a nurse who gives way to a naughty child. "Besides, he knows what I have
to talk about."

"There now!" said Nefert, kissing the head of the white cat, and she
gave the fan back to the dwarf.

The widow looked at her daughter with sincere compassion, she went up to
her and looked for the thousandth time in admiration at her pretty face.

"Poor child," she sighed, "how willingly I would spare you the frightful
news which sooner or later you must hear--must bear. Leave off your
foolish play with the cat, I have things of the most hideous gravity to
tell you."

"Speak on," replied Nefert. "To-day I cannot fear the worst. Mena's
star, the haruspex told me, stands under the sign of happiness, and I
enquired of the oracle in the temple of Besa, and heard that my husband
is prospering. I have prayed in the temple till I am quite content.
Only speak!--I know my brother's letter from the camp had no good news in
it; the evening before last I saw you had been crying, and yesterday you
did not look well; even the pomegranate flowers in your hair did not suit
you."

"Your brother," sighed Katuti, "has occasioned me great trouble, and we
might through him have suffered deep dishonor--"

"We-dishonor?" exclaimed Nefert, and she nervously clutched at the cat.

"Your brother lost enormous sums at play; to recover them he pledged the
mummy of your father--"