It lifts, it lifts! I hear wind among the palms, and lapping waters. A voice is whispering … “Little Child” … yet in another tongue.… [_From beyond the door his last words reach her with a distant, half-chanting sound._ _Doctor_ Egypt! Where you began--with him. Your earliest life. Then other lives as well. See--and understand. [_She sinks back exhausted. Her face is radiant through her tears. She has just strength enough to touch the pneumatic bell beside the bed._ CURTAIN ACT I THEIR FIRST LIFE TOGETHER. TIME--2000 B.C. EGYPT CHARACTERS MENOPHIS, a young Egyptian, well born, about 30. NEFERTITI, an Egyptian dancing-girl. SETHOS, Egyptian youth. RAMES, High Priest in Temple of Aton. ACT I SCENE--_Banks of the Nile. White temple visible in distance. Kephren’s Pyramid seen very far away._ _Late evening, sunset._ (_NEFERTITI and SETHOS enter and pause._) _Nefertiti_ Now leave me, Sethos. And go swiftly. (_With gesture of pushing him off._) I must be alone. You follow me as wind follows a bird. _Sethos_ Yet never touch you as wind does the bird. And when you dance your feet dance on my heart. No other dancing-girl compares with you. _Nefertiti_ Last moon Pharaoh himself told me that. I know it. But now leave me. I am here to worship. _Sethos_ (_Supplicating._) May I not stay a moment--at least, until Menophis----? _Nefertiti_ Sethos, you heard me. It is the sacred night. The tear of Isis falls into our River when the dusk has passed to darkness. And I must worship. _Sethos_ Menophis comes also with the dusk. You meet here every evening; and when he comes I am forgotten. May I not stay and be remembered--till he comes? (_Implores._) Your beauty makes me slavish. Out of his plenty he will not miss so little, and I--starve. _Nefertiti_ Not now. Sethos, I tell you, go! His coming, as you know, makes the dry desert live for me. I would not have him troubled for so little. He hardly is aware of your existence--as yet. But, should I ever need you--slave----! _Sethos_ (_Eagerly._) As yet! Need me! Oh, Nefertiti, if you could use me I should die of happiness. _Nefertiti_ Then prepare to die, for the time _may_ come. _Sethos_ Oh, may it happen soon! _Nefertiti_ (_Teasing._) The Gods alone know what may happen, and when. You are my slave. Then, vanish! _Sethos_ (_Bowing._) Your slave obeys. (_Rising._) But your lover will wait among the palm-trees yonder. Menophis may not come. The Gods know what will happen, and it is said the Gods have claimed him for themselves. He is a prize, it seems, that earth and heaven both desire. I have heard rumours. (_Moves off lingeringly._) If you need escort back to Memphis your lightest call will reach me. _Nefertiti_ Go! I shall not need your escort. My happiness and his are in the keeping of the Gods. Leave me to worship. _Sethos_