“How goes it with the statue?” she asked, seeing that he did not move out of her path.

“Slowly,” he answered.  “But it shall hasten to completeness when I once begin.”

“What wilt thou do with it when it is done?  Destroy it?”

He shook his head with a smile.

“Leave it there to betray thee to the vengeance of the priesthood one day?”

“I have no fear of discovery.”

“Nay, but fear or unfear never yet warded off misfortune,” she said gravely.  “It is better to entertain causeless concern than unwise confidence.”

He eagerly accepted this establishment of equality between them, and overshot his mark.

“Advise me, Rachel.  What should I do?”

She gazed at him for a moment distrustfully, wondering if he mocked her and asking herself if she had not deserved it in assuming comradeship with him.

“Nay, it is not my place, my master,” she said.  “I did forget.”

He put his hand on hers with considerable determination in his manner.

“Let us make an end to this eternal emphasis of different rank.  I would forget it, Rachel.  Wilt thou not permit me?  I am thy friend and nothing harsher—­above all things, not thy master.”

Never before had he spoken so to her.  She ventured to look at him at last.  His face was grave and a little passionate and his eyes demanded an answer.

“Aye, I shall gladly be thy friend,” she answered; “but never hast thou been so much of a master as in the denial that thou art.”  The first gleam of girlish mischief danced in her blue eyes.  The young sculptor noted it with gladness.  He took the free hand and pressed it, and when she turned toward the roadway through the wheat he turned with her and hand in hand they went.  As they neared it he spoke again.

“Again would I ask, when wilt thou advise me concerning the statue?  Here is my boat.  Let us turn it into a high seat of council and I will sit at thy feet and learn.”

“Nay, if I sit I shall linger too long, and there is a taskmaster—­albeit a gentle one—­waiting with other things for me to do.”

Kenkenes kicked the turf and frowned.

“It sounds barbarous—­this talk of master upon thy lips, Rachel.  Thou art out of thy place,” he answered.

“I am no more worthy of freedom than my people,” she replied with dignity.

“Thy people!  They should be lawgivers and advisers among Egypt’s high places, rather than brick-makers and quarry-slaves, if thou art a typical Israelite.”

“Aye!” she exclaimed, “and thou hast given tongue to the same estimate of Israel, which hath wrought consternation among the powers of Mizraim.  And for that reason are we enslaved.  Think of it, thou who art unafraid to think.  Think of a people in bondage because of its numbers, its sturdiness and its wisdom.  Thou who art in rebellion against ancient law dost feel somewhat of Israel’s hurt.  Behold, am I not also oppressed because I may think to the upsetting of idolatry and the overthrow of mine oppressors?  Thou and I are fellows in bondage; but mark me!  I am nearer freedom than thou.  The Pharaohs began too late.  Ye may not dam the Nile at flood-tide.”