Again she kissed him and let him go.
In the corridor without, he received his mantle and kerchief from a servant and continued toward the outer portals. But before he reached them, Ta-meri stepped out of a cross-corridor and halted. Never before did her eyes so shine or her smile so flash within the cloud of gauzes that mantled and covered her. Kenkenes wondered for a moment if he must explain the change in his countenance to her also. But the beauty had herself in mind at that moment.
"Kenkenes, thou hast given me no opportunity to wish thee well, as the son of the murket."
"Ah, but in this nook thy good wishes will be none the less sincere nor my delight any less apparent."
"Most heartily I give thee joy!"
Kenkenes kissed her hand. "And wilt thou say that to Nechutes and put him in the highest heaven?"
"Already have I wished him well," she responded, pretending to pout, "but he repaid me poorly."
"Nay! What did he?"
"Begged me to become his wife."
"And having given him the span, thou didst yield him the cubit also when he asked it?" he surmised.