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Solution Manual for Business

Analytics, 4th Edition, Jeffrey D. Camm,


James J. Cochran, Michael J. Fry,
Jeffrey W. Ohlmann
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Descriptive Statistics

Solution Manual for Business Analytics, 4th


Edition, Jeffrey D. Camm, James J. Cochran,
Michael J. Fry, Jeffrey W. Ohlmann
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Chapter 2
Descriptive Statistics

Solutions:

1. a. Quantitative

b. Categorical

c. Categorical

d. Quantitative

e. Categorical

2. a. The top 10 countries according to GDP are listed below.


Country Continent GDP (millions of US$)
United States North America 15,094,025
China Asia 7,298,147
Japan Asia 5,869,471
Germany Europe 3,577,031
France Europe 2,776,324
Brazil South America 2,492,908
United Kingdom Europe 2,417,570
Italy Europe 2,198,730
Russia Asia 1,850,401
Canada North America 1,736,869

b. The top 5 countries by GDP located in Africa are listed below.


Country Continent GDP (millions of US$)
South Africa Africa 408,074
Nigeria Africa 238,920
Egypt Africa 235,719

2-1
Descriptive Statistics

Algeria Africa 190,709


Angola Africa 100,948

c. The top-five European countries by GDP are: Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and
Spain.

3. a. The sorted list of carriers appears below.

Previous Year Current Year


On-time On-time
Carrier Percentage Percentage
Blue Box Shipping 88.4% 94.8%
Cheetah LLC 89.3% 91.8%
Smith Logistics 84.3% 88.7%
Granite State Carriers 81.8% 87.6%
Super Freight 92.1% 86.8%
Minuteman Company 91.0% 84.2%
Jones Brothers 68.9% 82.8%
Honsin Limited 74.2% 80.1%
Rapid Response 78.8% 70.9%

Blue Box Shipping is providing the best on-time service in the current year. Rapid Response is
providing the worst on-time service in the current year.

b. The output from Excel with conditional formatting appears below.

c. The output from Excel containing data bars appears below.

2-2
Descriptive Statistics

d. The top 4 shippers based on current year on-time percentage (Blue Box Shipping, Cheetah LLC,
Smith Logistics, and Granite State Carriers) all have positive increases from the previous year and
high on-time percentages. These are good candidates for carriers to use in the future.

4. a. The relative frequency of D is 1.0 – 0.22 – 0.18 – 0.40 = 0.20.

b. If the total sample size is 200 the frequency of D is 0.20*200 = 40.

c. and d.

Class Relative Frequency Frequency % Frequency

A 0.22 44 22

B 0.18 36 18

C 0.40 80 40

D 0.20 40 20
Total 1.0 200 100

5. a. These data are categorical.

b.
Web %
site Frequency Frequency
FB 7 14
GOOG 14 28
WIKI 9 18
YAH 13 26
YT 7 14
Total 50 100

c. The most frequent most-visited-web site is google.com (GOOG); second is yahoo.com (YAH).

2-3
Descriptive Statistics

6. a. Least = 12, Highest = 23

b.
Percent
Hours in Meetings per
Week Frequency Frequency
11–12 1 4
13–14 2 8
15–16 6 24
17–18 3 12
19–20 5 20
21–22 4 16
23–24 4 16
Total 25 100

2-4
Descriptive Statistics

c.

7
6
5

Fequency
4
3
2
1
0
11-12 13-14 15-16 17-18 19-20 21-22 23-24
Hours per Week in Meetings

The distribution is slightly skewed to the left.

7. a.
Percent
Industry Frequency Frequency
Bank 26 13
Cable 44 22
Car 42 21
Cell 60 30
Collection 28 1
Total 200 100

b. The cellular phone providers had the highest number of complaints.

c. The percentage frequency distribution shows that the two financial industries (banks and collection
agencies) had about the same number of complaints. Also, new car dealers and cable and satellite
television companies also had about the same number of complaints.

2-5
Descriptive Statistics

8. a. The busiest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) with 104.2 million total passengers. The least busy

airport is Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) with 34.4 million total passengers.

b.

Total Passengers (Millions) Frequency

30–39.9 4

40–49.9 9

50–59.9 3

60–69.9 1

70–79.9 1

80–89.9 1

90–99.9 0

100–109.9 1

c.

30-39.9 40-49.9 50-59.9 60-69.9 70-79.9 80-89.9 90-99.9 100-109.9

Most of the top 20 busiest North American airports service fewer than 60 million passengers. Only four of

the 20 airports have more than 60 million passengers.

2-6
Descriptive Statistics

9. a.
Class Frequency
12–14 2
15–17 8
18–20 11
21–23 10
24–26 9
Total 40

b.
Relative
Class Frequency Percent Frequency
12–14 0.050 5.0
15–17 0.200 20.0
18–20 0.275 27.5
21–23 0.250 25.0
24–26 0.225 22.5
Total 1.000 100.0

10.
Class Frequency Cumulative Frequency
10–19 10 10
20–29 14 24
30–39 17 41
40–49 7 48
50–59 2 50

11. a–d.
Cumulative
Relative Cumulative Relative
Class Frequency Frequency Frequency Frequency
0–4 4 0.20 4 0.20
5–9 8 0.40 12 0.60
10–
14 5 0.25 17 0.85
15–
19 2 0.10 19 0.95
20–
24 1 0.05 20 1.00
Total 20 1.00

e. From the cumulative relative frequency distribution, 60% of customers wait 9 minutes or less.

2-7
Descriptive Statistics

12. a–d.

Endowment Frequency Relative Cumulative Cumulative

Amount ($ Frequency Frequency Relative

Billions) Frequency

0–1.9 10 0.17 10 0.17

2.0–3.9 24 0.40 34 0.57

4.0–5.9 7 0.12 41 0.68

6.0–7.9 5 0.08 46 0.77

8.0–9.9 3 0.05 49 0.82

10.0–11.9 4 0.07 53 0.88

12.0–13.9 1 0.02 54 0.90

14.0–15.9 1 0.02 55 0.92

16.0–17.9 0 0.00 55 0.92

18.0–19.9 0 0.00 55 0.92

20.0–21.9 0 0.00 55 0.92

22.0–23.9 1 0.02 56 0.93

24.0–25.9 1 0.02 57 0.95

26.0–27.9 2 0.03 59 0.98

28.0–29.9 0 0.00 59 0.98

30.0–31.9 0 0.00 59 0.98

32.0–33.9 0 0.00 59 0.98

34.0–35.9 0 0.00 59 0.98

2-8
Descriptive Statistics

36.0–37.9 1 0.02 60 1.00

Total 60 1.00

e. Most universities (55) have endowments of less than $16 billion. Only five have endowments larger than

$16 billion. We see that .92, or 92%, of the universities have endowments of less than $16 billion, and

only .08, or 8%, of the universities have endowments larger than $16 billion.

f.

26.0-27.9
10.0-11.9
12.0-13.9

18.0-19.9
14.0-15.9

22.0-23.9

28.0-29.9

36.0-37.9
8.0-9.9
6.0-7.9
2.0-3.9

24.0-25.9
16.0-17.9

20.0-21.9

34.0-35.9
4.0-5.9

30.0-31.9
32.0-33.9
0-1.9

The histogram shows the distribution is skewed to the right with five university endowments in the $22

billion to $38 billion range.

g. Harvard University has the largest endowment at $36 billion. All other universities have endowments less

than $28 billion. Most (92%) have endowments less than $16 billion.

10+20+12+17+16
13. a. Mean = = 15 or use the Excel function AVERAGE.
5
To calculate the median, we arrange the data in ascending order:
10 12 16 17 20
Because we have n = 5 values which is an odd number, the median is the middle value which is 16
or use the Excel function MEDIAN.

b. Because the additional data point, 12, is lower than the mean and median computed in part a, we
expect the mean and median to decrease. Calculating the new mean and median gives us mean =
14.5 and median = 14.

14. Without Excel, to calculate the 20th percentile, we first arrange the data in ascending order:
15 20 25 25 27 28 30 34
𝑝
The location of the pth percentile is given by the formula 𝐿𝑝 = (𝑛 + 1)
100

2-9
Descriptive Statistics

20
For our date set, 𝐿20 = (8 + 1) = 1.8. Thus, the 20th percentile is 80% of the way between the
100
value in position 1 and the value in position 2. In other words, the 20th percentile is the value in
position 1 (15) plus 0.80 time the difference between the value in position 2 (20) and position 1 (15).
Therefore, the 20th percentile is
15 + 0.80*(20 – 15) = 19.

We can repeat the steps above to calculate the 25th, 65th, and 75th percentiles. Or using Excel, we
can use the function PERCENTILE.EXC to get:
25th percentile = 21.25
65th percentile = 27.85
75th percentile = 29.5
53+55+70+58+64+57+53+69+57+68+53
15. Mean = = 59.727 or use the Excel function AVERAGE.
11
To calculate the median arrange the values in ascending order
53 53 53 55 57 57 58 64 68 69 70
Because we have n = 11, an odd number of values, the median is the middle value which is 57 or use
the Excel function MEDIAN.
The mode is the most often occurring value which is 53 because 53 appears three times in the data
set, or use the Excel function MODE.SNGL because there is only a single mode in this data set.

16. To find the mean annual growth rate, we must use the geometric mean. First we note that

( x )( x ) L ( x9 )  ( x )( x2 ) L ( x9 ) 
3,500 = 5,000  1 2 , so  1 =0.700
where x1, x2, … are the growth factors for years, 1, 2, etc. through year 9.
𝑛 9
Next, we calculate 𝑥̅𝑔 = √(𝑥1 )(𝑥2 ) ⋯ (𝑥𝑛 ) = √0.70 = 0.961144
So the mean annual growth rate is (0.961144 – 1)100% = –0.38856%

17. For the Stivers mutual fund,


( x )( x2 ) L ( x8 )  ( x )( x ) L ( x8 ) 
18,000 = 10,000  1 , so  1 2 =1.8
where x1, x2, … are the growth factors for years, 1, 2, etc. through year 8.

Next, we calculate g
x = 1
n
2( x )( x )L ( x ) = 8 1.80 = 1.07624
8

So the mean annual return for the Stivers mutual fund is (1.07624 – 1)100% = 7.624%.

For the Trippi mutual fund we have:


( x1 )( x2 ) L ( x8 )  ( x )( x ) L ( x8 ) 
10,600 = 5,000  , so  1 2 =2.12 and
xg = ( x1 )( x2 ) L ( x8 ) = 2.12 = 1.09848
n 8

So the mean annual return for the Trippi mutual fund is (1.09848 – 1)100% = 9.848%.

While the Stivers mutual fund has generated a nice annual return of 7.6%, the annual return of 9.8%
earned by the Trippi mutual fund is far superior.

2 - 10
Descriptive Statistics

Alternatively, we can use Excel and the function GEOMEAN as shown below:

∑𝑛
𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 1,291.5
a. Mean = = = 26.906
18. 𝑛 48

b. To calculate the median, we first sort all 48 commute times in ascending order. Because there are an
even number of values (48), the median is between the 24th and 25th largest values. The 24th largest
value is 25.8 and the 25th largest value is 26.1.
(25.8 + 26.1)/2 = 25.95
Or we can use the Excel function MEDIAN.

c. The values 23.4 and 24.8 both appear three times in the data set, so these two values are the modes
of the commute times. To find this using Excel, we must use the MODE.MULT function.

d. Standard deviation = 4.6152. In Excel, we can find this value using the function STDEV.S.
Variance = 4.61522 = 21.2998. In Excel, we can find this value using the function VAR.S.

e. The third quartile is the 75th percentile of the data. To find the 75th percentile without Excel,
𝑝
we first arrange the data in ascending order. Next we calculate 𝐿𝑝 = (𝑛 + 1) = 𝐿75 =
100
75
(48 + 1) = 36.75.
100
In other words, this value is 75% of the way between the 36th and 37th positions. However, in our
data the values in both the 36th and 37th positions are 28.5. Therefore, the 75th percentile is 28.5. Or
using Excel, we can use the function PERCENTILE.EXC.

19. a. The mean waiting time for patients with the wait-tracking system is 17.2 minutes and the median
waiting time is 13.5 minutes. The mean waiting time for patients without the wait-tracking system is
29.1 minutes and the median is 23.5 minutes.

b. The standard deviation of waiting time for patients with the wait-tracking system is 9.28 and the
variance is 86.18. The standard deviation of waiting time for patients without the wait-tracking
system is 16.60 and the variance is 275.66.

2 - 11
Descriptive Statistics

c.

d.

e. Wait times for patients with the wait-tracking system are substantially shorter than those for
patients without the wait-tracking system. However, some patients with the wait-tracking system still
experience long waits.

20. a. The median number of hours worked for science teachers is 54.

b. The median number of hours worked for English teachers is 47.

c.

2 - 12
Descriptive Statistics

d.

e. The boxplots show that science teachers spend more hours working per week than English teachers.
The boxplot for science teachers also shows that most science teachers work about the same amount
of hours; in other words, there is less variability in the number of hours worked for science teachers.

21. a. Recall that the mean patient wait time without wait-time tracking is 29.1 and the standard deviation
37−29.1
of wait times is 16.6. Then the z-score is calculated as follows: 𝑧 = = 0.48.
16.6

b. Recall that the mean patient wait time with wait-time tracking is 17.2 and the standard deviation of
37−17.2
wait times is 9.28. Then the z-score is calculated as follows: 𝑧 = = 2.13.
9.28
As indicated by the positive z-scores, both patients had wait times that exceeded the means of their
respective samples. Even though the patients had the same wait time, the z-score for the sixth patient

2 - 13
Descriptive Statistics

in the sample who visited an office with a wait-tracking system is much larger because that patient is
part of a sample with a smaller mean and a smaller standard deviation.
𝑥𝑖 −𝑥̅
c. To calculate the z-score for each patient waiting time, we can use the formula 𝑧 = or we can use
𝑠
the Excel function STANDARDIZE. The z-scores for all patients follow.

Without Wait-Tracking System With Wait-Tracking System


Wait Time z-Score Wait Time z-Score
24 –0.31 31 1.49
67 2.28 11 –0.67
17 –0.73 14 –0.34
20 –0.55 18 0.09
31 0.11 12 –0.56
44 0.90 37 2.13
12 –1.03 9 –0.88
23 –0.37 13 –0.45
16 –0.79 12 –0.56
37 0.48 15 –0.24

No z-score is less than –3.0 or above +3.0; therefore, the z-scores do not indicate the existence of any
outliers in either sample.

22. a. According to the empirical rule, approximately 95% of data values will be within two standard
deviations of the mean. 4.5 is two standard deviation less than the mean and 9.3 is two standard
deviations greater than the mean. Therefore, approximately 95% of individuals sleep between 4.5
and 9.3 hours per night.
8−6.9
b. 𝑧= = 0.9167
1.2

6−6.9
c. 𝑧= = −0.75
1.2

23.

a. The value 647 is one standard deviation above the mean. Approximately 68% of the scores are

between 447 and 647 with half of 68%, or 34%, of the scores between the mean of 547 and 647. Also,

because the distribution is symmetric, 50% of the scores are above the mean of 547. With 50% of the

scores above 547 and with 34% of the scores between 547 and 647, 50% – 34% = 16% of the scores are

647 or higher.

b. The value 747 is two standard deviations above the mean. Approximately 95% of the scores are

between 347 and 747 with half of 95%, or 47.5%, of the scores between the mean of 547 and 747. Also,

because the distribution is symmetric, 50% of the scores are above the mean of 547. With 50% of the

scores above 547 and 47.5% of the scores between 547 and 747, 50% – 47.5% = 2.5% of the scores are

2 - 14
Descriptive Statistics

747 or higher.

c. Approximately 68% of the scores are between 447 and 647 with half of 68%, or 34%, of the scores are

between 447 and the mean of 547.

d. Approximately 95% of the scores are between 347 and 747 with half of 95%, or 47.5%, of the scores

between 347 and the mean of 547. Approximately 68% of the scores are between 447 and 647 with half

of 68%, or 34%, of the scores between the mean of 547 and 647. Thus, 47.5% + 34% = 81.5% of the

scores are between 347 and 647.

405−515
e. 𝑧= = −1.10
100

24. a.
70

60

50

40
y

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20
x

b. There appears to be a negative linear relationship between the x and y variables.

c. Without Excel, we can use the calculations shown below to calculate the covariance:
xi yi (𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ ) (𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦̅) ( xi − x )( yi − y )
4 50 –4 4 –16
6 50 –2 4 –8
11 40 3 –6 –18
3 60 –5 14 –70
16 30 8 –16 –128

𝑥̅ = 8
𝑦̅ = 46

∑(𝑥𝑖 −𝑥̅ )(𝑦𝑖 −𝑦̅) −16−8−18−70−128


𝑠𝑥𝑦 = = = −60
𝑛−1 4

Or, using Excel, we can use the COVARIANCE.S function.

The negative covariance confirms that there is a negative linear relationship between the x and y
variables in this data set.

2 - 15
Descriptive Statistics

d. To calculate the correlation coefficient without Excel, we need the standard deviation for x and y:
𝑠𝑥 = 5.43, 𝑠𝑦 = 11.40. Then the correlation coefficient is calculated as:
𝑠𝑥𝑦 −60
𝑟𝑥𝑦 = = = −0.97
𝑠𝑥 𝑠𝑦 (5.43)(11.40)
Or, we can use the Excel function CORREL.
The correlation coefficient indicates a strong negative linear association between the x and y
variables in this data set.

25. a. The scatter chart indicates that there may be a positive linear relationship between profits and
market capitalization.

b. Without Excel, we can use the calculations below to find the covariance and correlation coefficient:

xi yi ( xi − x ) ( yi − y ) ( xi − x ) 2 ( yi − y )2 ( xi − x )( yi − y )


313.2
1891.9 2468.57 –35259.75 6093826.70 1243249856.32 87041077.46

631
81458.6 2150.77 44306.95 4625801.88 1963105961.23 –95293962.27

706.6
10087.6 2075.17 –27064.05 4306321.16 732462715.10 56162440.18

–29
1175.8 2810.77 –35975.85 7900415.30 1294261667.17 101119754.14
4,018.00 55188.8 1236.23 18037.15 1528270.20 325338838.31 22298108.67

959
14115.2 1822.77 –23036.45 3322482.24 530677954.29 41990095.01
6,490.00 97376.2 3708.23 60224.55 13750986.48 3626996616.98 223326625.02
8,572.00 157130.5 5790.23 119978.85 33526789.60 14394924834.35 694705416.89
12,436.00 95251.9 9654.23 58100.25 93204200.49 3375639237.48 560913323.32

1,462.00
36461.2 1319.77 –690.45 1741786.89 476718.98 911231.51
3,461.00 53575.7 679.23 16424.05 461356.46 269749471.38 11155745.66

854
7082.1 1927.77 –30069.55 3716288.47 904177740.20 57967105.40

369.5
3461.4 2412.27 –33690.25 5819035.66 1135032836.38 81269899.40

399.8
12520.3 2381.97 –24631.35 5673770.32 606703323.37 58671077.30

278
3547.6 2503.77 –33604.05 6268852.91 1129232068.00 84136732.35
9,190.00 32382.4 6408.23 –4769.25 41065440.67 22745730.18 –30562451.36

599.1
8925.3 2182.67 –28226.35 4764038.47 796726743.27 61608740.10
2,465.00 9550.2 –316.77 –27601.45 100341.80 761839953.07 8743248.48
3,527.00 65917.4 745.23 28765.75 555371.12 827468465.86 21437166.03

602
13819.5 2179.77 –23332.15 4751387.41 544389148.36 50858664.40
2,655.00 26651.1 –126.77 –10500.55 16070.06 110261516.43 1331130.81

1,455.70
21865.9 1326.07 –15285.75 1758455.66 233654103.75 20269937.85

276
3417.8 2505.77 –33733.85 6278871.98 1137972527.00 84529189.10

617.5
3681.2 2164.27 –33470.45 4684054.86 1120270915.23 72439011.75
11,797.00 182109.9 9015.23 144958.25 81274412.67 21012894710.67 1306832306.01

567.6
12522.8 2214.17 –24628.85 4902538.79 606580172.87 54532401.62
697.8 10514.8 – –26636.85 4342921.55 709521692.00 55510332.79

2 - 16
Descriptive Statistics

2083.97

634
8560.5 2147.77 –28591.15 4612906.27 817453766.09 61407146.21

109
1381.6 2672.77 –35770.05 7143687.40 1279496361.62 95605031.46
4,979.00 66606.5 2197.23 29454.85 4827829.60 867588283.54 64719150.12
5,142.00 53469.4 2360.23 16317.75 5570696.31 266269017.70 38513683.74
Total 368589209.4 62647162947 3954149359

∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )(𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦̅) 3954149359


𝑠𝑥𝑦 = = = 131804978.6
𝑛−1 30
∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )2 368589209.4
𝑠𝑥 = √ =√ = 3505.18
𝑛−1 30

∑(𝑦 − 𝑦̅)2 62647162947


𝑠𝑦 = √ =√ = 45697.25
𝑛−1 30
𝑠𝑥𝑦 131804978.6
𝑟𝑥𝑦 = = = 0.8229
𝑠𝑥 𝑠𝑦 (3505.18)(45697.25)
Or using Excel, we use the formula = COVARIANCE.S(B2:B32,C2:C32) to calculate the
covariance, which is 131804978.638. This indicates that there is a positive relationship between
profits and market capitalization.

c. In the Excel file, we use the formula =CORREL(B2:B32,C2:C32) to calculate the correlation
coefficient, which is 0.8229. This indicates that there is a strong linear relationship between profits
and market capitalization.

26. a. Without Excel, we can use the calculations below to find the correlation coefficient:
xi yi ( xi − x ) ( yi − y ) ( xi − x ) 2 ( yi − y )2 ( xi − x )( yi − y )

7.1 7.02 0.2852 0.6893 0.0813 0.4751 0.1966


5.2 5.31 –1.6148 –1.0207 2.6076 1.0419 1.6483
7.8 5.38 0.9852 –0.9507 0.9706 0.9039 –0.9367
7.8 5.40 0.9852 –0.9307 0.9706 0.8663 –0.9170
5.8 5.00 –1.0148 –1.3307 1.0298 1.7709 1.3505
5.8 4.07 –1.0148 –2.2607 1.0298 5.1109 2.2942
9.3 6.53 2.4852 0.1993 6.1761 0.0397 0.4952
5.7 5.57 –1.1148 –0.7607 1.2428 0.5787 0.8481
7.3 6.99 0.4852 0.6593 0.2354 0.4346 0.3199
7.6 11.12 0.7852 4.7893 0.6165 22.9370 3.7605
8.2 7.56 1.3852 1.2293 1.9187 1.5111 1.7028
7.1 12.11 0.2852 5.7793 0.0813 33.3998 1.6482
6.3 4.39 –0.5148 –1.9407 0.2650 3.7665 0.9991
6.6 4.78 –0.2148 –1.5507 0.0461 2.4048 0.3331
6.2 5.78 –0.6148 –0.5507 0.3780 0.3033 0.3386
6.3 6.08 –0.5148 –0.2507 0.2650 0.0629 0.1291
7.0 10.05 0.1852 3.7193 0.0343 13.8329 0.6888
6.2 4.75 –0.6148 –1.5807 0.3780 2.4987 0.9719

2 - 17
Descriptive Statistics

5.5 7.22 –1.3148 0.8893 1.7287 0.7908 –1.1692


6.5 3.79 –0.3148 –2.5407 0.0991 6.4554 0.7999
6.0 3.62 –0.8148 –2.7107 0.6639 7.3481 2.2088
8.3 9.24 1.4852 2.9093 2.2058 8.4638 4.3208
7.5 4.40 0.6852 –1.9307 0.4695 3.7278 –1.3229
7.1 6.91 0.2852 0.5793 0.0813 0.3355 0.1652
6.8 5.57 –0.0148 –0.7607 0.0002 0.5787 0.0113
5.5 3.87 –1.3148 –2.4607 1.7287 6.0552 3.2354
7.5 8.42 0.6852 2.0893 0.4695 4.3650 1.4315
Total 25.77407 130.0594 25.5517
∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )(𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦̅) 25.5517
𝑠𝑥𝑦 = = = 0.9828
𝑛−1 26
∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )2 25.77407
𝑠𝑥 = √ =√ = 0.9956
𝑛−1 26

∑(𝑦 − 𝑦̅)2 130.0594


𝑠𝑦 = √ =√ = 2.2366
𝑛−1 26
𝑠𝑥𝑦 0.9828
𝑟𝑥𝑦 = = = 0.44
𝑠𝑥 𝑠𝑦 (0.9956)(2.2366)
Or we can use the Excel function CORREL.
The correlation coefficient indicates that there is a moderate positive linear relationship between
jobless rate and delinquent loans. If the jobless rate were to increase, it is likely that an increase in
the percentage of delinquent housing loans would also occur.

b.
14

12
Delinquent Loans (%)

10

0
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Jobless Rate (%)

27. a. Using the Excel function COUNTBLANK we find that there is one blank response in column C
(Texture) and one blank response in column F (Depth of Chocolate Flavor of the Cup). With
further investigation we find that the value of texture for respondent 157 is missing, and the value
of Depth of the Chocolate Flavor of the Cup for respondent 199 is missing.

b. To help us identify erroneous values, we calculate the Average, Standard Deviation, Minimum and
Maximum values for each variable.

2 - 18
Descriptive Statistics

# Missing Values: 0 1 0 0 1
Average: 72.29 105.94 77.11 78.51 77.36
Standard Deviation: 20.21 447.89 19.14 66.15 17.69
Minimum: 8.40 13.00 19.00 0.67 11.00
Maximum: 100.00 6666.00 120.00 997.00 100.00

We can immediately spot some surprising values in Column C (Texture) and column E
(Sweetness). Further examination identifies the following: the value of Texture for respondent 68
is 6666, which is outside the range for this variable; the value of sweetness for respondent 72 is
997, which is outside the range for this variable; the value of Sweetness for respondent 85 is 0.67,
which is outside the range for this variable and is not an integer. Additional examination of the
other responses shows that the value of Taste for respondent 90 is 8.4, which is not an integer, and
the value of Creaminess of filling for respondent 197 is 120, which is outside the range for this
variable.

2 - 19
Descriptive Statistics

28. a. Using the Excel function COUNTBLANK we find that one observation is missing in column B
and one observation missing in column C. Additional investigation shows that the missing value in
column B is for year 2016 for the Phillies and the missing value in column C is for year 2016 for
the Marlins. Review of major league baseball attendance data that are available from a reliable
source shows that the Phillies’ attendance in 2016 was 1,915,144, which is consistent with the
value of the Phillies’ attendance for the observation with the missing value of season. This
supports our suspicion that the value of season for this observation is 2016. Review of major
league baseball attendance data that are available from a reliable source shows that the Marlins’
2016 attendance was 1,712,417. (Note that we use the reference ESPN.com, at
http://www.espn.com/mlb/attendance as of May 14, 2017, as our reliable data source for
comparison.)

b. To help us identify erroneous values, we calculate the average, standard deviation, minimum and
maximum values for Season and Attendance. (Note that we use the reference ESPN.com, at
http://www.espn.com/mlb/attendance as of May 14, 2017, as our reliable data source for
comparison.)

# Missing Values: 1 1
Average: 2,004 2,651,944.64
Standard Deviation: 124 2,333,151.88
Minimum: 214 -3,365,256.00
Maximum: 2,016 26,426,820.00

We immediately identify that there is an erroneous value for Season as all values should be
between 2014 and 2016, but the minimum value is 214. We also identify that the minimum and
maximum values for Attendance appear questionable. Review of major league baseball attendance
data that are available from a reliable source shows that the Cubs’ attendance in 2014 was
2,652,113, which is consistent with the value of the Cubs’ attendance for the observation with the
missing value of season. This supports our suspicion that the value of season for this observation
is 2014.

The value for attendance for the Giants in 2016 is –3,365,256, which is unrealistic. Review of
major league baseball attendance data that are available from a reliable source shows that the
Giants’ 2016 attendance was 3,365,256.

The value for attendance for the Cubs in 2013 is 26,426,820, which is unusually large. Review of
major league baseball attendance data that are available from a reliable source shows that the
Cubs’ 2013 attendance was 2,642,682.

We can also sort the data in Excel by Team Name to help us identify attendance values that seem
outside the norm for that team. Additional analysis of individual attendance values shows the
following.

The value for attendance for the Royals in 2011 is 172,445, which is unusually small. Review of
major league baseball attendance data that are available from a reliable source shows that the
Royals’ 2011 attendance was 1,724,450.

The value for attendance for the Marlins in 2014 is 9,732,283, which is unusually large compared
to other season attendance values for the Marlins. Review of major league baseball attendance
data that are available from a reliable source shows that the Marlins’ 2014 attendance was
1,732,283.

The value for attendance for the Marlins in 2015 is 752,235, which is unusually small compared to
other season attendance values for the Marlins. Review of major league baseball attendance data
that are available from a reliable source shows that the Marlins’ 2015 attendance was 1,752,235.

2 - 20
Descriptive Statistics

The value for attendance for the Orioles in 2014 is 22,464,473, which is unusually large. Review
of major league baseball attendance data that are available from a reliable source shows that the
Orioles’ 2014 attendance was 2,464,473.

2 - 21
Descriptive Statistics

Chapter 2
Descriptive Statistics

Case Problem 1: Heavenly Chocolates Web Site Transactions


1. Descriptive statistics for the time spent on the web site, number of pages viewed, and amount spent are shown
below.

Time (min) Pages Viewed Amount Spent ($)


Mean 12.8 4.8 68.13
Median 11.4 4.5 62.15
Standard Deviation 6.06 2.04 32.34
Range 28.6 8 140.67
Minimum 4.3 2 17.84
Maximum 32.9 10 158.51
Sum 640.5 241 3406.41

The mean time a shopper is on the Heavenly Chocolates web site is 12.8 minutes, with a minimum time of
4.3 minutes and a maximum time of 32.9 minutes. The following histogram demonstrates that the data are
skewed to the right.
Histogram of Time (min)
14

12

10
Frequency

0
5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (min)

The mean number of pages viewed during a visit is 4.8 pages with a minimun of 2 pages and a maximum of
10 pages. A histogram of the number of pages viewed indicates that the data are slightly skewed to the right.

2 - 22
Descriptive Statistics

Histogram of Pages Viewed

12

10

Frequency
6

0
2 4 6 8 10
Pages Viewed

The mean amount spent for an online shopper is $68.13 with a minimum amount spent of $17.84 and a
maximum amount spent of $158.51. The following histogram indicates that the data are skewed to the right.

Histogram of Amount

10

8
Frequency

0
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Amount

2. Summary by Day of Week

Total Amount Average Amount


Day of Week Frequency Spent ($) Spent ($)
Sunday 5 218.15 43.63
Monday 9 813.38 90.38
Tuesday 7 414.86 59.27
Wednesday 6 341.82 56.97
Thursday 5 294.03 58.81
Friday 11 945.43 85.95
Saturday 7 378.74 54.11
Total 50 3406.41

2 - 23
Descriptive Statistics

The above summary shows that Monday and Friday are the best days in terms of both the total amount spent
and the averge amount spent per transaction. Friday had the most purchases (11) and the highest value for
total amount spent ($945.43). Monday, with nine transactions, had the highest average amount spent per
transaction ($90.38). Sunday was the worst sales day of the week in terms of number of transactions (5), total
amount spent ($218.15), and average amount spent per transaction ($43.63). However, the sample size for
each day of the week are very small, with only Friday having more than 10 transactions. We would suggest a
larger sample size be taken before recommending any specific stratgegy based on the day of week statistics.

3. Summary by Type of Browser

Total Amount Average Amount


Browser Frequency Spent ($) Spent ($)
Firefox 16 1228.21 76.76
Chrome 27 1656.81 61.36
Other 7 521.39 74.48

Chrome was used by 27 of the 50 shoppers (54%). But, the average amount spent by customers who used
Chrome ($61.36) is less than the average amount spent by customers who used Firefox ($76.76) or some
other type of browser ($74.48). This result would suggest targeting special promotion offers to Firefox users
or users of other types of browsers. But, before recommending any specific strategies based upon the type of
browser, we would suggest taking a larger sample size.

4. A scatter diagram showing the relationship between time spent on the web site and the amount spent follows:

The sample correlation coefficient between these two variables is .580. The scatter diagram and the sample
correlation coefficient indicate a postive relationship between time spent on the web site and the total amount
spent. Thus, the sample data support the conclusion that customers who spend more time on the web site
spend more.

5. A scatter diagram showing the relationship between the number of pages viewed and the amount spent
follows:

2 - 24
Descriptive Statistics

The sample correlation coefficient between these two variables is .724. The scatter diagram and the sample
correlation coefficient indicate a postive relationship between time spent on the web site and the number of
pages viewed. Thus, the sample data support the conclusion that customers who view more web site pages
spend more.

6. A scatter diagram showing the relationship between the number of pages viewed and the time spent on the
web site follows:

The sample correlation coefficient between these two variables is .596. The scatter diagram and the sample
correlation coefficient indicate a postive relationship between the number of pages viewed and the time spent
on the web site.

Summary: The analysis indicates that online shoppers who spend more time on the company’s web site
and/or view more web site pages spend more money during their visit to the web site. If Heavenly Chocolates
can develop an attractive web site such that online shoppers are willing to spend more time on the web site
and/or view more pages, there is a good possiblity that the company will experience greater sales. And,
consideration should also be given to developing marketing strategies based upon possible differences in
sales associated with the day of the week as well as differences in sales associated with the type of browser
used by the customer.

2 - 25
Descriptive Statistics

Case Problem 2: African Elephant Populations

This case provides the student with the opportunity to use the geometric mean in conjunction with a graph
(such as the boxplot) to analyze changes over time in the populations of elephants in several African
nations.

1. Let’s calculate the proportional change for each country over the 10-year period, 1979–1989. We’ll
begin by considering the Central African Republic. We have:

19,000 = 63,000 ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x10 ) , so ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x10 ) = 0.301587 and

xg = n ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x10 ) = 10 0.301587 = 0.887036

So the mean annual change in the elephant population for the Central African Republic during this
period is (0.887036 – 1)100% = –11.3%. From 1979 to 1989, the elephant population in the Central
African Republic declined at an annual rate of 11.3%.

Repeating these calculations for each nation yields the values in the following table.

Country ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x10 ) xg Mean Annual


Ändern Sie
Angola 1.0000 1.0000 0.0000
Botswana 2.5500 1.0981 0.0981
Cameroon 1.3086 1.0273 0.0273
Cen African Rep 0.3016 0.8870 –0.1130
Chad 0.2067 0.8541 –0.1459
Congo 6.4815 1.2055 0.2055
Dem Rep of 0.2250 0.8614 –0.1386
Congo
Gabon 5.6716 1.1895 0.1895
Kenya 0.2923 0.8843 –0.1157
Mozambique 0.3394 0.8976 –0.1024
Somalia 0.2469 0.8695 –0.1305
Tanzania 0.2529 0.8716 –0.1284
Zambia 0.2733 0.8784 –0.1216
Zimbabwe 1.4333 1.0367 0.0367

The elephant populations in several nations (Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, and Zambia) declined at an annual rate of
10% or more from 1979 to 1989. During the same period a few nations (Botswana, Congo, and
Gabon) experienced growth in their elephant populations.

2. Now let’s calculate the proportional change for each country over the 18-year period, 1989–2007.
We’ll again begin by considering the Central African Republic. We have:

3,334 = 19,000 ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x18 ) , so ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x18 ) = 0.175474 and

xg = n ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x18 ) = 18 0.175474 = 0.907845

2 - 26
Descriptive Statistics

So the mean annual change in the elephant population for the Central African Republic during this
period is (0.907845 – 1)100% = –9.2155%. From 1979 to 1989, the elephant population in the
Central African Republic declined at an annual rate of 9.2%.

Repeating these calculations for each nation yields the values in the following table.

Country ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x18 ) xg Mean Annual


Ändern Sie
Angola 0.2040 0.9155 –0.0845
Botswana 3.4409 1.0711 0.0711
Cameroon 0.7258 0.9824 –0.0176
Cen African Rep 0.1755 0.9078 –0.0922
Chad 2.0758 1.0414 0.0414
Congo 0.3157 0.9380 –0.0620
Dem Rep of 0.2790 0.9315 –0.0685
Congo
Gabon 0.9294 0.9959 –0.0041
Kenya 1.6651 1.0287 0.0287
Mozambique 1.4026 1.0190 0.0190
Somalia 0.0117 0.7809 –0.2191
Tanzania 2.0875 1.0417 0.0417
Zambia 0.7130 0.9814 –0.0186
Zimbabwe 2.3048 1.0475 0.0475

Only one country (Somalia) continues to experience average annual declines of 10% or more in its
elephant population from 1989 to 2007, while most other nations had relatively small mean annual
changes in their elephant populations.

3. Now let’s calculate the proportional change for each country over the five-year period, 2007–2012.
We’ll again begin by considering the Central African Republic. We have:

2,285 = 3,334 ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x5 ) , so ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x5 ) = 0.685363 and

xg = n
( x1 )( x2 )L ( x5 ) = 5 0.685363 = 0.927223

So the mean annual change in the elephant population for the Central African Republic during this
period is (0.927223 – 1)100 = –7.2777%. From 2007 to 2012, the elephant population in the Central
African Republic declined at an annual rate of 7.3%.

Repeating these calculations for each nation yields the values in the following table.

Country ( x1 )( x2 )L ( x5 ) xg Mean Annual


Ändern Sie
Angola 1.0000 1.0000 0.0000
Botswana 0.9998 1.0000 0.0000
Cameroon 0.9130 0.9820 –0.0180
Cen African Rep 0.6854 0.9272 –0.0728

2 - 27
Descriptive Statistics

Chad 0.4668 0.8587 –0.1413


Congo 2.2298 1.1740 0.1740
Dem Rep of 0.5766 0.8957 –0.1043
Congo
Gabon 1.0936 1.0181 0.0181
Kenya 1.1462 1.0277 0.0277
Mozambique 1.0163 1.0032 0.0032
Somalia 1.0000 1.0000 0.0000
Tanzania 0.7033 0.9320 –0.0680
Zambia 0.7386 0.9412 –0.0588
Zimbabwe 1.0119 1.0024 0.0024

Two countries (Chad and Democratic Republic of the Congo) experienced average annual declines
in their elephant populations of 10% or more from 2007 to 2012, while most other nations had
relatively small mean annual changes in their elephant populations.

4. Now we compare the results of our three analyses and draw conclusions.

Mean Annual Mean Annual


Mean Annual Change Change
Country Change 1979–1989 1989–2007 2007–2012
Chad –0.1459 0.0414 –0.1413
Dem Rep of Congo –0.1386 –0.0685 –0.1043
Somalia –0.1305 –0.2191 0.0000
Tanzania –0.1284 0.0417 –0.0680
Zambia –0.1216 –0.0186 –0.0588
Kenya –0.1157 0.0287 0.0277
Cen African Rep –0.1130 –0.0922 –0.0728
Mozambique –0.1024 0.0190 0.0032
Angola 0.0000 -0.0845 0.0000
Cameroon 0.0273 –0.0176 –0.0180
Zimbabwe 0.0367 0.0475 0.0024
Botswana 0.0981 0.0711 0.0000
Gabon 0.1895 –0.0041 0.0181
Congo 0.2055 –0.0620 0.1740

2 - 28
Descriptive Statistics

Boxplot of Elephant Population


400000

300000
Elephant Population

200000

100000

1979 1989 2007 2012


Year

From these boxplots we can see that the population of elephants declined dramatically from 1979
to 1989, generally started to come back between 1989 and 2007, and stabilized between 2007 and
2012. We can also see that the declining trend that was established between 1979 and 1989
continues for the elephant populations in some African nations.

Several nations appear to have reversed the declines in elephant populations they experienced
from 1979 to 1989, but the growth rates are still generally low (and in some countries still negative).
At 2007–2012 rates of change, it will take many decades for the elephant populations to recover to
their 1979 levels.

Solution Manual Files:

2 - 29
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
these within my call now, who are ready to swear to the people of
Kamt that, though sick, the Pharaoh lives.… And the people of Kamt,
who left their rejoicings in answer to the wild shrieks of a woman, will
return to their homes, their dancing and their music, with a puzzled
and perhaps sad shake of the head, saying, ‘Princess Neit-akrit, of
the house of Usem-ra, the beautiful, is no longer pure; madness has
caused her tongue to lie, at the very foot of the throne of Isis,
desecrating the temple of the goddess.’ And some, no doubt, with a
shrug will add: ‘Madness which cometh of love for the stranger,
unhappy love for him who will have none of her, since he will wed
Maat-kha, anon.’ ”
“Hold thy peace, Ur-tasen. I forbid thee to speak of these things.”
“Nay! I will not hold my peace, Neit-akrit, Princess of Kamt, thou
who didst dare say that thou wouldst defy me! Didst think that it were
so easy to circumvent the plans of Ur-tasen, the high priest of Ra?
Didst think I should allow thy girlish sentiments to upset what I have
thought and dreamed of ever since the stranger has usurped my
power? Go and strike the metal gong, Neit-akrit, go and summon the
people of Tanis. Derision and contempt await thee, and thou wilt not
help the stranger withal.”
Then, as she did not reply, but stood like an image of deep
thought, with her golden head bent, he added:
“Hadst thou reflected, when thou didst venture to threaten and
upbraid me, that thou wast within the precincts of a temple of Kamt,
that in every nook, every corner of the gigantic building, the priests of
Isis, and those of Ra, those of Horus and those of Osiris, are there
lurking ready to answer the high priest’s beck and call? Go up the
steps, Neit-akrit, which lead to the ponderous gong, take the mighty
clapper in both thy hands, and I tell thee that before metal touches
metal thou and thy soul will have fled to a land whence thou canst
not return to thwart the will of the high priest of Ra, and a memory of
something young and beautiful, the remembrance of a lock of golden
hair, will be all that will remain in the land of Neit-akrit, Princess of
Kamt.”
I was glad that he had chosen to give this timely warning to the
Princess, for I personally had been ready to shout to her, signifying
my presence, and trusting to her wit and power to get me out of my
difficult position. The mention of a host of shaven priests, hidden I
knew not where, threw cold water upon my ardour, and I gnashed
my teeth lest my British temper should get the better of me, and lest
through the bars of my prison I should be impelled to hurl an
ineffectual, if to me convincing, malediction against the unscrupulous
and treacherous blackguard who was hemming us in all round.
“It was because I knew this, Ur-tasen, that I did not shout to the
people of Kamt the moment I saw the murderous deed and realised
the blackness of thy treachery,” said Neit-akrit, quietly. “I did not see
the Pharaoh die. I came into the temple alone at the very moment
when his body, after a final convulsion, rolled rigid upon the floor.
Then I caught sight of thee; the flickering light of the lamp illumined
thy face, and I knew that thy thoughts were evil. Silently I waited and
listened; heard of thy villainy and Maat-kha’s weakness, and trusted
to the gods to give power to my words, to turn thee from the dark
path, before it be too late.”
I thought that she looked round her as if realising for the first time
the loneliness of her position. Certainly these last few words showed
decided signs of coming weakness, and my awakening hopes began
to give way to a creeping feeling of disappointment. She was, of
course, entirely at the mercy of an unscrupulous and daring man,
whose sacred office gave him every power and opportunity of
suppressing, temporarily or permanently, every inconvenient enemy.
Personally, I thought that his last threat had been a bluff; he would
surely not have dared to put Princess Neit-akrit entirely out of the
way at the same time as the Pharaoh. She was the idol of the male
population of Kamt, and suspicion might perhaps fasten
uncomfortably upon the high priest and his deacons. At the same
time, undoubtedly, Neit-akrit’s life was doubly precious if she really
meant to help Hugh. The question which agitated my mind was,
Would she care to thwart the high priest, at risk of some terrible
retaliation on his part? Of course I did not understand her nature.
How could I, a prosy Britisher, read the thoughts and feelings of so
curious and ardent a temperament? Some time ago I had mistrusted
her; then, a curious jealous feeling, of which I am heartily ashamed,
made me turn against her when I saw how completely she had taken
possession of Hugh’s heart. Both these feelings had in their turn
overclouded my brain as to her real character, and I really was no
judge as to whether she hated Hugh as a usurper, or if she cared for
him. She was impulsive and capricious, sensuous and ardent, that I
knew. Perhaps it had been mere impulse which had dictated to her
to admonish, threaten and warn Ur-tasen, and to save Hugh if she
could; that impulse had perhaps died out again, and visions of the
throne rendered vacant for her by the Pharaoh’s, Maat-kha’s and
ultimately Hugh’s death, chased nobler thoughts away from her
mind. She did not speak for a long time, and Ur-tasen stood and
watched her with arms folded across his chest, his whole attitude
one of scorn and command.
“The hours slip by, Neit-akrit, on the winged feet of time,” he said
with pronounced sarcasm. “Hast forgotten that within the next two
hours the emissary of Osiris, the son of Ra, he who hath made us all
happy and rejoicing, will wed Maat-kha our Queen, the widow of Hor-
tep-ra? Hast forgotten that at the marriage ceremony, amidst all that
are there, among all those who are fair in the land, there must be
one who is fairer than all? Thy women await thee, no doubt, ready to
deck thee with the snow-white robes which befit thy beauty and thy
innocence. Nay!” he added with sudden softness, “thou art beautiful
above all the daughters of Kamt, the perfume of thy hair sends
delicious intoxication even through my shrivelled old body. Thou art
fair, so fair that I would fain see the double crown of Kamt upon thine
ardent hair. To accomplish this I plotted and I planned. Thou art a
child and dost not understand. Leave thy destiny, the destinies of
Kamt, in the hands of him whose firm will can guide them. Believe
me, if in return thou wilt but smile on him and tell him thou art
satisfied, he will be content.”
She did not reply, and he added pleadingly:
“I did it for thee, Neit-akrit! In order that I with mine own hands
might place the crown of Kamt upon thy golden hair, in order that
none should rule over thee, that thou shouldst be queen indeed, as
thou art queen only by thy beauty and by thy smiles. Tell me, art
satisfied?”
And very quietly she answered:
“I am satisfied!”
I could scarcely believe my ears. Disappointment was so
overwhelming that I almost shrieked with the agony of it. Already she
had thrown up the sponge. Ambition had quickly swept aside the
noble impulse which had made her plead for Hugh. And again Ur-
tasen was triumphant, and I, helpless, left once more, after a brief
ray of hope, in an uncertainty which was now still harder to bear.
“Before thou goest, Neit-akrit,” said Ur-tasen, “I would have thee
swear to me that neither by look nor word wilt thou betray to any one
the plans of the high priest of Ra.”
But Neit-akrit was silent; and Ur-tasen added quietly:
“Nay! perhaps thou needest not swear. An oath can so easily be
broken, in the spirit if not in the letter. I think I can trust thee best
when I say that, shouldst thou before dawn anon think of warning the
stranger of what awaits him in the nook beside the sacred cataract,
and his footsteps should not in consequence lead him thither, then,
of course, no obstacle will stand between the beloved of the gods
and Maat-kha, his bride. The priests of Isis, after the first hour of
dawn, will take the body of the holy Pharaoh back into his palace,
and swear that he died of sickness in his bed. Then the happy union
can be consummated, and thou, Neit-akrit, the defrauded Princess of
Kamt, canst in thy unselfish joy watch the happiness of Maat-kha,
the murderess, in the arms of her beloved, the son of Ra, loved of all
the gods: and I can swear to thee that he shall not know that the wife
of his bosom is the murderess of her first-born until she hath borne
him a son, the heir to all her vices. Farewell, Neit-akrit, future queen
of Kamt!”
Oh! he was a cunning brute, was old Ur-tasen: again he had put
his finger upon the most vulnerable spot in any female armour.
Death to the loved one or his happiness in another woman’s arms:
the great problem which has torn passionate women’s hearts in
every country and beneath every clime, since the world began. Oh!
that I could have read in Neit-akrit’s heart and known what she would
do! How far and in what way did she care for Hugh? The alternatives
seemed to me equally hopeless. If she had no love for him then, no
doubt, ambition would seal her lips: she would remember the throne
of Kamt, the glorious double crown, the homage of the people, and
in the pomp and glitter forget the awful doom which alone could drive
the usurping stranger from her path. But if she loved him, then
what…? then the great and subtle puzzle of the eternally feminine,
the mysterious workings of a woman’s heart, of a woman who, in
spite of the high culture, the civilisation, the artistic refinement of this
land, was pre-eminently exotic, passionate, semi-barbarous in her
love and her hate. Nay! I knew not. How could I guess how she
would act? Can man read the uncut pages of that romance of which
a woman only shows him the title leaf?
But, in the meanwhile, the dangers round my friend seemed to
close in tightly. Ur-tasen with subtle cunning had worked upon the
loves, the jealousies of the two women who alone could save him,
while I was still a caged prisoner, and the hours were swiftly
speeding on.
Neit-akrit had disappeared, and Ur-tasen alone remained, quietly
standing before the altar of the goddess, with arms outstretched,
murmuring one of his pagan prayers, but as I still continued my
weary watch, it seemed to me that newly awakened though still
hidden life began to pervade the great and mystic temple. Within the
main aisle the hanging lamps were lighted one after the other by—to
me—unseen hands, and in the distance fresh young voices were
rehearsing a bridal chant. Behind me in the outer precincts I could
hear the muffled sounds of shuffling footsteps passing swiftly to and
fro, and although from where I was I could see nothing save the
brilliantly lighted and lonely sanctuary, yet I felt that around me there
was bustle and animation: the preparations for the coming festivity.
I was carefully maturing my plans. Determined to keep well within
the shadow of my prison, I would wait quietly for the best moment in
which to attract Hugh’s attention. I was in no sense of the word
nervous or agitated; I even began to feel strangely drowsy and had
much difficulty in accomplishing my numerous yawns noiselessly.
The atmosphere became insufferably hot and heavy; clouds of
smoke from the incense and burning herbs were continually wafted
in through the window of my prison, and this no doubt was beginning
to make me stupid and sleepy.
Not knowing how time was going on, I had squatted into the angle
of the wall, with my knees drawn up to my chin, in an irresistible
desire for sleep.
Suddenly I heard heavy footsteps outside, slow and halting; trying
to shake off my drowsiness, I raised my head and listened. Through
the marble tracery of the gateway I could see the vague forms of a
group of men, who seemed to be carrying something heavy between
them. A great cloud of some peculiarly scented burning herb came in
a great wave right through the window and seemed literally to strike
me in the face, blinding me and making me gasp for breath.
Drowsiness became intolerable, and yet when I sleepily reopened
my eyes I saw the gigantic marble gateway slowly moving on its
hinges.… This sight roused me from my lethargy for the moment.…
My senses fully alive, I watched and waited.… It was pitch dark in
the farther end of my cell, but I heard the footsteps within three feet
of me, still shuffling and halting.… Through the open gateway the
shadows appeared less dense: noiselessly on my hands and knees,
keeping my shoulder close to the wall, I crawled towards the
opening.
The men had put their heavy burden on the floor: they did not
speak, hardly did I hear them breathing. My fear was lest they should
detect me before I had reached the gate, but they seemed not to
have noticed me, and now, one by one, they turned and filed out. I
was close to the opening, leaning against the wall, ready to crawl out
in the last man’s wake.… From the inside of my prison the same
unknown scent of some highly aromatic herb was wafted in great
clouds towards my nostrils… the fumes were overpowering, and I
was tired and sleepy from my long, anxious wait.… The men had all
slipped noiselessly through the opening… the cloak of the last one
had caught in a projecting bit of carving… he stooped quietly to
disentangle it… I could see his outline very clearly against the lighted
corridor beyond.… My lids fell heavily over my eyes… I tried to
shake off my torpor, for the last effort for freedom… but I was too
sleepy.… I could not move. A great whiff of that enervating, burning
herb made me long for rest and sleep!… I was too tired… I would
slip out by-and-by.… Now I must have sleep.
The man with the cloak had slipped out… I think the gate swung
to, and I crouched once more with my chin between my knees.… I
wondered what the herb was.… I must find out… it would do instead
of ether in cases of minor operations… it was sweet and pleasant,
but overpowering.
From the sanctuary a sudden brilliant ray of light struck for an
instant through the aperture… some one must have gone past
carrying a lamp or torch. It lit up the centre of my prison, and forced
me to open my eyes for a second.… During that second I saw that,
on the floor, sharing my captivity with me, was the body of the
murdered Pharaoh.…
Then I remember nothing more.…
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE MARRIAGE

“And thou, oh, stranger, who dost hail from the foot of the throne of
Osiris, who art the son of Ra, the emissary of Horus, the beloved of
all the gods, tell Isis, the mysterious goddess, why thou art here.”
“I am here to crave of Isis the pure, Isis the beloved, Isis the most
holy, that she deign to pour the fruits of her blessing upon me, for I
would take this woman to be my wife.”
It was Hugh’s voice which spoke slowly and solemnly, and which
was the first sound that penetrated to my brain, still wandering in the
realms of cloud-land.
Through the window of my prison an intense flood of light filtered
brilliantly, illuminating the granite floor and walls. A strong scent of
incense and myrrh had driven away the stupefying fumes of that
burning herb which had lulled me to sleep. I tried to collect my
scattered senses, but a terrible pain in my head and eyes still kept
me half-stupefied. And yet I heard Hugh’s voice speaking strange
and momentous words, and a dull instinct whispered to me that I
must get to him, somehow, for a reason, of which I was not as yet
fully conscious. A raging thirst had made my tongue swell and
parched my throat: the events of the last few hours danced before
my clouded brain like some weird phantasmagoria.
The Pharaoh… dead! murdered! his body lying close to me, when
last I had opened my eyes, but now, carried away, while I had been
asleep… Maat-kha!… the murderess!… Hugh’s promised bride! Ur-
tasen, the evil plotter!… who had done… I knew not what…
something that would wreck Hugh’s life as well as his honour.… Neit-
akrit!… who might be a friend, and yet was a foe!… and I… a
helpless prisoner, stupid, senseless, half-drowsy still, after a drugged
and heavy sleep!
“And thou, Maat-kha, who art daughter of Uah-ab-ra, the son of
Ach-mes, the son of Ne-ku, tell Isis, the mysterious goddess, why
thou art here.”
I did not know that voice, some priest probably… no concern of
mine… I could perhaps get another half-hour’s sleep… I was still so
tired.
“I came here to crave of Isis the pure, Isis the beloved, Isis the
most holy, that she deign to pour upon me the fruits of her blessing,
for I would swear fealty to this man, and be his wife.”
That was Queen Maat-kha’s voice, and just now I had heard that
of Hugh… the pain in my head was intolerable… my limbs felt weak
and stiff: there was the whole length of my prison between me and
the aperture, through which probably I should be able to see those
who had spoken. I began to drag myself along, but I was only half
awake, my limbs only just managed to bear me along, and I did not
know if I should ever reach that aperture.
“Art awake, oh, Isis, who art daughter of Ra?
“Art awake, oh, Isis, who art sister and bride of Osiris?
“Art awake, oh, Isis, who art mother of Horus?
“Oh, Isis, give life to this man and to this woman, who have sought
the sanctity of thy temple!
“The gods above do rejoice! the glorious company is full of joy,
giving praise to thee, oh, Isis, who art pure!
“Isis who art beloved!
“Isis who art most holy!”
I had at last, after terrible difficulties, succeeded in reaching the
window; with infinite pain I struggled to my feet, but I could not stand:
my head was heavy and my knees shook under me. Twice I fell
down, but at the third struggle my hands convulsively fastened on
the marble ledge, and steadying myself as best I could, I looked out,
dazed, before me.
The sanctuary and the temple beyond it were one dazzling mass
of lighted lamps and torches. The gossamer curtain had been drawn
aside, and I could see the interminable vista of snow-white columns,
on which the silver inlay glistened with a thousand sparks. Between
the pillars, a sea of dark heads, adorned with gaily-coloured caps
and kerchiefs, amongst which, occasionally, I caught sight of the
glitter of a golden uræus, or elaborately jewelled belt.… I could
distinguish no details: my eyes were blurred, my brain overclouded. I
remember that gorgeous picture only as one remembers a dream.
Immediately before me Isis towered, wrapped in her sacred
mantle, which hand of man has never dared to touch. On her head a
gigantic pair of snow-white horns, between which glittered the silver
disc of a huge full moon. Immediately at her feet a group of priests,
with shaven crowns and long flowing robes of white, stood in a semi-
circle, in the middle of which the high-priest of the goddess stood
with arms outstretched, reciting the invocations.
Beneath the many hanging lamps, wherein burned lights of
different colours, the other priests of the gods of Kamt were massed
in imposing groups: the priests of Ra with yellow robes and leopard
skins round their bodies: those of Phtah, with monstrous scarabæus
of iridescent blue and green enamel on the top of their heads: those
of Thot, with masks of apes entirely covering their faces, and those
of Hor, with masks of sparrow-hawks, while the jackal’s head hid the
features of the priests of Anubis. Immediately to the right of the
officiating high priests stood Ur-tasen, the high priest of Ra.
“Isis is strong!
“Isis is great!
“Isis is living and mighty!”
The various attributes of the goddess reached my dull ears only as
the sound of muffled drums.
At the foot of the sanctuary steps, against a background of men
and women in gorgeous raiments, and beneath a canopy of white
lilies, stood Hugh Tankerville and his promised wife. His face was
even paler than when I had seen it last: his eyes gleamed darkly and
with an unnatural fire. He held his arms tightly crossed over his
chest, and in his whole attitude there was the expression of an
indomitable will triumphing over an overwhelming passion.
I saw him, as I had seen the sanctuary, the goddess, the crowds of
people, only as one sees a vivid dream. It seemed to me as if he
were not really there, but that slowly, very slowly, I was waking from
that sleep which had held me enthralled for months, and that when I
was fully awake I should look round me, and see myself sitting in the
dear old Museum, at The Chestnuts, with Mr. Tankerville sitting
beside me, telling me of beautiful, mysterious, legendary Neit-akrit.
I tried to speak to Hugh, for he was not far from me, but my tongue
seemed rooted to my palate, and, as in a dream, not a sound
escaped my throat. Clouds of incense rose all around, and when the
high priest had ceased to laud the magnificence of his goddess, the
priestesses, clad all in white, with their huge, disfiguring wigs over
their heads, began a sweet and monotonous chant, accompanying
themselves upon their crescent-shaped harps, and beating upon the
sistrum and the drum.
Beside Hugh, underneath that same canopy of lilies, and with her
hand holding his, was Queen Maat-kha. She had discarded her
gorgeous funereal draperies, and was standing clad all in white, her
regal crown over her low, square brow, her great black tresses
descending each side of her pale face, almost to her knees, and
intertwined with ropes of pearls. And I, in my dream, thought that I
could see, clinging to her finger tips, the last drops of her murdered
son’s blood.
Again I tried to scream, but my throat seemed paralysed.
Gradually memory, as a vague, still indistinct shadow, began to
creep back into my mind. Hugh was before me clad in sumptuous
robes, his dark head uncovered, his tall figure erect, ready to plight
his troth, to pledge that word, which he worshipped as a divinity, to
the vile murderess by his side. Twice a murderess, since having
slain her son she would ruthlessly sacrifice her lover to save herself
from the tortures of jealousy. Yes, I did remember! It was imperative
that I should warn Hugh of some terrible danger which the woman
beside him and the high priest of Ra had placed across his path.
“Oh, thou who art beloved of the gods, and thou who art Queen of
Kamt, behold! Isis the goddess is awakened!
“Ra, all-creating, all-powerful and mighty, doth descend to earth!
“Phtah, the mysterious, and Osiris, the bounty-giver, do hover
invisibly over your heads!
“But Hapi, who proceedeth from Ra, who, in his divine person, is
the living representative of Isis, of Osiris, and of Phtah, Hapi himself
will pass before your eyes!
“With the finger of your right hand ye may touch the sacred star
upon his brow!
“With both your eyes ye may gaze upon him!
“But, ye all, children of Kamt! veil ye your countenance! the god
will pass amongst you, and the sight of him gives blindness to those
who are not wholly pure!”
A terrific cloud of incense rose from every corner of the edifice.
Hugh and the Queen mounted two of the steps which led up to the
sanctuary, and behind them the silver tissue of the veil fell together
with a prolonged and softly sighing sound. Immediately underneath
the window where I was a bowl full of incense must have been
burning, for a cloud rose like a curtain between me and the
sanctuary. Through it I could see Hugh, not twenty yards away from
me, and I tried to scream… and my throat was absolutely paralysed.
Now, there was great tramping of feet, and opposite to me a
brilliant cortège came slowly towards the bridal pair. Adorned with
bunches of gardenias and tuberoses, but with heavy chains round
his feet and head, a gigantic ox was being dragged along. He was
black, save for a white spot upon his forehead, and a patch upon his
back: his horns were silvered, and he was led by ten priests of Isis,
who held him by heavy silver chains. The great beast, snorting and
puffing and evidently much annoyed at having been dragged from
his stable, allowed himself to be taken fairly peacefully along, until he
was brought to a standstill in the middle of the sanctuary,
immediately at the foot of the throne of Isis. All the priests had
prostrated themselves face downwards on the ground. Hugh and
Maat-kha alone remained standing. At a sign from the high priest
they both placed their hand upon the forehead of the beast, while the
priestesses intoned a triumphal march. Then, as stolidly as he had
come, the god Hapi retired from the gaze of his worshippers.
“Oh thou, the son of Ra! the emissary of Osiris! the beloved of the
gods! art ready to take the oath which will bind thee, thy body and
thy soul, the breath within thy body and the blood beneath thy flesh,
to the woman who is to be thy wife?”
And I, in this strange and vivid dream, which was so real, and
which I could not grasp, heard Hugh’s voice clear and distinct:
“I am ready.”
And I, his friend, his chum, his schoolfellow, I, Mark Emmett, who
would have given at any time my life for his, could not succeed in
giving one warning shout to stop this monstrous deed.
The poison—whatever it was—was still in my veins… my limbs felt
like lead… I could not keep my head erect.… I could see all, hear
every word, and smell the incense… but I could not utter a sound.
“Oh! son of Ra, beloved of the gods, at dawn when anon, Isis, the
pure, sinks fainting into the arms of Osiris, her beloved and glorious
spouse, thou wilt stand beside the sacred cataract, where since five
times a thousand years the kings of Kamt have given the first kiss to
their bride!
“Oh then! oh, son of Ra, wilt swear to give thy bride that kiss and
to take her for wife?”
“I swear!” said Hugh, earnestly.
“Oh, son of Ra, beloved of the gods, having taken unto thee a
wife, wilt swear to be true to her with thy soul and with thy body?”
“I swear!”
“Oh, son of Ra, beloved of the gods, dost swear before all men
that thou wilt be true to her, whom thou wilt take to thyself as wife?”
“I swear!”
“Wilt swear it on the names of the gods of Kamt, of Ra, of Osiris
and of Horus? of Anubis and Set? Wilt swear it upon thy manhood
and upon thy honour?”
“I swear it!”
Hugh Tankerville, calm and impassive, had pledged his honour to
be true to her who even now was plotting his death and his shame.
I seemed to remember all now as in a flash. The sight of Ur-
tasen’s face as he watched the high priest of Isis administering this
oath to my friend, for the space of a second, illumined a corner of my
dulled intellect. I saw it all with the vividness of reality: the murdered
Pharaoh lying beside the cataract; Hugh wandering unsuspectingly
thither, with the shaven priests of Isis creeping on his trail, like
jackals after their prey: then the mob yelling and cursing: Hugh,
helpless in the face of the terrible accusations; the hall of justice: the
doom from which probably even his own personality could not save
him: and all the while I tried to shriek. I opened my parched lips, and
but a few dull, guttural sounds escaped my throat, and Hugh could
not hear. He was there within a few yards of me, pledging his
manhood, his honour, to a pagan murderess, and I could do nothing,
for I was in a dream, which gripped my throat and numbed my limbs.
Once it seemed to me as if Hugh held up his head suddenly, while a
look of surprise came into his eyes: encouraged, I tried again; my
head fell back as if weighted with lead, the lids closed over my
aching eyes, the vision of the snow-white temple, the brilliant crowd,
the gorgeous and motley group of priests became more and more
dim. With a feeble effort, I tried to raise my hand, and beat childishly,
impotently, against the immovable and cold stone walls of my prison;
but even that effort proved too great: my grip on the marble relaxed,
my knees absolutely gave way under me, and stupefied, drowsy,
sleepy still under the potency of the mysterious drug, I sank again
into heavy, dreamless sleep.…
CHAPTER XXVII.
WHITE ROSEMARY

The cloud was being slowly lifted from round my brain: the dream
was gradually being dispelled; reality—terrible, appalling—forced
itself before my enfeebled mind. My head still felt like lead, my eyes
burned like pieces of charcoal in their sockets, my limbs still were
paralysed and stiff—but my brain was clear, and I remembered.
Through the window of my prison a very faint glimmer only was
creeping in from the sanctuary, throwing a dim band of light upon the
floor. In the air there hovered the heavy odour of burnt incense and
myrrh, but everything around was silent and at peace.
Had it all been a dream, or had the brilliant marriage ceremony
taken place? Had I seen Hugh standing before the altar of the
goddess swearing to wed the murderess of her son?
Slowly I raised myself upon my knees, then another mighty effort
brought me to my feet, but I could not stand alone, I had to lean
against the wall; an intolerable feeling of nausea overcame me, and I
feared that I would again lose consciousness. At last I managed to
look through the window. In strange contrast to the last picture which
I had seen, the snow-white temple of Isis now was dark and
deserted. The guests had gone, as had the priests with their
grotesque masks, the priestesses with their harps and lutes—the
canopy of lilies hung from above, but from beneath it bride and
bridegroom had disappeared. The sacred edifice with its
interminable vista of white and silver columns stretched out before
me in all its imposing and majestic vastness. Suddenly it seemed to
me that in the gloom my tired, aching eyes perceived a tall and
solitary figure leaning against one of the pillars not very far from me.
The curtain had been drawn aside to enable the lonely watcher to
see the great goddess in her sanctuary, during his long and lonely
vigil. My eyes ached and burned so I could scarcely see, and was
forced to close them from sheer pain, but tired as they were they had
not failed even in the gloom to recognise in the lonely watcher Hugh
Tankerville, my friend.
I could not see his features, for the temple itself was not lighted
up; only through the distant gateway beyond, the rays of the moon
sinking towards the west threw weird patches of blue light upon the
pillars and the floor. I tried to call to him, but the same terrible grip
seemed still to hold my throat; what poison was it, I wonder, with
which the treacherous high-priest had succeeded in silencing my
warning voice? The memory of the past few hours became
intolerable torture, the feeling of utter helplessness, coupled with the
comparative clearness of my brain, was harder to bear than the
physical ailments which still paralysed my throat and limbs.
Longingly I looked at Hugh; it seemed to me as if some subtle
magnetism in my gaze must ultimately succeed in drawing his. O
God! was I then presently destined to see him walk forth from this
accursed temple right into the hideous trap which had been set for
him? I tried to use what little power I had to make as much noise as I
could, vaguely hoping that Hugh would hear: I scratched the marble
wall with my nails, I beat it with the palm of my hand, but the temple
was very vast, my efforts weak, and Hugh did not hear. Then I tried
to stretch out my arm and perhaps wave my handkerchief through
the narrow window: I tried to fumble for it, but the effort was too
great; my arms were almost inert, and I literally could not stretch
them out far enough. Dizzy with the feeble attempt, I leaned back
against the wall tired out.
Yet the danger grew every moment more terrible. If I remained too
feeble to call out, if I could not succeed in attracting Hugh’s attention,
if I did not in fact warn him of the damnable plot that had been
hatched against him, he would presently go forth from the temple to
the sacred grove of Isis, thinking to meet his bride; there he would
find himself alone with the dead body of the Pharaoh, placed there
by Ur-tasen’s commands.
I remembered all the details of that awful, treacherous plan quite
clearly: nay, more, I saw the whole thing realised before my mind’s
eye, as clearly as if I were gazing on a picture. I could see the high
priest of Ra creeping in the wake of Hugh, I heard his hypocritical
voice loudly denouncing the man I loved best on earth, and accusing
him of the foul murder… and after that what would happen?… I
dared not think. Would the crowd who had worshipped Hugh turn
worship into execration? Would they believe that the son of Ra, he
who was beloved of the gods, was nothing but a vile criminal who
would strike a feeble enemy in the dark?
Who knows? A crowd is as wayward as a child, as fickle as the
most capricious flirt.… And I could not warn Hugh, for I was a
prisoner, and the hour of dawn was nigh.
And Neit-akrit, the beautiful Princess?… Vainly I tried to cling to
that last ray of hope. Surely a girl, so young, so beautiful, could not
allow such vile treachery to be committed against the man whom she
loved. Yes, she loved him, I knew that, I felt it: when she spoke of
him to Ur-tasen her voice almost broke in a sob. Oh! for the
knowledge of that mysterious thing called a woman’s heart! Loving
him, what would she do? Give him a word of warning ere it was too
late, thereby sending him into the arms of Maat-kha, his wife, or let
him go to disgrace and death sooner than see him happy with
another?
These thoughts chased one another in my poor aching head, until
the physical pain of it all became more than I could bear. I closed my
eyes; the sight of that great temple, of Hugh standing there, alone
and unsuspecting, was positive torture to me.
When I looked again Hugh was still there, leaning against the
pillar, but it suddenly seemed to me as if something was moving
close to him. Gradually the moving form took a more definite shape,
and in the shadow my burning eyes had recognised a quaint and
dainty outline, and an aureole of golden hair. It was she! silent,
mysterious, walking towards him with that undulating grace which
was peculiarly her own. Absorbed in thought, he evidently had not
heard the sound of her tiny bare feet upon the smooth floor. She was
wrapped in a white kalasiris, without jewels or ornaments of any
kind, and Sen-tur was not by her side.
She came quite close to him, and then he raised his head and saw
her. She looked exquisitely beautiful, graceful and tall as the white
lilies of Kamt; she placed a warning finger to her mouth, but he took
the tiny hand in both his own, and murmured, as if in a dream:
“Neit-akrit!”
“Hush!” she warned, “the very air is filled with potent dangers, and
thine enemies lurk hidden all around.”
“But thou art here,” he said. “Do not speak! stand still for a
moment, for I would look at thee! How beautiful thou art! and how thy
presence doth fill the temple of Isis with a radiance which is almost
divine!”
Obedient to his wish, she stood quite still, her dainty form against
the ghost-like whiteness of the marble pillars, on which the rapidly
sinking moon threw its last brilliant rays. Something in his look,
however, must have made her move, for she turned away.
“Dost wonder why I am here?” she asked.
“No! I hardly dare believe that thou art real, that thou art not an
enchanting dream, with which Isis thought to soothe my aching
senses. Wilt speak to me again?”
“I would tell thee why I came,” she said.
“Nay! not that,” he pleaded. “What care I, so long as thou art here,
and I can look at thee?”
“Nay! but thou must know,” she said, with a half-merry, half-
nervous little laugh. “Hast heard, oh, son of Ra, that in Kamt we who
are maidens deem it the luckiest thing on earth to pluck the flowers
from out the canopy which sheltered the heads of the bride and
bridegroom, if they come of royal blood? The posy thus made brings
to the owner lasting happiness. And so, to-night, while Tanis is mad
with joy, I crept out of my palace, and came to the temple of Isis, to
twine the nosegay, and having twined it, give it thee.”
I gazed and wondered; little did I understand what the strange girl
intended when she came alone to see Hugh in his solitude. A wild
hope was in my heart that she had come to warn, and an earnest
prayer that he might listen. He did not speak. I fancy he would not
trust himself to say much, but when she so daintily expressed her
desire for his happiness, he raised both her small hands to his lips.
She withdrew them quickly, and said:
“Nay! we have no time to lose, for the posy must be large. There
are many flowers needed to make the bunch of happiness complete.
Thou must help me to pick them, for some of them are too high for
me to reach. But thou art tall! See…” she said, pointing eagerly up to
the great floral canopy, whence masses of blossoms hung in fragrant
shower, “that perfect lily up there, would it not make a lovely centre
for the bunch? Thou art so tall,” she repeated with a pretty gesture of
entreaty, “wilt reach it down for me?”
And Hugh obediently stretched his long limbs and with much
difficulty succeeded in disentangling the coveted lily.
“Is it not beautiful?” she said admiringly, “so chaste! but oh! so
cold. Dost know, oh, beloved of the gods, what the white lily of Kamt
means?”
He shook his head.
“All flowers have a meaning, of course, and the lily means duty,”
she said with a sigh, “that is why it seems so cold, even cruel, in its
waxy, spotless whiteness, but it must form the centre of the bunch,
for I think thou dost love duty dearly, too dearly methinks, and
perhaps wouldst not be happy without it. But,” she added more gaily,
“we will soften her waxy coldness: dost see that graceful bunch of
white acacia? that means homely happiness. It would look well in
graceful clusters round the stern centre of duty.”
He was listening to her merry talk, I fancied, with a slightly puzzled
air sometimes. Still less than I could he guess why she had come;
but her presence made him happy for the moment, and it was quite
gaily that he said: “But I cannot reach the homely happiness.”
“Oh, what a pity!” she said earnestly. “Duty will look so ugly without
home to soften it.”
She paused perplexed, then added with an odd look at Hugh:
“Canst jump, oh, beloved of the gods?”
He laughed gaily, merrily, as I had heard him laugh of old.
“Can I?” he asserted triumphantly, and with gesture and action
hardly befitting the solemn majesty of the temple of Isis, Hugh made
a sudden grab for the drooping acacia, and brought down a perfect
shower of white petals, as the floral canopy trembled with the shock.
“Homely happiness is hard to get,” he said with a laugh, “but it well
repays the effort; the scent of the acacia is very sweet.”
She was laughingly shaking her golden tresses, to which the white
petals persistently clung.
“It was hard,” she said, “but see! how pretty it looks; now, I wonder,
what would look well beside it.”
“These orange blossoms are pretty.”
“Yes!… they are pretty.… Wouldst like a cluster?… In Kamt we call
them wedded bliss.… Dost want it in the posy?” she asked with a
quaint anxious tone in her voice.
“No!” he said abruptly.
The moon must have sunk down very low behind the distant hills
of Kamt, and the temple of Isis was dark, only the fitful glow of one of
the sanctuary lamps lit up the dainty scene before me. Hugh, I could
see, still had himself in absolute control. How long that would last I
could not say. I considered that he owed no allegiance to the woman
who had planned his murder; the sacrilegious marriage had not been
completed, and I, feeble, half-paralysed as I was, had yet the
strength to pray that beautiful Neit-akrit would make my friend forget
the fateful hour of dawn.
There had been long silence between them while she, a trifle
nervously, was fumbling with the flowers, and he was looking
tenderly, longingly, at her.
“Ah, I know!” she said at last, “I must give thee white roses; they
will look lovely beside the homely happiness. See! a beautiful cluster
hangs just above thy head. Thou canst reach it quite easily and
needst but to stretch out thy hand.”
“A lovely cluster indeed, and the scent is delightfully sweet. Wilt
tell me what white roses mean in Kamt?”
He was handing the drooping cluster of roses to her, and she
stretched out her small hand for it; the other was already loaded with
flowers.
“In Kamt white roses mean love,” she whispered, as she took the
flowers from him.
I could see that his fingers fastened upon hers, that his whole
body trembled as if with a mighty effort. It was a cruel position for
any man deeply in love with a very beautiful woman, to be alone with
her in this vast and silent temple, with myriads of flowers round him,
making the air fragrant and heavy. She did not try to disengage her
hand, but stood a little while, with her great eyes meeting his, boldly
and fearlessly.
It was only when, with sudden impulse, he tried to draw her closer
to him, that she gently withdrew her hands and said lightly:

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