My conscience smote me also because of late, and indeed for years past, I had thought so much of Amada and so little of my mother.

And now it was Amada who had cast me out, unjustly, without waiting to learn the truth, because at the worst I, who worshipped her, had saved myself from death in slow torment by speaking her name, while my mother, forgetting all, took me to her bosom again as she had done when I was a babe.

I knew not what to say, but remembering the pearls, I drew them out and placed them round my mother's neck.
She looked at the wonderful things and smiled, then said, "Such gems as these become white locks and withered breasts but ill.
Yet, my Son, I will keep them for you till you find a wife, if not Amada, then another." "If not Amada, I shall never find a wife," I said bitterly, whereat she smiled.
Then she left me to make ready before she slept a while.
Work as we would noon had passed two hours, on the following day, before we were prepared to start, for there was much to do.

Thus the house must be placed in charge of friends and the means of travel collected.

Also a messenger came from Pharaoh praying me for his and Egypt's sake to think again before I left them, and an answer sent that go I must, whither the holy Tanofir would know if at any time Pharaoh desired to learn.