Had she ordered his death forthwith, they said, it would
have been supposed also that she had put him away because he was of a
royal race, one who, in the future, might prove a rival, or at least
cause some rebellion.
Meanwhile greater questions filled the mouths of men. Would Pharaoh die
and leave Neter-Tua, the young and lovely, to hold his throne, and if
so, what would happen? It was a thousand years since a woman had reigned
in Egypt, and none had reigned who were not wed. Therefore it seemed
necessary that a husband should be found for her as soon as might be.
But Pharaoh did not die. On the contrary, though very slowly, he
recovered and was stronger than he had been for years, for the fit that
struck him down seemed to have cleared his blood. For some three months
he lay helpless as a child, amusing himself as a child does with little
things, and talking of children whom he had known in his youth, or when
some of these chanced to visit him as old men, asking them to play with
him with tops or balls.
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