But in his place stood another,
Isis, the Mother of Mystery, her deep eyes looking forth from beneath
the jewelled vulture-cap. Again the congregation bowed, and, lo! she was
gone. But in her place stood yet another, a radiant, lovely being, who
held in her hand the Sign of Life, and wore upon her head the symbol of
the shining disc--Hathor, Goddess of Love. A third time the congregation
bowed, and she, too, was gone; nor did any other appear in her place.
The Pharaohs and their queens began to move about and speak to each
other; their voices came to his ears in one low, sweet murmur.
In his amaze Smith had forgotten fear. From his hiding-place he watched
them intently. Some of them he knew by their faces. There, for instance,
was the long-necked Khu-en-aten, talking somewhat angrily to the
imperial Rameses II. Smith could understand what he said, for this power
seemed to have been given to him. He was complaining in a high, weak
voice that on this, the one night of the year when they might meet,
the gods, or the magic images of the gods who were put up for them to
worship, should not include _his_ god, symbolized by the "Aten," or the
sun's disc.
"I have heard of your Majesty's god," replied Rameses; "the priests used
to tell me of him, also that he did not last long after your Majesty
flew to heaven.
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