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〃What was so funny？〃 he asked。
Nefret slipped her arm through his。 〃Never mind。 It loses something in the translation。〃
〃But I understand Arabic。〃
〃Not that sort of translation。〃 She laughed up at him and he thought again； as he did several dozen times a day； how beautiful she was and how much he loved her。 That lost something in the translation； too。
〃Yusuf isn't here；〃 she said； a look of puzzlement replacing her smile。 〃That's rather odd。 As the head of the family； courtesy would demand he wele us back。〃
〃Selim says he isn't well。〃
〃Perhaps I ought to go to him and see if there is anything I can do。〃
〃I don't think your medical skills would help； darling。〃 Poor Yusuf's world had been overturned the past year when he had lost his two favorite children。 Jamil； the handsome； spoiled youngest son； had fled after being involved with a gang of professional thieves。 He had not been seen since。 Jumana； his sister； had found a happier ending； fiercely ambitious and intelligent； her hopes of being an Egyptologist were being fostered by the Vandergelts and Ramses's parents。
Nefret understood。 〃I didn't realize it had hit the poor old chap so hard。〃
〃Neither did I； but it isn't surprising。 Having his daughter flout his authority； refuse the fine marriage he arranged for her； and go off to bee a new woman … educated； independent； and Westernized … must have been almost as great a blow as discovering that his best…beloved son was in trouble with the law。〃
〃Greater； perhaps； to a man of his traditional beliefs；〃 Nefret said。 〃Is it true that he disowned her and refuses to see her？〃
〃Who told you that？〃
〃Kadija。 She tried to reason with him； but he wouldn't listen。〃
〃Selim said the same。 It's a pity。 Well； we'll send Mother round to talk to him。 If she can't set him straight； no one can。〃
〃What about Jamil？〃
〃According to Selim； there's been no sign of him。 Don't get any ideas about trying to track him down。 There's a trite old proverb about sleeping dogs。〃
〃All right； don't lose your temper。〃
〃I thought you liked me to lose my temper。〃
〃Only when we're alone and I can deal with you as you deserve。〃
Before he could respond to that； his mother came back and began organizing everyone。 The women of the family carried Sennia and her luggage off to her new quarters。 His father refused to budge； he was having too fine a time making plans for the season's work。 He insisted that Ramses and Selim join him； but he lost Nefret to his wife。 The two of them went off with Fatima。
〃So； Selim；〃 said Emerson。 〃Have you got a crew together？ I hope you didn't let Vandergelt take our best men。〃
〃He has hired my father's cousin's son Abu as his reis； but we will have a full crew； Emerson。 There is not much work here now。〃
Emerson did not ask about Yusuf。 He was too busy making plans for work to begin the following day。
A series of high…pitched shouts from the children who were playing on the veranda heralded a new arrival。
〃I might have known you couldn't leave us in peace for a few hours；〃 Emerson grumbled； but he went quickly to meet the newer with an outstretched hand。
Cyrus Vandergelt's leathery face creased into smiling wrinkles。 The American was dressed with his usual elegance； in a white linen suit and polished boots。 〃Yes； you might；〃 he said with a grin。 〃No use trying to sneak into town unnoticed … just got your telegram a while ago； but I'd already heard you were here。 Good to see you。 Here's somebody else who couldn't wait to say hello。〃
He had stood back for her to precede him through the door。 Once inside； she put her back against the wall and watched them； wide…eyed and unsmiling； like a wary animal。 Emerson； always the gentleman with women； took her small hand in his and gave it a hearty squeeze。
〃Jumana！ Good of you to e； my dear。 Er … how you've grown the past few months！〃
Not so you could notice； Ramses thought。 She was a tiny creature； barely five feet tall； with the exotic coloring and wide dark eyes of a lady in a Persian miniature； but her clothing was defiantly English … neat little boots and a divided skirt； under a mannish shirt and tweed jacket。 After spending the spring and summer with them in England； being tutored in various subjects and absorbing information as a dry sponge soaks up water； she had returned to Egypt in November with the Vandergelts。
What was wrong with her？ Usually her small face was alive with excitement and she could outtalk everyone in the family … which was no small feat。 Now she replied to Emerson's greeting with a wordless murmur and her dark eyes moved uneasily around the room。
〃Where is Nefret？〃 she asked。
〃She and Mrs。 Emerson have gone off to look at the new house；〃 Emerson said。
〃I will go too。 Please？ Excuse me？〃
She hurried out of the room without waiting for a reply。 She's got something on her mind； all right； Ramses thought。 Well； whatever it was； it was not his problem。 His mother thought she could solve everything； let her deal with it。
She came bustling in a few minutes later and went straight to Cyrus； holding out her hands。 〃Jumana told me you were here。 Didn't Katherine and Bertie e with you？〃
〃Bertie wanted to； but Katherine had some chore or other for him；〃 Cyrus answered。
Ramses wasn't surprised to hear it。 Katherine disapproved of her son's fascination with the pretty Egyptian girl。
〃She was hoping you'd e to us for dinner tonight；〃 Cyrus went on。
〃Bah；〃 said Emerson。 Cyrus burst out laughing and stroked his goatee。
〃I know； old pal； you don't have time for social engagements。 This'll just be us； nothing formal； e as you are。〃
Emerson's jaws parted； but his wife got in first。 〃Certainly； Cyrus； we accept with pleasure。 Ramses； Nefret wants you to join her。 She is at the new house。〃
〃Oh？ Oh； right。〃
A sensation his mother would have described as a 〃hideous premonition〃 came over him。 Why hadn't he realized？ Of course … she had built the house for Nefret and him。 It was just like her to do it without consulting them。 And there was no way on earth they could refuse without sounding churlish and ungrateful and selfish。 Nefret was too fond of his mother to tell her no to her face。 She would want him to do it！
He expected to find his wife on the doorstep； vibrating with indignation。 She wasn't there。 He had to track her down； looking into room after room as he searched。 The place was quite attractive； really … large； low…ceilinged rooms； with the carved mashrabiya screens he liked so much covering the windows； tiled floors； bookshelves on many of the walls。 Otherwise the house was almost empty except for a few tables and chairs and couches。 She'd had sense enough to leave the choice of furnishings and decorations to them。 Not at all bad； on the whole。 If it had been up to him 。 。 。
If it had been up to him； he would rather live in a hole in the rock than tell his mother he didn't like it。
He found Nefret sitting on the shady porch that looked out on a small courtyard。 Jumana was with her； their heads close together。
〃I'm sorry； Nefret；〃 he began。
〃You apologize too often。〃 It was an old joke between them； but when she looked up he saw that her face was grave。
〃It's not so bad； is it？〃 he asked。 〃She meant well； and it is some distance from the main house； and …〃
〃It's fine；〃 Nefret said impatiently。 〃Never mind the house； Ramses。 Jumana has something to tell you。〃
There were wicker chairs and a table or two。 He sat down。 〃Well？〃
She had obviously been talking freely with Nefret； but the sight of him froze her tongue。 She twisted her hands together。
〃What is it？〃 Ramses asked。 〃Something about Bertie？ Don't worry about him； Jumana； you'll be staying with us from now on。 That was the agreement。〃
〃Bertie？〃 She dismissed him with a shrug。 〃He is not a worry。 No。 I must tell you； but 。 。 。〃 She swallowed； hard。 〃I have seen Jamil。〃
〃My God。〃 Ramses breathed。 〃Where？ When？〃
〃Two weeks ago。〃 Now that she had got the worst of it out； the words flowed freely。 〃I went to Luxor Temple； while Mrs。 Vandergelt was shopping at the suk and Mr。 Vandergelt was at Mohassib's。 Bertie wanted to go with me； but Mrs。 Vandergelt said …〃
〃I understand；〃 Ramses