This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
Karnis and his two companions were a long time away. Dada had almostforgotten her wish to see the young soldier once more, and after playingwith little Papias for some time, as she might have played with a dog,she began to feel dull and to think the quiet of the boat intolerable.The sun was sinking when the absentees returned, but she at once remindedKarnis that he had promised to take her for a walk and show herAlexandria. Herse, however, forbid her going on such an expeditiontill the following day. Dada, who was more irritable and fractious thanusual, burst into tears, flung the distaff that her foster-mother putinto her hand over the side of the ship, and declared between her sobsthat she was not a slave, that she would run away and find happinesswherever it offered. In short she was so insubordinate that Herse lostpatience and scolded her severely. The girl sprang up, flung on ahandkerchief and in a moment would have crossed the plank to the shore;Karnis, however, held her back.
"Why, child," he said, "do you not see how tired I am?" The appeal hadits effect; Dada recovered her reason and tried to look up brightly, buther eyes were still tearful and heavy and she could only creep away intoa corner and cry in silence. The old man's heart was very soft towardsthe girl; he would have been glad only to speak a few kind words to herand smoothe down her hair; however, he made an effort, and whispering afew words to his wife said he was ready, if Dada wished it, to take heras far as the Canopic way and the Bruchium.
Dada laughed with delight, wiped away her tears, flung her arms round themusician's neck and kissed his brown cheeks, exclaiming:
"You are the best of them all! Make haste, and Agne shall come too; shemust see something of the city."
But Agne preferred to remain on board, so Karnis and Dada set outtogether. Orpheus followed them closely for, though the troops hadsucceeded in quelling the uproar, the city was still in a state offerment. Closely veiled, and without any kind of adornment—on thisHerse had positively insisted—the girl, clinging to the old man's arm,made her way through the streets, asking questions about everything shesaw; and her spirits rose, and she was so full of droll suggestions thatKarnis soon forgot his fatigue and gave himself up to the enjoyment ofshowing her the old scenes that he knew and the new beauties andimprovements.
In the Canopic way Dada was fairly beside herself with delight. Houseslike palaces stood arrayed on each side. Close to the buildings ran acovered arcade, and down the centre of the roadway there was a broadfootpath shaded by sycamores. This fine avenue swarmed with pedestrians,while on each side chariots, drawn by magnificent horses, hurried past,and riders galloped up and down; at every step there was something newand interesting to be seen.
Rome, even, could not boast of a handsomer street, and Dada expressed herdelight with frank eagerness; but Karnis did not echo her praises; he wasindignant at finding that the Christians had removed a fine statue of thevenerable Nile-god surrounded by the playful forms of his infantchildren, which had formerly graced the fountain in the middle of theavenue, and had also overthrown or mutilated