Old Asa, the princesses' nurse, could not go to sleep in her stuffy room and went out into the garden; seeing something white flit among the trees she was frightened and wondered if it were Tiy—she knew that the dead queen walked about at night. But, recognizing Princess Meritatona, she called to her. The girl stopped, looked round without answering and ran along, disappearing among the thick bushes.
Used as Asa was to the princess's whims, she was surprised and then frightened—in a different way than at first: she felt there was something really alarming about the white phantom.
She ran after Rita, but her old legs did not obey her very well. She went on and on, calling her name, but there was no trace of her.
She met the gardener.
"Have you seen the princess?"
"Yes, I have."
"Where?"
"On the Lotos pond, in the chapel."
"What was she doing there?"
"I can't say."