Besides, this has been coming on for some time. It began, I think, before Nofret's death."
His tone was a little uncertain and Renisenb looked at him quickly.
Yahmose said with mild persistence:
"Before Nofret's death.
Don't you think so?"
"I did not notice it until afterwards," said Renisenb slowly.
"And she has said nothing to you - you are sure?"
Renisenb shook her head.
"But you know, Yahmose, I do not think Satipy is ill.
It seems to me more that she is - afraid."
"Afraid?" exclaimed Yahmose in great astonishment.
"But why should Satipy be afraid?
And of what?
Satipy has always had the courage of a lion."
"I know," said Renisenb helplessly.
"We have always thought - but people change - it is queer."
"Does Kait know anything, do you think?
Has Satipy spoken to her?"
"She would be more likely to talk to her than to me - but I do not think so.
In fact, I am sure of it."
"What does Kait think?"
"Kait?
Kait never thinks about anything."
All Kait had done, Renisenb was reflecting, was to take advantage of Satipy's unusual meekness by grabbing for herself and her children the finest of the newly woven linen - a thing she would never have been allowed to do had Satipy been her usual self.
The house would have resounded with passionate disputings!
The fact that Satipy had given it up with hardly a murmur had impressed Renisenb more than anything else that could have happened.
"Have you spoken to Esa?" Renisenb asked.
"Our grandmother is wise about women and their ways."
"Esa," said Yahmose with some slight annoyance, "merely bids me be thankful for the change.
She says it is too much to hope that Satipy will continue to be so sweetly reasonable."
Renisenb said with some slight hesitation: "Have you asked Henet?"
"Henet?" Yahmose frowned.
"No, indeed.
I would not speak of such things to Henet.
She takes far too much upon herself as it is.
My father spoils her."
"Oh, I know that.
She is very tiresome.
But all the same - well -" Renisenb hesitated - "Henet usually knows things."
Yahmose said slowly: "Would you ask her, Renisenb?
And tell me what she says?"
"If you like."
Renisenb put her query at a moment when she had Henet to herself. They were on their way to the weaving sheds.
Rather to her surprise the question seemed to make Henet uneasy.
There was none of her usual avidity to gossip.
She touched an amulet she was wearing and glanced over her shoulder.
"It's nothing to do with me, I'm sure... It's not for me to notice whether anyone's themselves or not.
I mind my own business.
If there's trouble I don't want to be mixed up in it."
"Trouble?