"And what did you tell him?"
"Well, of course I said it was an accident.
What else could it have been?
You don't think for a minute, I said, that anyone in your family would harm the girl, do you?
They wouldn't dare, I said. They have far too much respect for you.
Grumble they might, but nothing more, I said.
You can take it from me, I said, that there's been nothing of that kind!" Henet nodded her head and chuckled.
"And my father believed you?"
Again Henet nodded with a good deal of satisfaction.
"Ah, your father knows how devoted I am to his interests.
He'll always take old Henet's word for anything.
He appreciates me if none of the rest of you do.
Ah, well, my devotion to all of you is its own reward.
I don't expect thanks."
"You were devoted to Nofret too," said Renisenb.
"I'm sure I don't know what gave you that idea, Renisenb.
I had to obey orders like everyone else."
"She thought you were devoted to her."
Henet chuckled again.
"Nofret wasn't quite as clever as she thought herself.
A proud girl - and a girl who thought she owned the earth.
Well, she's got the judges in the Underworld to satisfy now - and a pretty face won't help her there.
At any rate we're quit of her.
At least," she added under her breath and touching one of the amulets she wore, "I hope so."
II
"Renisenb, I want to talk to you about Satipy."
"Yes, Yahmose?"
Renisenb looked up sympathetically into her brother's gentle, worried face.
Yahmose said slowly and heavily: "There is something very wrong the matter with Satipy. I cannot understand it."
Renisenb shook her head sadly. She was at a loss to find anything comforting to say.
"I have noticed this change in her for some time," went on Yahmose.
"She stares and trembles at any unaccustomed noise.
She does not eat well.
She creeps about as though - as though she were afraid of her own shadow.
You must have noticed it, Renisenb?"
"Yes, indeed, we have all noticed it."
"I have asked her if she is ill - if I should send for a physician - but she says there is nothing - that she is perfectly well."
"I know."
"So you have asked her that too?
And she has said nothing to you - nothing at all?" He laid stress on the words.
Renisenb sympathized with his anxiety, but she could say nothing to help.
"She insists that she is quite well."
Yahmose murmured: "She does not sleep well at night - she cries out in her sleep.
Is she - could she have some sorrow that we know nothing about?"
Renisenb shook her head.
"I do not see how that is possible.
There is nothing wrong with the children.
Nothing has happened here - except, of course, Nofret's death - and Satipy would hardly grieve for that," she added drily.
Yahmose smiled faintly. "No, indeed.
Quite the contrary.