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Bent-Anat went forward without speaking, for she did not wish to make herself known again for the sake of the people, and for Nefert's; but Paaker put himself in her way. "Did I not tell you that you common people must wait till we are gone. Push these people's boat out into the stream, you men." Bent-Anat felt her blood chill, for a loud squabble at once began on the landing-steps.
"And in speaking ill of you, his only motive was to raise his favorite in Nefert's estimation." "Tell me what he said!" cried the pioneer; cold drops stood on his brown forehead, and his glaring eyes showed the white eye-balls. Katuti quailed before him, and drew back, but he followed her, seized her arm, and said huskily: "What did he say?" "Paaker!" cried the widow in pain and indignation.
He now approached Katuti with the certainty of success, like a merchant who means to acquire some costly object, and feels that he is rich enough to pay for it. But his aunt's proud and dignified manner confounded him. He had pictured her quite otherwise, spirit-broken, and suppliant; and he had expected, and hoped to earn, Nefert's thanks as well as her mother's by his generosity.
The Mohar turned his full face towards her, and she was frightened at the wild fire that glowed in the glance with which he gazed at her. Nefert's eyes fell, and Paaker, saying: "I would rather remain silent," recommenced his walk, till Nefert called to him again and said, "I know you are angry with me; but I was but a child when I was betrothed to you.
Nefert's apartment was far more elegantly appointed than the princess's; her mother and Mena had surrounded her with a thousand pretty trifles. Her carpets were made of sky-blue and silver brocade from Damascus, the seats and couches were covered with stuff embroidered in feathers by the Ethiopian women, which looked like the breasts of birds.
To-day however Katuti had to breakfast alone; but when she had eaten a few mouthfuls she prepared Nefert's breakfast a white cake and a little wine in a small silver beaker, carefully guarded from dust and insects by a napkin thrown over it and went into her daughter's room.
Now he leads the way, and points it out to the guards, and then in a moment he is close to us again." "They are the golden-bays of my breed," said Mena, and the veins started angrily in his forehead. "My stud-master tells me that Katuti sent them to him before his departure. They were intended for Nefert's chariot, and he drives them to-day to defy and spite me."
He raised his whip, and struck it across the shoulders of Nefert, who, with one scream of terror and anguish, fell to the ground. The lash of the whip only whistled close by the cheek of the poor fainting woman, for Bent-Anat had seized Paaker's arm with all her might. Rage, disgust, and scorn stopped her utterance; but Rameri had heard Nefert's shriek, and in two steps stood by the women.
"Let me go. It is better for you that I should not repeat the words with which Rameses sought to turn Nefert's heart from you. Let me go, and remember to whom you are speaking." But Paaker gripped her elbow the tighter, and urgently repeated his question. "Shame upon you!" cried Katuti, "you are hurting me; let me go! You will not till you have heard what he said?
"Shall I repeat all our conversation? I tell thee he will sacrifice his land, and his house-great gate and all, for one friendly glance from Nefert's eyes." "If only Mena loved her as he does!" sighed the widow, and then again she walked up and down the hall in silence, while the dwarf looked out at the garden entrance.
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