SHEPSET. Shall we see him?
DEDEFRE. Ay, anon. He cometh to receive the interpretation of his dreams from the priests.
KHENEN. How fareth the King's little son?
DEDEFRE. I know not; but the Queen, they say, is nigh her hour.
ATHA. The gods have turned their faces from Egypt.
SHEPSET: [Seeing PRIESTS passing in procession at the back.] The priests—! Are they about to offer sacrifices for the Queen?
ATHA. Nay, lady Shepset; know ye not? Today is solemn festival yonder [Pointing to the temple at the back.] in the temple of Neith.
SHEPSET. What festival?
ATHA. Asenath, the high-priest's daughter, enters the sisterhood of the goddess.
KHENEN. Ay—ay—I heard she had some disappointment in love.
DEDEFRE. She was to have wed Serseru.
ATHA. But he was hanged.
DEDEFRE. Ay, but that was not the disappointment.
KHENEN [Striking him with her fan.] What then, thou malicious gossip?
ATHA. She was in love with some stranger—they do say he was a slave.
SHEPSET. Fie! Fie!
ATHA. But he died in prison.
KHENEN [With a sneer.] Poor Asenath is not fortunate in her lovers.
SHEPSET. I suppose we get the lovers we deserve.
KHENEN. Is that brawny Ethiopian still of thy household?
SHEPSET. Ay. Would'st thou buy him?
