Then the women laughed in triumph,
and the men were silent.
It was the appointed hour, and that hall was filled to overflowing by
all who could gain entrance there. Between the towering obelisks that
stood on either side the open cedar doors, folk hung upon its steps like
hiving bees; the vast square without and all the streets that led to it
were black with them. Here, it is true, they could see nothing, still
they fought for the merest foothold, and some of those who fell never
rose again. At the head of the hall were set two thrones, the greater
and the richer throne for Abi the Prince, the lesser throne for
Neter-Tua the Queen. He had arranged it thus since Kaku the cunning
pointed out to him that from the first he should show the people that it
was he who ruled, and not Pharaoh's daughter.
It was the appointed hour, and at some signal from every temple top rang
out the blare of trumpets. Thrice they sounded, and echoed into silence
in that hot, still air, thus announcing that in the temple of Hathor,
and the presence of the priests of all the gods, the hands of Abi and
Neter-Tua had been joined in marriage.
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