But Nehushta answered calmly enough: "He took the most excellent care of us.

I should like to see him to-day, to thank him for all he did.

I was tired last night and must have seemed ungrateful." "What need is there of ever telling men we are grateful for what they do for us ?" returned the queen.

"I should think there were not a noble in the Great King's guard who would not give his right hand to take care of you for a month, even if you never so much as noticed his existence." Nehushta laughed lightly at the compliment.
"You honour me too much," she said, "but I suppose it is because most women think as you do that men call us so ungrateful.

I think you judge from the standpoint of the queen, whereas I--" "Whereas you look at things from the position of the beautiful princess, who is worshipped for herself alone, and not for the bounty and favour she may, or may not, dispense to her subjects." "The queen is dispensing much bounty and favour to one of her subjects at this very moment," answered Nehushta quietly, as though deprecating further flattery.
"How glad you must be to have left that dreadful fortress at last!" cried the queen sympathetically.