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Ta-meri was more than usually brilliant, and Nechutes, flushed with her favor, was playing splendidly and rejoicing beyond reason over his gains. Opposite this group was another, the center of which was Masanath. She sat in the richest seat in the house of Senci.
On a taboret at her right was Seti, the little prince. Although he was nearly sixteen he looked to be of even tenderer years. In him, the charms of the Egyptian countenance had been so emphasized, and its defects so reduced, that his boyish beauty was unequaled among his countrymen. At his feet was Io, playing at dice with Ta-meri and Nechutes.
He knew that Ta-meri loved thee and he nobly surrendered, but was the hurt any less because he submitted?" Nechutes released her and turned away. Ta-meri covered her face with her hands and followed him. He did not pause for her, and she had to hasten her steps to keep up with him. The princess looked after them for a space and went on.
Memphis was in a state of apathy, worn out by revel and emptied of her luminaries, Ta-meri, intoxicated with the importance of her position as lady-in-waiting to the queen, had departed with her husband, the cup-bearer. Io had returned to her home in On, with an ache in her brave little heart that outweighed even Masanath's for heaviness.
"Come back, Ta-meri," Io called. "I shall not press thee for an accounting." The lanes of water between the boats cleared, the scented sails filled, the bristling fringes of oars dipped and flashed, a great shout arose from the populace on shore and the shining pageant moved away toward Thebes.
He is worthy and loves thee most tenderly. Thou lovest him. Be kind to thine own heart and put him to the rack no more. Thou art sure of him and I doubt not it pleases thee to tantalize thyself a little while; but Nechutes, who must endure the lover's doubts, is suffering cruelly. Thou art a good child, Ta-meri; how canst thou hurt him so?"
"Already have I stayed too long," he replied. "But thy hospitality makes one forget the debt one owes to a prior guest." She looked at him from under silken lashes. "Nechutes has misconducted himself," she objected, "and I would not be left alone with him." "Wouldst thou have me stay and see him restored to favor under my very eyes? Ah, Ta-meri, where is thy womanly compassion?"
"Ta-meri always shuts her eyes," the sculptor defended himself stoutly. The nomarch's daughter caught his meaning first and covered her face with her hands. The chorus of laughter did not drown her protests. "Kenkenes, thou art a mortal plague!" she exclaimed behind her defense. "Truce," he said. "Thou didst accuse me and I did defend myself. We are even." "Nay, but am I also even with Ta-meri?"
There was Seti at Ta-user's side, but Io was not at the feast. She mourned for Kenkenes. Ta-meri was there, the bride of a week to Nechutes, who hovered about her without eye or ear for any other of the company. Siptah, Menes, Har-hat, all of the group save Hotep and Kenkenes, were present and near enough to be of the crown prince's party, yet scattered sufficiently to talk among themselves.
"And not a moment since she swore that it was I who made her sun to move, and that Tuat itself were sweet so I were there." "O Ma ," the lady cried, threatening him with her fan. "Thou Defender of Truth, smite him!" Kenkenes laughed with delight. "Nay, nay, Nechutes!" he cried. "Thou dost betray thyself. Never would Ta-meri have said anything so bald.
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