Ipy was less impudent and offhand with his elder brothers.
There seemed a new harmony between the family - yet this harmony did not bring peace of mind to Renisenb - for with it went a curious, persistent undercurrent of ill-will to Nofret.
The two women, Satipy and Kait, no longer quarreled with her - they avoided her.
They never spoke to her and wherever she came, they immediately gathered the children together and went elsewhere.
At the same time, queer, annoying little accidents began to happen.
A linen dress of Nofret's was spoilt with an over-hot iron - some dyestuff was spilt over another.
Sometimes sharp thorns found their way into her clothing - a scorpion was discovered by her bed.
The food that was served to her was over-seasoned - or lacking in any seasoning.
There was a dead mouse one day in her portion of bread.
It was a quiet, relentless, petty persecution - nothing open, nothing to lay hold of - it was essentially a woman's campaign.
Then, one day, old Esa sent for Satipy, Kait and Renisenb.
Henet was already there, shaking her head and rubbing her hands in the background.
"Ha!" said Esa, peering at them with her usual ironical expression. "So here are my clever granddaughters. What do you think you are doing, all of you? What is this I hear about Nofret's dress being ruined - and her food uneatable?"
Satipy and Kait both smiled.
They were not nice smiles.
Satipy said: "Has Nofret complained?"
"No," said Esa. She pushed the wig she always wore even in the house a little awry with one hand.
"No, Nofret has not complained.
That is what worries me."
"It does not worry me," said Satipy, tossing her handsome head.
"Because you are a fool," snapped Esa.
"Nofret has twice the brains of any of you three."
"That remains to be seen," said Satipy.
She looked good-humored and pleased with herself.
"What do you think you are all doing?" inquired Esa.
Satipy's face hardened.
"You are an old woman, Esa.
I do not speak with any lack of respect - but things no longer matter to you in the way they matter to us who have husbands and young children.
We have decided to take matters into our own hands - we have ways of dealing with a woman whom we do not like and will not accept."
"Fine words," said Esa.
"Fine words."
She cackled.
"But a good discourse can be found with slave girls over the millstone."
"A true and wise saying," sighed Henet from the background.
Esa turned on her.
"Come, Henet, what does Nofret say to all this that is going on?
You should know - you are always waiting on her."
"As Imhotep told me to do.
It is repugnant to me, of course - but I must do what the master ordered.
You do not think, I hope -"
Esa cut into the whining voice: "We know all about you, Henet.
Always devoted - and seldom thanked as you should be.
What does Nofret say to all this? That is what I asked you."
Henet shook her head. "She says nothing.
She just - smiles."
"Exactly."
Esa picked up a jujube from a dish at her elbow, examined it and put it in her mouth.
Then she said with sudden, malevolent acerbity:
"You are fools, all of you.
The power is with Nofret, not with you.