"Every palm in her garden comes from her husband, and belongs to her children." "Paaker, too, was with you ?" "Certainly only by the entreaty of his mother--he hates my son-in-law." "I know it," muttered the dwarf, "but if Nefert would ask him ?" The widow drew herself up indignantly.

She felt that she had allowed the dwarf too much freedom, and ordered him to leave her alone.
Nemu kissed her robe and asked timidly: "Shall I forget that thou hast trusted me, or am I permitted to consider further as to thy son's safety ?" Katuti stood for a moment undecided, then she said: "You were clever enough to find what I carelessly dropped; perhaps some God may show you what I ought to do.

Now leave me." "Wilt thou want me early to-morrow ?" "No." "Then I will go to the Necropolis, and offer a sacrifice." "Go!" said Katuti, and went towards the house with the fatal letter in her hand.
Nemu stayed behind alone; he looked thoughtfully at the ground, murmuring to himself.
"She must not lose her honor; not at present, or indeed all will be lost.
What is this honor?
We all come into the world without it, and most of us go to the grave without knowing it, and very good folks notwithstanding.
Only a few who are rich and idle weave it in with the homely stuff of their souls, as the Kuschites do their hair with grease and oils, till it forms a cap of which, though it disfigures them, they are so proud that they would rather have their ears cut off than the monstrous thing.

I see, I see--but before I open my mouth I will go to my mother.

She knows more than twenty prophets.".