Six Women

silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the

ventionality, and now he saw the rocks ahead of him plainly, on which it would b

I cared for no one." Now there was one, he knew, who lived upon his coming, whose feet ran to meet him, whose eyes strained their vision to see his first approach. And he, too; he was no

eting-place: the deserted mud enclosure of a deserted hut-an unlovely meeting-place eno

, after they had greeted each other, and had sat

at is to be the end of this, Merla

n himself with that? We

moved imp

is what we

ith resolution in the dim light. "But I can tell you, if you like, what it will be: when yo

sked Stanhope

t there," and she motioned to the desert. "I shall have given

pe shu

to hear you; do you ask noth

w," returned Merla, with

t sudden revolt against the laws of custom that stirs all humanity at times. "Why s

pressed hard on his hand l

he blue spaces; neither can the sun stay with the rock. You are grieving for

at a love she poured out at his feet!-different in calibre, in nature, different, from its root up, from any love he could hope to find again-a love that asked absolutely no

erla," he said, suddenly catching her

, though she clasped his neck tightly. "You must go and live happy,

track leading down to the river, and Merla knew that she must hasten home; for her father, who had been out in the early evening, would be returning. Before she left she turned back once more into the byre, and stood looking at the stars that she had communed with so often: a great sadness fell on her thoughts, a chill as after a final parting.

t camel moving restlessly in the narrow space outside. Angry voices reached her in sharp discussion-her father's and another.

y carpet. Where is the Pearl I was pr

is possession, but was not her name "Pearl of the Desert"? Next there came some confused murmur-seemingl

des? I have heard that she has been seen with a stranger, a white-faced stranger-I know not if he be a leper or an En

her shrinking ears. Nothing was clear any more; there was only clamour and raving in the hut. But once she caught the words, "

lept, and roused him. "Nungoon!" she said breathlessly, gripping his shoulder, "take the track to the river, and run for your life. You will overtake the Englishman. Tell h

e and fixed eyes, seemed like Fate itself directing him. Moreover, Oriental youth is accustomed to obey unquesti

t. The mats in front of the door were suddenly pushed aside, and a streak of light fell across the yard, but it could not touch

form in English dress, plunged with a cry of triumph after it. Merla fled like the wind along in the shadow of the wall, keeping in the darkness, with her head down, fearing lest her bare head or bare feet might betray her. But Krino's eyes were fixed on the silvery grey of the English overcoat, and, blind to all else, he r

; by the river-yes, but not in

entered, and still the two nois

endly river. There had been ample time. Not now would it be possible for Krino to reach the river before her lover had embarked. It was well. All was well! And the black sand spun round her in the moonlight, as she heard the hi

might slash it from the body, and turned up the face to the moonlight. Fixed in agony a

g swiftly a narrow, stony road under the shadow of the wall. She seemed burdened with many things that she was carrying, and oppressed with some haunting fear, for she looked back frequently, and then pressed on with redoubled speed. The stony track brought her at last to the corner of the enclosure of olive-trees belonging to the monastery; it branched here, one path leading straight to the gates of the building, the other skirting the olive-wood plantation, and then passing on out into the barren hills and open country towards Jericho. The girl took the second track, and here, under the f

, "you have come; you have

the last gleam of gold light from the rising ridge to the west touched it, and showed

the rapt look of the visionary stamped upon

ther prayer and penance here. Go forth with the maiden you love and serve Me in the world. The joy of human hearts singing to Me in grateful praise is more pleasin

her face as rapt as his while he spok

road, now wrapped in darkness. Before them still glimmered dimly the white outlines of the monastery behind the t

uffered behind those walls," he

girl; "come away to the hil

and then follow me up the road. No, I will take all the rest," she added, as he took the bundle of clothing she gave him and stretched out his hand

, and her hands clasped round her knees. Her face had a strange, wonderful beauty as she sat waiting, white-skinned and softly-moulded, with resolute, dark eyebrows drawn straight across the calm forehead. A few moments passed, and then Nicholas approached; his flowi

over the stony, starlit hills. In the man's breast swelled an exaltation beyond all words: it lifted him up so, that his feet seemed flying over the rugged ground without touching it; the night-wind filled his veins with fire: his brain seemed alight and glowing. For years past the bare stone walls of his monk's cell had given him pictures painted by his fevered fancy of such a walk as this through starlit, open spaces-a walk to life and freedom. For years his hot, caged feet had paced the stone cell floor, aching to pass the threshold; and for the last month ever since from amongst the olive-trees he had seen the fair Jewish girl pass by, a new vision had co

passing him like a silent shadow on his way to hi

g he had called softly to the masterpiece of the Creator, as she went by, and the girl, startled and fearful at first, had spoken a few words out of sheer pity for the hungry,

hey wait for us?" he asked eage

ke me in it when it left again," the girl replied, "We shall get down there to-morrow evening; we will go to old Sol

lived her short life in the world, and knew her way about in it so well. And he, so much older

and out, but always descending between the barren desolate hills of

rest, I am so tired. I cann

e starlit road to a large rock jutting out from the hillside. Here, in the shadow on the farther side, they lay down, and the girl fell at once into the deep sleep of utte

was gleaming on the Dead Sea. The heat down here was suffocating, and their weary feet moved on slowly through the village-a collection of a few white flat-roofed

chamber. A swinging lamp hung over the centre table, and Solomon's younger brother waited on them. Esther, with the dust of the road washed from her skin, looked very fair, sitting under the light of

have no horse," and he grew sullen and dejected and said no more, while the elder con

two foam-covered horses thundered down the last steep descent of the road from Jerusalem into the village, and dashed through it straight to Solomon's dwelling. Es

her eyes she could descry the form of a covered carriage below, and two dark figures stood hammering on the house-door. The sounds rang reverberating through

cks?" he

is within; let us enter." Esther drew back into the room, and saw Nicholas stan

ressed h

u shall not go back, they shall not touch you.

fastening the door behind her. Outside on the stairway she met old S

m, fleet of foot, up the stairs to the Jews' room-the door stood open

ur opportunity. Get up, put on these things, and the priests will take y

ve they sent from the mo

in the darkness, in the dress of Nicholas. You need not speak. They will hasten you into the carriage. To-morrow when they discover you, it will be too late for them

ing his feet on the floor. He was hesitating. He longed to go up to the city, but this seemed a dangerous expedient. Yet it would serve Esther, and she was very fair, and was of his own

will throw myself into your arms, and you shall k

felt that the man st

e clothes;

could hear the heavy footsteps coming up. Nearer they came, and nearer, stumbling, and Solomon's step behind, as he followe

y from above, and the priests hearing her, rushed up the stairs to

ith a shout of triumph they darted forward, and Esther gave a great cry of wild despair. The priests dragged him out unresisting, and forced him down the stairs. No word came from him. Solomon, leaning back against the wall to let them pass, stretched out his hand to the weeping Esther;

as, Nichola

ed their prisoner forward, stumbling, resisting, to the carriage. The door snapped to, the horses plunged forward, and the carriage thundered away into the

ar, "Hiram has gone in the place of Nicholas! Nich

a Jew loves dearly a clever ruse-and he st

ver it and return," Then she passed by him and entered the room where Nicholas awaited her. Solomon trimmed a lamp and a l

ndeed, and Esther, what a quick brain she has-a true daught

us. Now let us hast

its glorious wealth of colour and sparkling brilliance to be rather the emblem of Life, glowed and flashed like a huge sapphire in the

in perfect rhythm as they sang. And the song of praise went up through the

e herald of the dawn that runs ever in front of its chariot, stirred the branches of the palm trees by the Nile, and played a moment idly with the flap of a tent door before it passed onward. Here, some two miles a

ch formed their bed, were two girls braiding their hair before a

ate to hear the wind shake the do

is morning of all others, when Sheik Ilbrahim dar Awaz is coming to claim you?" returned the other, and

he tall slender palm of the oasis, or the gold light on the river at sunset. Tall and straight, with the stately carr

ry the Sheik. I am in terro

and startled Silka gazed wide-eyed upon her. For an instant the two girls sat staring in silence into each other's eyes. So much alike they

startled silence, "what is the matter

m without, striking through the tent canvas, touched her face, showing it

g down her head on the other's soft bare

re clear enough to her. She trembled all over, and the two girls clung together in th

nes of anguish cut in it, and her heart seemed to contract with pain, for she loved Dool

you would be glad to marr

myself into the Nile r

can

re shone in them. She bent forward and seized the other girl's wrists in a feverish grip.

Sheik?" she r

e. I love-I love-" she hesitated; then added, "so much. You love no one. Why not then the Sheik?

lka like drops of molten lead. Her sister seemed mad: her eyes started forward from her livid face:

ith her, played with her, slept with her side by side through the soft, hot nights when they had lain counting the stars

you instead of me. Think, Silka! the head of the tribe, fifty camels, a thousand goats-" She stopped in her eager outpour

h you, Doolga? Why do you offer

other with glib, persistent vehemence. "I would marry the Sheik,

eplied Silka sadly. "Why have

he limpid sky. The encampment was astir. The tents were open, and little cooking fires, sending up their spirals of blue smoke were dotted over the sand. At a few paces' distance from the main row of tents, the camels, lying down, made a velvet-like patch of shade on the gleaming gold of the sand, and herds of white goats stood near, their silky coats flashing in the morning sunlight. Sil

Silka's lips parted suddenly

roughly, drawing her back from the

love?" Her voice sounded tremulous: her eyes, fix

lga softly. "Is he not handsome, wonderful? Wh

e played roun

girl might love

d together in the palm-grove. I was so happy till father sold me to the Sheik; and now I must part from Melun for ever! Do not make me, dear, darling Silka; do not send me to the Nile!" She spoke with increasing excitement, with p

ike me, only a thousand times lovelier. He will not want me then, but you. You can say to our father: As I am fairer than m

either," said Silka, slowly stroking the curl

will give you necklets and bracelets, and a camel to

will be returning soon. Go,

l you pr

. Go, go, leave me, you mu

her anything since they had first played as babies together in

ound the firm column of his throat and hanging from his arms? Melun, the necklace-seller of Assouan! Melun, that the foreign tourists stopped to gaze after, as he walked with slow and stately steps beneath the lebek trees on the "boulvard" by the Nile. Young and straight and slender, with a beautiful face and form, he never offered his wares for sale. He simply stood and looked at the tourists, and they came and bought largely. They came up to him with curious eyes to chaffer for his blue-glass beads, and stare at his smooth, perfectly-moulded arms and throat, at the wonderfully straight features, and the lofty carriage of his head, at the thick hair, like fine, black wool, that waved above his forehead and clustered round the nape of his neck, interwoven with his brilliant blue beads. Ah! how she loved Melun! how she had dreamed of the day when her elder sister, happily married, she herself could go to her father and say, "Let Melun,

as sitting upright on the bed with dry, wide eyes. One glance at her told Doolga that she herself was free, that the oth

ou will consent?

returned Silka; it was now her eyes that

l be no moon; I was going, but why should you ask?" She bent

I show myself to the Sheik, then you mu

and horror mingling in her face. She clasped

sees you, he will not look a

d a slow, p

un. He will be expecting you! he has never seen me. I will not betray myself nor you, but this is

at her, barely

" she stammer

I love you, and to Melun in your stead

at her in silence, both hands clasped tightly now over her swelling breast. Astonishmen

st. "Then why do you not take him? O

wered Silka miserably. "I

marry the Shei

replied

isses were very sweet, and while those lips pressed hers Silka forgot everythi

t you will not-" and

; all my life long I shall feed on your happiness. There will be nothing else for me. I shall l

grave, quiet man, with kind eyes, but already far on in the winter of life. Opposite him sat his host, the owner of the tent and father of the girls. Shrewd-eyed, keen-faced, quietly he did his bargaining. Earlier in the day the elder girl had laid the plan before him: herself for Melun, th

w for two camels and by and by another will come for your sister a

lga, the keen-witted daughter of her fath

," mused the father, and at last he spread

the Sheik would decide when he saw her sister. Now the two girls sat clasped in each other's arms

heard the Sheik say good-humouredly, "she must be f

a scarlet cord; loose sleeves falling from the shoulder half-concealed her rounded arms; but her lovely face, with its arching brows and liquid eyes, looked out unveiled from her frame of cloudy hair, and drew the Sheik's heart towards her. Wr

, and wished he had

ed out his right

e, my daughter, to the

Silka, and her eyes were full of lig

t to-night," said the Sheik to her father, and he filled the cup he

fetch me to-morrow, and leave

uredly, his eyes fixed on

but if you ask me, little one,

-cup he had given her, and by so doi

t breath of the desert came to her; it whispered of Melun waiting for her in the palm-grove. How happy she was! This was life: one night of life was hers-no more. With the dawn came the end. This was her first-her last-night of life, but how exquisite it was! Th

, and here and there, on its edge in the radiant darkness, rose a lofty palm lifting its swaying branches towards the jewelled sky. Silka looked at the river curiously. Now she was keenly alive; life was sharp and alert in every fibre, but it was the last. This night of li

hite clothing. Silka's feet stopped mechanically as she saw him; her heart beat so that she could scarcely breathe; but he had caught sight of her, and sprang to his feet

y, in his voice, as she looked up at him in the soft starlight, filtered through th

en in one moment did the rose of life, that unfolds slowly for most mortals petal by petal, bloom suddenly for her whole and complete, and fill her with its wild fragrance, overwhelming her sens

s she put her arms round his neck.

e asked presently, as they sat crouched close side by side

ssionately. "I have never loved yo

w. However Doolga looks to you in the future, alwa

uld sit awaiting his return in the doorway, and of the still radiant hours of the desert night which would pass over them full of delirious joys; and the girl listened and lived out her life in those moments against his heart. And ever as she liste

strength was spent. Life and she had finally separated. Entering the tent with noiseless feet, no sound d

ips pressed to Doolga's ear, and passed over h

of the oasis showed before them tipped with gold, the Sheik Ilbrahim bent over his bride sitting before him on the ca

loved one thinkin

saw only the tent where the wind from the Nile could come

e thinking, lord," she answe

l, invulnerable in the jaws of the all-devouring desert sand. In the East, with the first cool breath of evening comes a spirit of rejoicing: the heat and burden of the day are over, and there is one hour of pure delight before the dark

the profusion of gay roses, the syringa, and star-eyed jasmine that tumbled jubilantly over the edge, and hung their scented wreaths far above his head. The tinkling of a fountain could be heard within, and the mad rapture of song from the birds in the evening, when the scent of the orange blossom stole softly out on the radiant golden air. On the other side of the garden was a grove of orange-trees. The rich, g

as very still; the only sound was the murmur of the falling water, the coo of some white doves in a pear-tree, and a very l

giance, that was supported by his hand, was happy and well cared for-from the magnificent black horses, ignorant of whip and spur, that filled his stables, and the dogs that lay peacefully about in his palace, to the beauties of the harem, who tripped about gaily singing and laughing in their cool halls and shaded garden. Where the Turk rules there is usually peace, for his nature is pacific, and in the palace of Ahmed there was joy and peace and love and pleasure in abundance. There were seven ladies of the harem, including Dilama, and six of these were happy wives of Ahmed. Each had one or more sons, handsome, large-eyed, sedate little Mohammedans, who were being trained by Turkish mothers in all sorts of gentle ways and manners-in thought and care for others, in courtesy and kindness; and who were very different in their childish work and play from the brawling, selfish, cruel little monsters that European children of the same age mostly are. But Dilama was not yet Ahmed's wife; she loved him most truly and deeply as an affectionate daughter. For who could not love Ahmed? There was a charm in his stately beauty of face and figure, in the kind musical voice, in the eyes so large and dark and gentle, that was irresistible. But to Dilama he was something far above her: her king, her lord ind

ge of the fountain. "I will wait till Buldoula is well and strong again. She would fret now, and think I was forgetting her in a new love i

her youth and fine health and the breath of the May night, to love and be loved. Suddenly, when she came to the corner, under the drooping boughs of the grove without the garden, an orange fell, and, just escaping her head struck her heavily

n the moonlight, "do not stay;" yet her whole being leapt

e slid down between the lemon-trees and the wall, and stood before her in the angle it made,

s on the form before her. Tall, tall as Ahmed, with all the grace and strength of youth, lithe and supple, with a straight-lined, dark-br

rom long ago. I am a Druze," and he threw his head higher, as the stag of the forest throws his at the first note of the challenge. Dilama knew well that he was of her

he simply trembled in silence, wave after wave of emotion passing

a triumphant smile curved t

wonder and joy, he kissed her on the lips, not roughly-even gently-but with such a fire of life on his that it seemed to the girl, in the

ldoula, who lay sick within the palace walls, and attendants waited anxiously or ran hither and thither on various errands, and Ahmed was in the depths of anxiety; and no one thought about Dilama or paid any attention to her, and she was radiantly happy and self-engrossed, and came and went between the garden and her own little chamber as she listed, undisturbed. And this evening, as usual, she slipped unobserved amongst

tinguished; there was the sound of the scurry of feet, and then a l

had no meaning for her yet, hardly seventeen years' journey distant from birth, and full of all the sap and great leaping fires of life. Death was something so far away, so impossible to

oothing the black sweeping arch of the man's brows. "Perhaps her son is de

oping down to look under the rose-boughs to the white-faced house, now, with all its screened windows, dark. His words seemed irreleva

ntains," and she laid her little head, crowned by

down. Think how Ahmed will look for his treasure when he finds it stolen! But if you are hidden in a bale of goods on a camel in the caravan, who will suspect, who will know tha

of the soul, Dilama lay in his arms and sought his lips and eyes, and asked no more about caravans and journeys and mountains, drugged and heavy with love. In an hour when all was velvet blackness b

ith the tame white doves by the fountain, one of the black female slaves a

stinctive, undefined fear, and at the same instant there rushed over her the realisation of the great happiness that same smile would have brought her had there been no Murad, had she fled from that rose-filled corner on that first evening-had she, in a word, waited! This summons to the presence of their lord is what so many of the harem slaves pine and long for through weary months, and sometimes years. It came now to her, and it meant n

evel brows-a kingly, majestic figure, and the girl's heart beat and her eyelids fell as she crept slowly over the floor towards him. At his feet she san

est he should see their terror; the blood burnt in the surface of all her fair skin, as if red-hot irons were pressed to it. And Ahmed, gazing upon her with the pure noonday light, softened by the leafy screen without pouring over her, drank in her fair Syrian beauty with delight. The pale, rose-hued silken clothing she wore harmonised with the ivory and rose of her round arms and throat and cheeks, and threw up the masses of dark hair that fell beneath her veil to her slender waist. Ahmed very gently unbound the snowy garment from her head and stroked her hair lightly, wa

e faltered at la

e the roses and doves in the garden been companions

felt his love approaching her: hope was dying within her that ever again would he regard her simply as his daughter. She knew those tones of the voice, she had heard them from Murad in the garden, but here the voice was infinitely more refined, the sound of it exquisitely musical; and now, that love for her

epressible pain, she loo

e asked falteringly, her gaze held now irresistibly by the dark orbs above he

ance might be. He knew them to be, and treated them as, individual souls, with right of will and desire equal to his own, and was too proud to accept the gift of the body unless he had first conquered the will. But usually there was no difficulty. Nature had gifted Ahmed with all the best treasures in her jewel-box; beauty of face and form, strength and grace, charm of voice and presence-everything needed to ensnare and delight the senses, and he was accustomed to be loved, passionately adored, and worshipped. He was naturally a connoisseur in such matters, and knew well and easily the truth or dissembling in them. But here there was neither: the girl shrank from him instinctively, and seemed possessed by nothing but dumb, helpless f

w, looking out for a moment into the delicious green beyond. Dilama half-sat,

in the room. Then he returned and came towards the

here to force you to love me? There is no way of forcing love. You are free to come and go to and from this room as you will, but I am lon

her, and realising that there was nothing, indeed, to make her fear but her own guilty conscience, she bur

pardon her, and let her go to her own life, her own love and lover! No, it was not possible-any other offence but this; theft or murder he could have forgiven and sheltered, but this, no! Instinctively she knew and felt it would not be possible to him-a Turk, free from prejudice and superstition, liberal as he was-to forgive her crime. Death for herself and Murad was the best sh

me for tears, but for songs and-love." He murmured the last word very softly and set her free. Without looking at him she sl

be brought, and these now stood on a small inlaid table before her, on whose glistening arabesques of mother of pearl the sunbeams twinkled merrily. Ahmed's eyes lighted up with tender pleasure as he saw her enter, and she noted it. He was still sitting on the couch, and held in his hand a small green leather case-the counterpart of hundreds to be seen in the jewellers' windows in Paris. D

a limp band of gold with a clasp of rubies and diamonds that flashed a thousand sparkling rays into

med took her unresisting arm and clasped the bracelet round

ntinued Ahmed, kissing her tenderly between the eyes, as she gazed up gratefully

tered. This afternoon, at first she was timid, and sang and played stiffly, carefully, with a great attention to notes and strings; but slowly the calm and stillness of the beautiful sun-filled room, the scented air floating in from the garden, the tense atmosphere of passion about her, and the magic beauty of the face and form opposite influenced her, grew upon her, wrapped her round, and she began to sing passionately, ardently, with that abandonment, without which all music is a hollow sound. Her glorious voice, fresh, youthful, clear, and pure came rushing joyously over her lips and filled the room. Her spirits rose as she realised the power she was exerting. She felt a little impatient at the thought of Murad. After all, she was a great lady, a lady of the harem of Ahmed Ali, the richest Turk in Damascus. She was dressed in delicate silks, and the jewels blazed on her arm. She was queen of the harem, and the beloved of its lord. He was most d

f the orange flowers poured in through the windows; the girl's senses grew confused and dizzy. Her cheeks were flaming with the excitement and joy and effort and passion of her singing; her

stay with m

thought of infidelity to Murad filled her; he would infallibly find it out and avenge hi

ls: I am the slav

l noble natures power brings with it a terrible responsibility, and the habit of stern self-control and long forbearance. Ahmed's complete power over the frightened piece of humanity before him brought upon him the necessity practically of surrender; for the Turk possesses one of the noblest and gentle natures the human race can boast of. Ahmed remained silent for a few seconds, and the girl gazed upon him with

enses that are ever clamouring after the new and the unknown. Nature is ever driving us on to seek new mates. The mind with its trammels of affection, gratitude, pity, consideration, is ever dragging us

ed her to her feet. His face had lost its smiles and fire; it was gra

table. The black slave appeared-it seemed almost instantly-before the curtain; while Dilama still stood, motionless, irresolute, with a curious sense of disappointment, mingling with relief, stealing over her. Ahmed beckoned the slave to him, and said

ung backward to Ahmed's couch in the full sunlight of the window, passed under the heavy blue curtain out into the

ank-a fair beauty of the harem, with soft,

en. But that night Murad did not come. The garden stood cool and fragrant, full of perfume and rosy light, full of the music of birds and the tints of a thousand flowers-all the invitations to love, but love itself was absent. Dilama searched the garden from end to end, and walked in and out among the roses by the buttressed wall, but the garden was empty and silent. She was alone. Tired at las

rush-bottomed stools are gathered round the tea-stalls with their hissing brazen urns and porcelain cups, or lounging in the bazaars, or at the marble drinking-fountains. Wherever they were he found them, and spoke a few hot, eager words to them, urging them to hurry forward their preparations, and be ready to start with the caravan at the rising of the ful

at seemed insupportable. She knew of no reason for Murad's desertion. She could find out nothing. She did not dare to breathe a word to any one of the anxiety, the wonder, the desperation that seemed choking her. What had become of him? What had happened? Would he ever come again? And as he appealed

od-red glow, Dilama felt as if she could exist no longer in the still, even, unchanging peace of the women's apartments. The song of th

e sleeping-chamber, and moaned unconsciously aloud, "L

foremost lady of the harem lying prostrate, her face pressed to the floor. She made no sound, but dropping the curtain noiselessly, sidled slowly off down the dark passage leading to the Selamlik. Ahmed was alone in his apartment when the slave appeared, sitting on the broad wi

bowing and prostration, but still with that confidence which showed she knew how welcome the n

is," and he dropped beside the crouching heap of black back and shoulder a small velvet bag. The

er swiftly back to Dilama's room, where she

osen one; he has sent for you. Put off that torn veil

up at the slave's entry, shrank away now

asked breathlessly. "Com

sentations were as gross as they were. But she had no wish to be harsh or unkind to this girl, who would be in a

men, and he loves you. What better fate could there be than to lie on his breast, in his arms? Is it

had taken him from her, perhaps-the same Fate that gave her to Ahmed. She was helpless. She had no choice but to obey. And the words of the slave, accompanied by those piercing, meaning looks, inflamed her senses. After that unbearable week of soli

ed. "Dress me beautifully, decorate

laughed

nd thither upon errands. Dilama was led into the large general room, and there bathed from head to foot with warm rose-water; while the others sat round and chatted together, and admired her ivory skin, with the wild rose Syrian bloom upon it, and her masses of gold-tinted chestnut hair. And the black slave bathed and anointed and dressed her with the utmost care and great self-importance, and sent the underslaves flyi

er, and, swelling with the importance of his mis

hant's little stall. "Ahmed Ali awaits her in the Selamlik; I must be going. They say her beauty is wond

cly. He had other customers in his shop who could hear, amongst them a black-browed Druze in a green turban, who was waiting patiently his turn, and who seemed to listen intently to this most improper gossi

and heavy gold chains about her soft young throat, sat looking into the little French mirror

At the end fell heavy curtains, concealing the door and some steps. Here the slave left the girl, and Dilama went through the curtains alone. She mounted the steps and passed through the door. All was quite silent here, and the passage unlighted, except that through a tiny window high up above her head a streak of moonlight fell across her way. Dilama paused oppressed, she knew not by wha

et crept slowly a little farther into the room. A great tide of pleasure was really just outside her heart, and would have rushed in and overwhelmed it in waves of joy had she but opened her heart's doors to it; but the shadow of Murad was on the bolts and locks, and she felt afraid. The silence and great silver light in the room oppressed her. Ahmed had not heard her enter, and had not stirred nor looked at her. She crept a little closer. The beauty of the majestic figure called her irresistibly. She drew closer. She had passed one window now, and was near enough to see the jewels flash on the slender hand that hung over the chair-arm, and the glistening light on the embroidered Turkish slippers on his feet. Shading her brow with one hand, Dilama came forward, fell at those feet and kissed them. Still there was no movement, no soun

ll warm, and round his throat, seeking mechanically the wound; then her eyes fell on the gold silk of his tunic, and just over the left breast she saw a little brown patch, and on the left side of the chair the silver light gleame

r bridal attire, or beauty, or flower-decked hair? Never would any of them now be mirrored in his eyes again. Never could anything change that awful serenity, that implacable silence, out of which she felt her own love, her

e panel of white light upon the floor. A lithe figure balanced a moment on the ledge of the open window, then leapt with

y have you

ver her and caugh

to-night, as you see," and as he dragged her up from h

ispered, gazing up with

ad he not taken my wife?

rs, and the blazing eyes like a tiger's, inflamed with the lust of murd

always faithful, Murad. I l

long absent? It is true I have been some time: I had much to do, and then I knew I was quite sa

and stately in the sultry air, the gracious hours moved on with all the tranquil splendour of the Oriental night. The girl threw her eyes over the sitting figure,

t from the window to the slight wooden staircase without, and, like a tiger with his pre