Only speak!--I know my brother's letter from the camp had no good news in it; the evening before last I saw you had been crying, and yesterday you did not look well; even the pomegranate flowers in your hair did not suit you." "Your brother," sighed Katuti, "has occasioned me great trouble, and we might through him have suffered deep dishonor--" "We-dishonor ?" exclaimed Nefert, and she nervously clutched at the cat.
"Your brother lost enormous sums at play; to recover them he pledged the mummy of your father--" "Horrible!" cried Nefert.

"We must appeal at once to the king;--I will write to him myself; for Mena's sake he will hear me.

Rameses is great and noble, and will not let a house that is faithfully devoted to him fall into disgrace through the reckless folly of a boy.

Certainly I will write to him." She said this in a voice of most childlike confidence, and desired Nemu to wave the fan more gently, as if this concern were settled.
In Katuti's heart surprise and indignation at the unnatural indifference of her daughter were struggling together; but she withheld all blame, and said carelessly: "We are already released, for my nephew Paaker, as soon as he heard what threatened us, offered me his help; freely and unprompted, from pure goodness of heart and attachment." "How good of Paaker!" cried Nefert.

"He was so fond of me, and you know, mother, I always stood up for him.