Then she went on: "How can a woman tell her reasons, O King, when she never knows them herself ?"--a question at which some of her hearers smiled.
Now Saduko rose and said slowly: "Hear me, O King, and I will give the reason that Mameena hides.

She left me for Umbelazi because I bade her to do so, for I knew that Umbelazi desired her, and I wished to tie the cord tighter which bound me to one who at that time I thought would inherit the Throne.

Also, I was weary of Mameena, who quarrelled night and day with the Princess Nandie, my Inkosikazi." Now Nandie gasped in astonishment (and so did I), but Mameena laughed and said: "Yes, O King, those were the two real reasons that I had forgotten.

I left Saduko because he bade me, as he wished to make a present to the Prince.

Also, he was tired of me; for many days at a time he would scarcely speak to me, because, however kind she might be, I could not help quarrelling with the Princess Nandie.