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The news of the end of the sacred ram of Anion, and of the death of the bull Apis of Memphis, had reached the House of Seti, and was received there with loud lamentation, in which all its inhabitants joined, from the chief haruspex down to the smallest boy in the school-courts. The superior of the institution, Ameni, had been for three days in Thebes, and was expected to return to-day.
Gagabu nodded assent, but Ameni went on with increasing warmth, and in that rhythmical accent in which, when he came out of the holy of holies, he was accustomed to declare the will of the Divinity, "You were my teacher, and I value you, and so you now shall be told everything that stirred my soul, and made me first resolve upon this fearful struggle.
"Is she come?" he asked hastily; when Ameni answered in the affirmative Ani went on meanwhile carefully disentangling the disordered curls of his wig, and arranging his broad, collar-shaped necklace: "The witch may exercise some influence over me; will you not give me your blessing to preserve me from her spells? It is true, I have on me this Houss'-eye, and this Isis-charm, but one never knows."
Anana looked at the prince, dried his eyes quickly; and said: "I was the ring-leader. Ameni will turn me out of the place, and I must return disgraced to my poor mother, who has no one in the world but me." "Poor fellow!" said Rameri kindly. "It was striking at random! If only our attempt had done Pentaur any good!"
The haruspex submitted, though deeply vexed, and asked whether the guilty boys were also to go unpunished. "No more than Pentaur," answered Ameni. "But can you call this school- boy's trick guilt? Leave the children to their fun, and their imprudence. The educator is the destroyer, if he always and only keeps his eyes open, and cannot close them at the right moment.
Is this the way to speak of the children of the king?" Others of the company who were attached to Pharaoh's family expressed their indignation; but Ameni whispered to Paaker "Say no more!" then he continued aloud: "You never were careful in weighing your words, my friend, and now, as it seems to me, you are speaking in the heat of fever.
All were silent. "Wherefore do you disturb our worship?" he asked loudly and calmly. A roar of confused cries answered him, in which the frequently repeated name of Bent-Anat could alone be distinguished. Ameni preserved his immoveable composure, and, raising his crozier, he cried
To their infinite astonishment Ameni spoke kindly to the thoughtless boys, praised the motive of their action their attachment to a highly-endowed teacher but then clearly and deliberately laid before them the folly of the means they had employed to attain their end, and at what a cost.
"Art thou at an end of thy communications?" he asked the high-priest. "It remains for me to inform you all," replied Ameni with a louder voice, to be heard by all the assembled dignitaries, "that the princess Bent-Anat yesterday morning committed a heavy sin, and that in all the temples in the land the Gods shall be entreated with offerings to take her uncleanness from her."
Then Ameni begged to be allowed to give him some information about the old woman, and how she had had a hand in the game; and he related to his hearer, with some omissions and variations as if it were a fact he had long known the very story which a few hours since he had overheard, and learned for the first time.
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