But Rameses was before her and had taken possession
of her hand before she could elude him. As Kenkenes passed them on his
way to the door her soft shoulders were squared; she had drawn herself
as far away from the prince as she might and was otherwise evincing her
discomfort extravagantly.
Before them was Hotep, outwardly undisturbed, smiling and complacent.
At one side was Ta-user, at the other Seti, and Io hung on Hotep's arm.
The young artist walked past them hurriedly, moved to leave all the
ferment and agitation behind him. If he had thought to forget his
sorrows among the light-hearted revel of those that did not sorrow, he
misdirected his search.
At the doors the Lady Senci met him and drew him over to the diphros,
now vacated by Bettis.
And there she took his face between her hands and kissed him.
"Hail! thou son of the murket!" she said.
"Having much, I am given more," he responded. "Behold the prodigality
of good fortune. The Hathors exalt me in the world and add thereto a
kiss from the Lady Senci."
"I was impelled truly," she confessed, "but by thine own face as well
as by the Hathors. Kenkenes, if I did not know thee, I should say thou
wast pretending--thou, to whom pretense is impossible.
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