turned round to wave to them. His face was glad, and that comforted
the mother. The father thought it incomprehensible that a child could
so cheerfully and heedlessly part from the only creatures who cared for
him; but he kept his thought to himself.

The boy felt curiosity, satisfaction, and repugnance all at the same
time, when he gave himself into the hands of the servants, who led him
to a refreshing bath, anointed him with sweet-smelling oil, and clad
him in a silken garment. But he desired to learn what life in the
royal palace was like. And gradually its splendour began to enfold
him. The Arabian tales which his father loved to tell him contained
marvels and splendours, but nothing to be compared with the
magnificence and brilliance that now assailed his senses. Marble
staircases as broad as streets, halls as lofty as temples, marble
pillars, brilliantly painted domes. The sun came through the windows
in every colour there is, and was reflected red, blue, green, and gold
by the shining walls. But more fairy-like were the nights, when
thousands of lamps burned in the halls, a forest of candelabra shone
like a conflagration kept within bounds; when the courtiers seemed to
sink into the carpets and divans and silken and down coverlets; when
the sweet-smelling incense rose from the golden censers and intoxicated
the brain; when a hundred servants made ready the banquet of
indescribable luxury, and carried it in silver dishes, alabaster bowls,
and crystal goblets; when youths and maidens, with arms entwined,
crowned each other with wreaths of roses; when the fanfares sounded,
and the cymbals clashed, and song gushed from maidens' throats; and
when at length Pharaoh entered in flowing purple robes adorned with a
thousand sparkling diamond stars--on his head an indented coronet,
shining like carbuncle--the god! the sun-god! On all this our boy from
the Nile hut looked as at something wonderful that had nothing to do