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They perhaps will some day wear out, but the wounds that my spirit received in those hours have not yet ceased to bleed. Then Mena married Nefert, and, with her, his mother-in-law, Katuti, came into the house.
Swear to me that you will require this of him when you have saved him." "In God's name what is happening?" cried Uarda. "Swear that you will provide for my burial," said the old woman. "I swear it!" cried the girl. "But for God's sake " "Katuti, Paaker, and Nemu are gone to set fire to the palace when Rameses is sleeping, in three places. Do you hear, Kaschta!
"But go a little slower if thou wilt, for I am quite out of breath. Let Katuti herself tell thee how it all came about. Rameses compelled her to give her daughter to the charioteer. I do not know what he said of thee, but it was not complimentary. My poor mistress! she let herself be caught by the dandy, the ladies' man-and now she may weep and wail.
Katuti at the same time sent the dwarf to Nefert, to desire her to join her mother, in taking part in the procession, and in sacrificing in her father's tomb; but Nefert replied that she neither could nor would leave her royal friend and mistress. Bent-Anat had given leave of absence to the highest members of her household, and had prayed them to think of her at the splendid solemnity.
He will help thee to thy purpose, for he himself has one too." "And that is ?" "Katuti will rise to greatness with thee, and to riches through Paaker, who sets out to-morrow to make the woman he loves a widow."
As soon as Katuti was alone, she hastened into the little chapel in which the figures of her ancestors stood, apart from those of Mena. She threw herself down before the statue of her husband, half weeping, half thankful. This parting had indeed fallen heavily on her soul, but at the same time it released her from a mountain of anxiety that had oppressed her breast.
"Bless me," laughed the woman; "you want to play my lady Nefert, and expect me to take the part of her mother Katuti. But, seriously, having seen the child again, have you any fancy for her?" "Yes," replied Nemu. "If we gain our end, Katuti will make me free, and make me rich. Then I will buy Pinem's grandchild, and take her for my wife.
Katuti took the little silver-cup in her hand, and gravely put it to her lips, but without wetting them. A smile passed over her face, and her eyes met those of the pioneer, who stared at her in horror. The picture flashed before her mind of herself languishing for the pioneer, and of his terror at her affection for him!
"Indeed?" said her daughter, "but I cannot be stung by the flies all the same. Of course, if you wish it " "Nemu may stay then," said Katuti, and her voice had the tone of that of a nurse who gives way to a naughty child. "Besides, he knows what I have to talk about." "There now!" said Nefert, kissing the head of the white cat, and she gave the fan back to the dwarf.
And over the apparently careless arrangement of these various objects there reigned a peculiar charm, an indescribably fascinating something. Stretched at full-length on a couch, and playing with a silky-haired white cat, lay the fair Nefert fanned to coolness by a negro-girl while her mother Katuti nodded a last farewell to her sister Setchem and to Paaker.
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