hand which had fallen from his shoulder； and said； 〃Well； was it by an enemy？〃
〃Oh no！ To be an enemy is to hate； and hating is a sickness which Isis will not suffer to come near me。 She kissed me； you should know； on the heart when I was a child。〃
〃Your speech does not sound in the least like your father's。 Are you not of his faith？〃
〃I might have been〃and she laughed low〃I might have been had I seen what he has。 I may be when I get old like him。 There should be no religion for youth； only poetry and philosophy； and no poetry except such as is the inspiration of wine and mirth and love； and no philosophy that does not nod excuse for follies which cannot outlive a season。 My father's God is too awful for me。 I failed to find him in the Grove of Daphne。 He was never heard of as present in the atria of Rome。 But； son of Hur； I have a wish。〃
〃A wish！ Where is he who could say it no？〃
〃I will try you。〃
〃Tell it then。〃
〃It is very simple。 I wish to help you。〃
She drew closer as she spoke。
He laughed； and replied； lightly； 〃O Egypt！I came near saying dear Egypt！does not the sphinx abide in your country？〃
〃Well？〃
〃You are one of its riddles。 Be merciful； and give me a little clew to help me understand you。 In what do I need help？ And how can you help me？〃
She took her hand from him； and； turning to the camel； spoke to it endearingly； and patted its monstrous head as it were a thing of beauty。
〃O thou last and swiftest and stateliest of the herds of Job！ Sometimes thou； too； goest stumbling； because the way is rough and stony and the burden grievous。 How is it thou knowest the kind intent by a word； and always makest answer gratefully； though the help offered is from a woman？ I will kiss thee； thou royal brute！〃she stooped and touched its broad forehead with her lips； saying immediately； 〃because in thy intelligence there is no suspicion！〃
And Ben…Hur； restraining himself； said calmly； 〃The reproach has not failed its mark； O Egypt！ I seem to say thee no； may it not be because I am under seal of honor； and by my silence cover the lives and fortunes of others？〃
〃May be！〃 she said； quickly。 〃It is so。〃
He shrank a step； and asked； his voice sharp with amazement； 〃What all knowest thou？〃
She answered； after a laugh；
〃Why do men deny that the senses of women are sharper than theirs？ Your face has been under my eyes all day。 I had but to look at it to see you bore some weight in mind； and to find the weight； what had I to do more than recall your debates with my father？ Son of Hur！〃she lowered her voice with singular dexterity； and； going nearer； spoke so her breath was warm upon his cheek〃son of Hur！ he thou art going to find is to be King of the Jews； is he not？〃
His heart beat fast and hard。
〃A King of the Jews like Herod； only greater；〃 she continued。
He looked awayinto the night； up to the stars； then his eyes met hers； and lingered there； and her breath was on his lips； so near was she。
〃Since morning；〃 she said； further； 〃we have been having visions。 Now if I tell you mine； will you serve me as well？ What！ silent still？〃
She pushed his hand away； and turned as if to go； but he caught her； and said； eagerly； 〃Staystay and speak！〃
She went back； and with her hand upon his shoulder； leaned against him； and he put his arm around her； and drew her close； very close； and in the caress was the promise she asked。
〃Speak； and tell me thy visions； O Egypt； dear Egypt！ A prophetnay； not the Tishbite； not even the Lawgivercould have refused an asking of thine。 I am at thy will。 Be mercifulmerciful； I pray。〃
The entreaty passed apparently unheard； for looking up and nestling in his embrace； she said； slowly； 〃The vision which followed me was of magnificent warwar on land and seawith clashing of arms and rush of armies； as if Caesar and Pompey were come again； and Octavius and Antony。 A cloud of dust and ashes arose and covered the world； and Rome was not any more； all dominion returned to the East； out of the cloud issued another race of heroes； and there were vaster satrapies and brighter crowns for giving away than were ever known。 And； son of Hur； while the vision was passing； and after it was gone； I kept asking myself； 'What shall he not have who served the King earliest and best？'〃
Again Ben…Hur recoiled。 The question was the very question which had been with him all day。 Presently he fancied he had the clew he wanted。
〃So；〃 he said； 〃I have you now。 The satrapies and crowns are the things to which you would help me。 I see； I see！ And there never was such queen as you would be； so shrewd； so beautiful； so royalnever！ But； alas； dear Egypt！ by the vision as you show it me the prizes are all of war； and you are but a woman； though Isis did kiss you on the heart。 And crowns are starry gifts beyond your power of help； unless； indeed； you have a way to them more certain than that of the sword。 If so； O Egypt； Egypt； show it me； and I will walk in it； if only for your sake。〃
She removed his arm； and said； 〃Spread your cloak upon the sandhere； so I can rest against the camel。 I will sit； and tell you a story which came down the Nile to Alexandria； where I had it。〃
He did as she said； first planting the spear in the ground near by。
〃And what shall I do？〃 he said； ruefully； when she was seated。 〃In Alexandria is it customary for the listeners to sit or stand？〃
From the comfortable place against the old domestic she answered； laughing； 〃The audiences of story…tellers are wilful； and sometimes they do as they please。〃
Without more ado he stretched himself upon the sand； and put her arm about his neck。
〃I am ready；〃 he said。
And directly she began：
HOW THE BEAUTIFUL CAME TO THE EARTH。
〃You must know； in the first place； that Isis wasand； for that matter； she may yet bethe most beautiful of deities； and Osiris； h