"Nevertheless there is a prudence for princesses as well as for other people." "I would not be afraid of the Great King himself with you beside me," said Nehushta proudly.

"But I will be prudent to please you.

Only--I am sure I shall hate her." Zoroaster smiled to himself in the dusk, but he would not have had the princess see he was amused.
"It shall be as you please," he said; "we shall soon know how it will end, for we must begin our journey to-morrow." "It will need three weeks, will it not ?" asked Nehushta.
"Yes--it is at least one hundred and fifty farsangs.

It would weary you to travel more than seven or eight farsangs in a day's journey--indeed, that is a long distance for any one." "We shall always be together, shall we not ?" asked the princess.
"I will ride beside your litter, my beloved," said Zoroaster.

"But it will be very tedious for you, and you will often be tired.