"I pray you, Seti, to be so good as to give me my rightful titles in
speaking of me to scribes and other of your servants."

"Your pardon, Userti. This, Ana, is the first Lady of Egypt, the Royal
Heiress, the Princess of the Two Lands, the High-priestess of Amon,
the Cherished of the Gods, the half-sister of the Heir-apparent, the
Daughter of Hathor, the Lotus Bloom of Love, the Queen to be of--Userti,
whose queen will you be? Have you made up your mind? For myself I know
no one worthy of so much beauty, excellence, learning and--what shall I
add--sweetness, yes, sweetness."

"Seti," she said stamping her foot, "if it pleases you to make a mock
of me before a stranger, I suppose that I must submit. Send him away, I
would speak with you."

"Make a mock of you! Oh! mine is a hard fate. When truth gushes from the
well of my heart, I am told I mock, and when I mock, all say--he speaks
truth. Be seated, Sister, and talk on freely. This Ana is my sworn
friend who saved my life but now, for which deed perhaps he should be
my enemy. His memory is excellent also and he will remember what you say
and write it down afterwards, whereas I might forget. Therefore, with
your leave, I will ask him to stay here."

"My Prince," I broke in, "I pray you suffer me to go."

"My Secretary," he answered with a note of command in his voice, "I pray
you to remain where you are."

So I sat myself on the ground after the fashion of a scribe, having no
choice, and the Princess sat herself on a couch at the end of the table,