But Prince Amathel grew angry
and said:
"Some might have been pleased to keep the priceless gift of the best
singers in the world."
"Do you say that these sweet-voiced women are the best singers in the
world, O Prince?" asked Tua, speaking to him for the first time. "Now
if you will be pleased to listen, you provoke me to make trial of my own
small skill that I may learn how far I fall short of 'the best singers
in the world.'"
Then she lifted up the ivory harp with the strings of gold and swept
her fingers over it, trying its notes and adjusting them with the agate
screws, looking at Amathel all the while with a challenge in her lovely
eyes.
"Nay, nay, my daughter," said Pharaoh, "it is scarcely fitting that a
queen of Egypt should sing before all this noble company."
"Why not, my father?" she asked. "To-night we all do honour to the heir
of his Majesty of Kesh. Pharaoh receives him, Pharaoh's daughter accepts
his gifts, the highest in the land surround him," then she paused and
added slowly, "one of blood more ancient than his own waits on him as
cup-bearer, one whose race built up the throne his father fills," and
she pointed to Rames, who stood near by holding the vase of wine.
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