Tall Ethiopian slaves lifted it, and carried it to the greenest spot of the turf by the softly flowing river; and Zoroaster himself pushed back the lattice and spread a rich carpet before it.
Nehushta took his proffered hand and stepped lightly out, and stood beside him in the red light.

She was veiled, and her purple cloak fell in long folds to her feet, and she stood motionless, with her back to the city, looking towards the setting sun.
"Why do we stop here ?" she asked suddenly.
"The Great King, may he live for ever, is said not to be in the city," answered Zoroaster, "and it would ill become us to enter the palace before him." He spoke aloud in the Median language that the slaves might hear him; then he added in Hebrew and in a lower voice, "It would be scarcely wise, or safe, to enter Shushan when the king is away.

Who can tell what may have happened there in these days?
Babylon has rebelled; the empire is far from settled.

All Persia may be on the very point of a revolt." "A fitting time indeed for our journey--for me and my women to be travelling abroad with a score of horsemen for a guard! Why did you bring me here?
How long are we to remain encamped by the roadside, waiting the pleasure of the populace to let us in, or the convenience of this new king to return ?" Nehushta turned upon her companion as she spoke, and there was a ring of mingled scorn and disappointment in her voice.

Her dark eyes stated coldly at Zoroaster from the straight opening between her veils, and before he could answer, she turned her back upon him and moved a few steps away, gazing out at the setting sun across the fertile meadows.
The warrior stood still, and a dark flush overspread his face.