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CHAPTER TWO
THIRD MONTH OF INUNDATION 4 TH DAY
Satipy was talking to Yahmose. Her voice had a high strident note that sel-
dom varied its tone.
‘You must assert yourself. That is what I say! You will never be valued
unless you assert yourself. Your father says this must be done and that
must be done and why have you not done the others? And you listen
meekly and reply yes, yes, and excuse yourself for the things that he says
should have been done–and which, the Gods know, have often been quite
impossible! Your father treats you as a child– as a young, irresponsible
boy! You might be the age of Ipy.’
Yahmose said quietly:
‘My father does not treat me in the least as he treats Ipy.’
‘No indeed.’ Satipy fell upon the new subject with renewed venom. ‘He
is foolish about that spoiled brat! Day by day Ipy gets more impossible. He
swaggers round and does no work that he can help and pretends that any-
thing that is asked of him is too hard for him! It is a disgrace. And all be-
cause he knows that your father will always indulge him and take his part.
You and Sobek should take a strong line about it.’
Yahmose shrugged his shoulders.
‘What is the good?’
‘You drive me mad, Yahmose–that is so like you! You have no spirit.
You’re as meek as a woman! Everything that your father says you agree
with at once!’
‘I have a great affection for my father.’
‘Yes, and he trades on that! You go on meekly accepting blame and ex-
cusing yourself for things that are no fault of yours! You should speak up
and answer him back as Sobek does. Sobek is afraid of nobody!’
‘Yes, but remember, Satipy, that it is I who am trusted by my father, not
Sobek. My father reposes no confidence in Sobek. Everything is always left
to my judgement, not his.’
‘And that is why you should be definitely associated as a partner in the
estate! You represent your father when he is away, you act as ka-priest in
his absence, everything is left in your hands–and yet you have no recog-
nized authority. There should be a proper settlement. You are now a man
of nearly middle age. It’s not right that you should be treated still as a
child.’
Yahmose said doubtfully:
‘My father likes to keep things in his own hands.’
‘Exactly. It pleases him that everyone in the household should be de-
pendent upon him–and upon his whim of the moment. It is bad, that, and
it will get worse. This time when he comes home you must tackle him
boldly–you must say that you demand a settlement in writing, that you in-
sist on having a regularized position.’
‘He would not listen.’
‘Then you must make him listen. Oh that I were a man! If I were in your
place I would know what to do! Sometimes I feel that I am married to a
worm.’
Yahmose flushed.
‘I will see what I can do– I might, yes, I might perhaps speak to my
father–ask him–’
‘Not ask–you must demand! After all, you have the whiphand of him.
There is no one but you whom he can leave in charge here. Sobek is too
wild, your father does not trust him, and Ipy is too young.’
‘There is always Hori.’
‘Hori is not a member of the family. Your father relies on his judgement,
but he would not leave authority except in the hands of his own kin. But I
see how it is; you are too meek and mild–and there is milk in your veins,
not blood! You don’t consider me, or our children. Not till your father is
dead shall we ever have our proper position.’
Yahmose said heavily:
‘You despise me, don’t you, Satipy?’
‘You make me angry.’
‘Listen, I tell you that I will speak to my father when he comes. There, it
is a promise.’
Satipy murmured under her breath:
‘Yes–but how will you speak? Like a man–or like a mouse?’
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