How long Mena remains away!" "I hear a noise in the court," said Nefert.

"The Regent is coming." Katuti turned again towards the garden.
A breathless slave rushed in, and announced that Bent-Anat, the daughter of the king, had dismounted at the gate, and was approaching the garden with the prince Rameri.
Nefert left her couch, and went with her mother to meet the exalted visitors.
As the mother and daughter bowed to kiss the robe of the princess, Bent-Anat signed them back from her.

"Keep farther from me," she said; "the priests have not yet entirely absolved me from my uncleanness." "And in spite of them thou art clean in the sight of Ra!" exclaimed the boy who accompanied her, her brother of seventeen, who was brought up at the House of Seti, which however he was to leave in a few weeks--and he kissed her.
"I shall complain to Ameni of this wild boy," said Bent-Anat smiling.

"He would positively accompany me.

Your husband, Nefert, is his model, and I had no peace in the house, for we came to bring you good news." "From Mena ?" asked the young wife, pressing her hand to her heart.
"As you say," returned Bent-Anat.