This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
This eventful day had brought much that was unexpected to our friends in
Thebes, as well as to those who lived in the Necropolis.
The Lady Katuti had risen early after a sleepless night. Nefert had comein late, had excused her delay by shortly explaining to her mother thatshe had been detained by Bent-Anat, and had then affectionately offeredher brow for a kiss of "good-night."
When the widow was about to withdraw to her sleeping-room, and Nemu hadlighted her lamp, she remembered the secret which was to deliver Paakerinto Ani's hands. She ordered the dwarf to impart to her what he knew,and the little man told her at last, after sincere efforts at resistance—for he feared for his mother's safety—that Paaker had administeredhalf of a love-philter to Nefert, and that the remainder was still in hishands.
A few hours since this information would have filled Katuti withindignation and disgust; now, though she blamed the Mohar, she askedeagerly whether such a drink could be proved to have any actual effect.
"Not a doubt of it," said the dwarf, "if the whole were taken, but Nefertonly had half of it."
At a late hour Katuti was still pacing her bedroom, thinking of Paaker'sinsane devotion, of Mena's faithlessness, and of Nefert's altereddemeanor; and when she went to bed, a thousand conjectures, fears, andanxieties tormented her, while she was distressed at the change which hadcome over Nefert's love to her mother, a sentiment which of all othersshould be the most sacred, and the most secure against all shock.
Soon after sunrise she went into the little temple attached to the house,and made an offering to the statue, which, under the form of Osiris,represented her lost husband; then she went to the temple of Anion, whereshe also prayed a while, and nevertheless, on her return home, found thather daughter had not yet made her appearance in the hall where theyusually breakfasted together.
Katuti preferred to be undisturbed during the early morning hours, andtherefore did not interfere with her daughter's disposition to sleep farinto the day in her carefully-darkened room.
When the widow went to the temple Nefert was accustomed to take a cup ofmilk in bed, then she would let herself be dressed, and when her motherreturned, she would find her in the veranda or hall, which is so wellknown to the reader.
To-day however Katuti had to breakfast alone; but when she had eaten afew mouthfuls she prepared Nefert's breakfast—a white cake and a littlewine in a small silver beaker, carefully guarded from dust and insects bya napkin thrown over it—and went into her daughter's room.
She was startled at finding it empty, but she was informed that Neferthad gone earlier than was her wont to the temple, in her litter.
With a heavy sigh she returned to the veranda, and there received hernephew Paaker, who had come to enquire after the health of his relatives,followed by a slave, who carried two magnificent bunches of flowers, andby the great dog which had formerly belonged to his father. One bouquethe said had been cut for Nefert, and the other for her mother.
...