"You are a spoiled brat," said Esa with energy.
"And I shall tell Imhotep so."
"No, no, Grandmother, you would not do that."
His smile changed; it became caressing, if slightly impudent.
"You and I, Grandmother, we have the brains of the family."
"The impudence of you!"
"My father relies on your judgment - he knows you are wise."
"That may be - indeed it is so - but I do not need you to tell me so."
Ipy laughed.
"You had better be on my side, Grandmother."
"What is this talk of sides?"
"The big brothers are very discontented. Don't you know that?
Of course you do.
Henet tells you everything.
Satipy harangues Yahmose all day and all night whenever she can get hold of him.
And Sobek has made a fool of himself over the sale of the timber and is afraid my father will be furious when he finds out.
You will see, Grandmother, in another year or two I shall be associated with my father and he will do everything that I wish."
"You, the youngest of the family?"
"What does age matter?
My father is the one who has the power - and I am the one who knows how to manage my father!"
"This is evil talk," said Esa. Ipy said softly:
"You are not a fool, Grandmother... You know quite well that my father, in spite of all his big talk, is really a weak man -"
He stopped abruptly, noting that Esa had shifted her head and was peering over his shoulder.
He turned his own head to find Henet standing close behind him.
"So Imhotep is a weak man?" said Henet in her soft whining voice.
"He will not be pleased, I think, to hear that you have said that of him."
Ipy gave a quick uneasy laugh.
"But you will not tell him, Henet...
Come now, Henet - promise me... Dear Henet..."
Henet glided towards Esa.
She raised her voice with its slightly whining note.
"Of course, I never want to make trouble - you know that...
I am devoted to all of you. I never repeat anything unless I think it is my duty..."
"I was teasing Grandmother, that was all," said Ipy.
"I shall tell my father so.
He will know I could not have said such a thing seriously."
He gave Henet a short, sharp nod and went out of the room.
Henet looked after him and said to Esa: "A fine boy - a fine, well-grown boy.
And how bravely he speaks!"
Esa said sharply: "He speaks dangerously.
I do not like the ideas he has in his head.
My son indulges him too much."
"Who would not?
He is such a handsome, attractive boy."
"Handsome is as handsome does," said Esa sharply.
She was silent a moment or two, then she said slowly:
"Henet - I am worried."
"Worried, Esa?
What should worry you!
Anyway, the master will soon be here and then all will be well."