The barge of Nechutes swung into position on the left of
Senci--the oars on Mentu's boat rose and halted and the vessel drifted
till it was alongside her right. Kenkenes put his arm about Io, who
stood beside him and whispered exultantly or irreverently concerning
the vigilance of the cup-bearer and the murket.
"And," he continued oracularly, "there will be a third attending us
when we return, if thou hast been coy with the gentle Seti during his
long absence."
"Nay, I have sent him messages faithfully and in no little point have I
failed him in constancy. But I can not see why he should love me, who
am to the court-ladies as a thrush to peafowls. He writes me such
praise of Ta-user."
"Now, Io! Art thou so little versed in the ways of men that thou dost
wonder why we love or how we love or whom we love? The very fact that
thou art different from Seti's surroundings is like to make him love
thee best."
"I am not jealous; only he hath so much to tell of Ta-user."
"Aye, since she is like to become his sister, it is not strange. But
what says he of her?"
Io thrust her hand into the mist of gauzes over her bosom and with a
soft flush on her cheeks drew forth a small, flattened roll of linen.
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