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saloon were a silent reminder of war； and the ship kept rolling about in a disconcerting fashion。 Perhaps； I thought hopefully； submarines do not sail in bad weather。 I must remember to ask someone。
The others were already at our table； as we wove a somewhat erratic path toward them； Ramses rose； balancing lightly with a hand on the back of his chair。 I was pleased to see that he was properly attired in black tie and that Nefret looked particularly lovely in the soft shade of blue that matched her eyes and set off her red…gold hair。 The fifth member of the party was tightly wedged between them； in order to prevent her from flying off her chair。 Sennia should have been in her cabin with Basima； her nurserymaid； for the hour was late for a seven…year…old； but Basima did not feel well； and Sennia had wanted to be with Ramses on this special occasion … and she had got her own way； as she often did。
It was not surprising that many people believed my nephew's child to be Ramses's illegitimate daughter； for she had my dark gray eyes and his coloring。 Ramses had always looked more like an Egyptian than an English person： wavy black hair； black eyes and thick lashes； skin several shades darker than is mon in our island。 （I cannot explain this； and I see no reason why I should be obliged to do so。） His looks are very pleasing； and I assure the reader that his fond mother has not been the only female to think so。
He seated himself somewhat hastily and caught Sennia as she slipped sideways。 She let out a high…pitched laugh； which sounded very loud in the subdued air of the saloon。 Several persons looked and smiled； several others frowned disapprovingly； but that peal of childish laughter had unquestionably relieved some of the tension that filled the room。
〃Enjoying this； Little Bird？〃 Emerson inquired fondly。
〃Oh； yes； it's great fun bouncing up and down。 And if I spill soup in my lap Aunt Amelia cannot say it is my fault。〃 She gave me a cheeky grin； and I smiled back at her； glad she was too young to share the uneasiness that affected the rest of us。 We had thought long and hard about exposing her to the perils of the voyage instead of leaving her in the tender care of Walter and Evelyn； but Sennia had not thought about it at all； she had simply assumed she would e along； and any attempt to prevent her would have led to consequences that were loud and unpleasant。 Emerson could not bear to see her cry； and the little witch knew it。 She had e into our lives under circumstances that were painful to recall even now； but what a joy she was to us all！ She was quite like a grandchild 。 。 。 the only one 。 。 。 thus far 。 。 。
Nefret caught me staring at her and the color in her face deepened。 〃Yes； Mother？〃 she inquired。 〃Is there a smudge on my nose？〃
〃Why； no； my dear。 I was just thinking how that shade of blue bees you。〃
The subject was one into which no person of sensibility could properly probe； and I felt certain I would be the first to be informed。
After Ramses； of course。
A great deal of soup was spilled； and not only by Sennia。 Most of the diners stuck it out until the end； however； and after Sennia had finished the light meal which was all I allowed her； she began to fidget and look round。 How she had got to know so many of the other passengers I could not imagine； since we had never let her out of our sight； but her waves and smiles were acknowledged by several persons。 One was a tall gray…haired gentleman whom I had seen once or twice on deck； his forbidding face broke into a smile and he waved back。 Sennia received an even more energetic response from a man seated at the captain's table。 He had a round face； as red and wrinkled as a well…preserved winter apple； and he bobbed up and down in his chair； waving； until the young man next to him put a restraining hand on his arm。 He was as stiff as the older man … his father？ … was friendly。 Eyeglasses gave him a scholarly look； but he was dressed with foppish elegance； every hair in place。
〃Who are they？〃 I asked Sennia。
〃They are Americans。 Can I have an ice？〃
〃May I have an ice。 Yes； you may。〃
〃Is the lady his wife？〃 Nefret asked。 〃Goodness； look at that frock； and the diamonds； and the rubies。〃
〃Vulgarly large；〃 I said with a sniff。
〃I think they are very beautiful；〃 said Miss Sennia。 〃She let me look at them one day … it was in the saloon … but only because Mr。 Albion told her to。 She is not as nice as he is； and their son is not nice at all。〃 She took firm hold of the bowl and dug her spoon into the pink mound。 〃Mr。 Albion wanted to meet you； but I told him you did not meet people。〃
〃Good girl；〃 said Emerson approvingly。
Between bites Sennia told us about the gray…haired gentleman； who was going out to join a firm in Alexandria； and about several of the other passengers。 The storm began to subside； the howls of the wind were not so loud； the motion not quite so violent； but I believe we were all relieved when the attendants came round with champagne and the captain rose to propose a toast。 It was somewhat long…winded。 I remember only the end。
〃To the health of His gracious Majesty and to victory in 1917！〃
Somehow I was not surprised to hear a familiar voice amend the statement。 〃To peace；〃 said Ramses。 We drank to that。
As it turned out； we reached Alexandria without being torpedoed； and were met by Selim and Daoud。 Selim had replaced his father Abdullah as our reis； or foreman； he and his Uncle Daoud； like Abdullah's other relations； were as close as family； and valued assistants in all our endeavors。 They assisted us in resuscitating poor Basima and Gargery； our butler； who had suffered horribly from seasickness the entire time； and Sennia's cat； who had not been seasick but whose normally bad temper was even more strained by long confinement in a room that was in constant motion。 It would have been impossible to leave the nasty beast behind because Sennia； and； to a lesser degree； Nefret； were the only persons who could control him。 Horus was the only cat with us that year。 Seshat； Ramses's erstwhile panion and guardian； had given up a professional career for domesticity。 Perhaps she felt she could now trust Nefret to look after him。
Basima brightened as soon as she set foot on dry land； and Gargery； though still unsteady； went off with Daoud to see about the luggage。 We had a great deal more than usual this time； for we had reached a momentous decision。 Ordinarily we left for Egypt in the autumn and ended our excavation season before the summer heat set in； but this time we had e for an indefinite stay。 Emerson； who does not fear man nor beast nor demon of the night on his own account； had declared his nerves were unequal to having the rest of us travel back and forth as long as the submarine menace remained。
〃It will get worse before it gets better； mark my words；〃 he had declared。 〃I don't mind people shooting at us or shutting us up in pyramids or trying to brain us with heavy objects … that is to say； I don't much like it； but I have bee accustomed to it。 Having a bloody ship sunk under us by a bloody U…boat is something else again。 Call me a coward if you will 。 。 。〃
None of us did； as Ramses remarked； there was not a man alive who would have dared。 I knew how Emerson felt； for I have the same fear of air raids。 We had； all of us； been in deadly peril on more than one occasion； and felt quite fortable about our ability to deal with ordinary human adversaries。 To be sure； there were human beings at the control of aeroplanes and submarines； but since one never saw them； one was inclined to think of the machine itself as the enemy … a remote mechanical menace。
Nor for worlds would I have questioned Emerson's motives in proposing the scheme； but he had always yearned to work year…round in Egypt instead of having to close down the dig in March or April； sometimes when the excavation was at its most interesting。 For the past several seasons our archaeological activities had been even more constrained by family matters and by Ramses's undercover work for the War Office。 This season Emerson had been awarded the firman for a site in Luxor。 It was of all places in Egypt the one we loved best … the scene of several of our greatest discoveries； our home for many happy years； and the home as well of our dear friends the Vandergelts； who were even then settling in for a long season of excavation。
There was only one objection I could think of to such a splendid prospect。 I do not refer to the blistering heat of Luxor in summer … an objection that would never have occurred to Emerson； who has the constitution of a camel … but to the fact that we would leave behind for Heaven knew how long our beloved family。 The Reader will be cognizant； after my earlier remarks on the subject； that I was not thinking of the members of my side of the family。
〃Nonsense；〃 said Emerson； when I mentioned this。 〃You are hopelessly given to melodrama； Peabody。 We are not bidding anyone a final farewell； only prolonging the separation a trifle。 Circumstances may change； we will not be pletely cut off。〃
He had readily agreed that we must spend Christmas with our loved ones and we did our best to make a merry time of it； for the sake of the children … Sennia； and Lia and David's little Dolly； who was just old enough to toddle about。 All our surviving nieces and nephews were there： Raddie and his new wife； the widow of a friend who had died in France； Margaret； newly engaged to a young officer； even Willie； on leave from France； who tried； dear lad； to make twice as many jokes to pensate for the absence of his twin brother； Johnny； who had been killed in action the year before。 There were tears as well as laughter； the war was too much with us； but we carried it off； I think； and there was one moment of genuine hilarity when Emerson asked David if he had considered ing out later in the season。
〃Up to you； of course；〃 he added hastily。 〃But little Dolly is fit and healthy； and Lia …〃
〃She is doing very well；〃 said Nefret。 〃All things considered。〃
She smiled at David； whose candid countenance betrayed his relief at her intervention。 He had difficulty in refusing Emerson anything； and he had not known how to break the news。
I； of course； had known the moment I set eyes on Lia。
Emerson's jaw dropped。 〃Oh； good Gad！〃 he shouted。 〃Not again！ Just like her mother！ It must be a hereditary …〃
〃Emerson！〃 I exclaimed。
The reminder was sufficient； for Emerson is really the kindest of men。 He managed to choke out a few words of congratulatory import； but everyone had heard his bellow and most of them knew what had occasioned it。 Even Evelyn； who had not laughed a great deal since Johnny's death； had to retreat behind the Christmas tree to conceal her mirth。 She was well aware that Emerson had never entirely forgiven her for abandoning a promising career as a copier of Egyptian scenes in favor of motherhood。
We would miss David and Lia； and not only for their affectionate panionship； David was one of the best artists and epigraphers in the field and Lia had learned enough about Egyptology to have bee a valued assistant。 Their absence would leave us somewhat shorthanded that season。 I did not allow that to worry me。 We would manage somehow。 As I stood on the dock at Alexandria； the old joy of being back in Egypt pervaded every atom of my being。 We got ourselves and our baggage onto the train for Cairo with only the usual confusion； which was pounded by the presence of the cat。 Horus had to sit between Sennia and Nefret； since he refused to tolerate anyone else。
Other members of our Egyptian family awaited us at the station in Cairo。 We were soon the center of a shouting； cheering mob； which included not only our friends but practically every Egyptian who happened to be there； all greeting us by our Egyptian names。 Emerson disliked formal titles and would not allow our workers to address him as Effendi； but he rather reveled in his well…deserved sobriquet of the Father of Curses。 Many Egyptians still called me Sitt Hakim； though a lady doctor I was not； however； in my early days in Egypt； when medical services for the fellahin were practically nonexistent； even my limited medical skills were appreciated。 The title should have been Nefret's； bu