the garden of allah-第13章

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banished　it。　For　she　was　a　novice　in　Africa。

〃I　am　too　tired　to　go　out　to…night；〃　she　said　decisively。

〃Good…night；　Madame。　I　shall　be　here　to…morrow　morning　at　seven
o'clock。　The　dawn　in　the　garden　of　the　gazelles　is　like　the　flames　of
Paradise；　and　you　can　see　the　Spahis　galloping　upon　horses　that　are
beautiful　as〃

〃I　shall　not　get　up　early　to…morrow。〃

Batouch　assumed　an　expression　that　was　tragically　submissive　and
turned　to　go。　Just　then　Suzanne　appeared　at　the　French　window　of　her
bedroom。　She　started　as　she　perceived　the　poet；　who　walked　slowly　past
her　to　the　staircase；　throwing　his　burnous　back　from　his　big
shoulders；　and　stood　looking　after　him。　Her　eyes　fixed　themselves　upon
the　section　of　bare　leg　that　was　visible　above　his　stockings　white　as
the　driven　snow；　and　a　faintly　sentimental　expression　mingled　with
their　defiance　and　alarm。

Domini　got　up　from　her　chair　and　leaned　over　the　parapet。　A　streak　of
yellow　light　from　the　doorway　of　the　hotel　lay　upon　the　white　road
below；　and　in　a　moment　she　saw　two　figures　come　out　from　beneath　the
verandah　and　pause　there。　Hadj　was　one；　the　stranger　was　the　other。
The　stranger　struck　a　match　and　tried　to　light　a　cigar；　but　failed。　He
struck　another　match；　and　then　another；　but　still　the　cigar　would　not
draw。　Hadj　looked　at　him　with　mischievous　astonishment。

〃If　Monsieur　will　permit　me〃　he　began。

But　the　stranger　took　the　cigar　hastily　from　his　mouth　and　flung　it
away。

〃I　don't　want　to　smoke；〃　Domini　heard　him　say　in　French。

Then　he　walked　away　with　Hadj　into　the　darkness。

As　they　disappeared　Domini　heard　a　faint　shrieking　in　the　distance。　It
was　the　music　of　the　African　hautboy。

The　night　was　marvellously　dry　and　warm。　The　thickly　growing　trees　in
the　garden　scarcely　moved。　It　was　very　still　and　very　dark。　Suzanne；
standing　at　her　window；　looked　like　a　shadow　in　her　black　dress。　Her
attitude　was　romantic。　Perhaps　the　subtle　influence　of　this　Sahara
village　was　beginning　to　steal　even　over　her　obdurate　spirit。

The　hautboy　went　on　crying。　Its　notes；　though　faint；　were　sharp　and
piercing。　Once　more　the　church　bell　chimed　among　the　date　palms；　and
the　two　musics；　with　their　violently　differing　associations；　clashing
together　smote　upon　Domini's　heart　with　a　sense　of　trouble；　almost　of
tragedy。　The　pulses　in　her　temples　throbbed；　and　she　clasped　her　hands
tightly　together。　That　brief　moment；　in　which　she　heard　the　duet　of
those　two　voices；　was　one　of　the　most　interesting；　yet　also　one　of　the
most　painful　she　had　ever　known。　The　church　bell　was　silent　now；　but
the　hautboy　did　not　cease。　It　was　barbarous　and　provocative；　shrill
with　a　persistent　triumph。

Domini　went　to　bed　early；　but　she　could　not　sleep。　Just　before
midnight　she　heard　someone　walking　up　and　down　on　the　verandah。　The
step　was　heavy　and　shuffling。　It　came　and　went；　came　and　went；　without
pause　till　she　was　in　a　fever　of　uneasiness。　Only　when　two　chimed　from
the　church　did　it　cease　at　last。

She　whispered　a　prayer　to　Notre　Dame　de　la　Garde；　The　Blessed　Virgin；
looking　towards　Africa。　For　the　first　time　she　felt　the　loneliness　of
her　situation　and　that　she　was　far　away。



CHAPTER　V

Towards　morning　Domini　slept。　It　was　nearly　eight　o'clock　when　she
awoke。　The　room　was　full　of　soft　light　which　told　of　the　sun　outside；
and　she　got　up　at　once；　put　on　a　pair　of　slippers　and　opened　the
French　window　on　to　the　verandah。　Already　Beni…Mora　was　bathed　in
golden　beams　and　full　of　gentle　activities。　A　flock　of　goats　pattered
by　towards　the　edge　of　the　oasis。　The　Arab　gardeners　were　lazily
sweeping　small　leaves　from　the　narrow　paths　under　the　mimosa　and
pepper　trees。　Soldiers　in　loose　white　suits；　dark　blue　sashes　and　the
fez；　were　hastening　from　the　Fort　towards　the　market。　A　distant　bugle
rang　out　and　the　snarl　of　camels　was　audible　from　the　village。　Domini
stood　on　the　verandah　for　a　moment；　drinking　in　the　desert　air。　It
made　her　feel　very　pure　and　clean；　as　if　she　had　just　bathed　in　clear
water。　She　looked　up　at　the　limpid　sky；　which　seemed　full　of　hope　and
of　the　power　to　grant　blessings；　and　she　was　glad　that　she　had　come　to
Beni…Mora。　Her　lonely　sensation　of　the　previous　night　had　gone。　As　she
stood　in　the　sun　she　was　conscious　that　she　needed　re…creation　and
that　here　she　might　find　it。　The　radiant　sky；　the　warm　sun　and　the
freedom　of　the　coming　day　and　of　many　coming　desert　days；　filled　her
heart　with　an　almost　childish　sensation。　She　felt　younger　than　she　had
felt　for　years；　and　even　foolishly　innocent；　like　a　puppy　dog　or　a
kitten。　Her　thick　black　hair；　unbound；　fell　in　a　veil　round　her
strong；　active　body；　and　she　had　the　rare　consciousness　that　behind
that　other　more　mysterious　veil　her　soul　was　to…day　a　less　unfit
companion　for　its　mate　than　it　had　been　since　her　mother's　sin。

Cleanlinesswhat　a　blessed　condition　that　was；　a　condition　to　breed
bravery。　In　this　early　morning　hour　Beni…Mora　looked　magically　clean。
Domini　thought　of　the　desperate　dirt　of　London　mornings；　of　the　sooty
air　brooding　above　black　trees　and　greasy　pavements。　Surely　it　was
difficult　to　be　clean　of　soul　there。　Here　it　would　be　easy。　One　would
tune　one's　lyre　in　accord　with　Nature　and　be　as　a　singing　palm　tree
beside　a　water…spring。　She　took　up　a　little　vellum…bound　book　which
she　had　laid　at　night　upon　her　dressing…table。　It　was　/Of　the
Imitation　of　Christ/；　and　she　opened　it　at　haphazard　and　glanced　down
on　a　sunlit　page。　Her　eyes　fell　on　these　words：

　〃Love　watcheth；　and　sleeping；　slumbereth　not。　When　weary　it　is　not
　　tired；　when　straitened　it　is　not　constrained；　when　frightened　it
　　is　not　disturbed；　but　like　a　vivid　flame　and　a　burning　torch　it
　　mounteth　upwards　and　securely　passeth　through　all。　Whosoever
　　loveth　knoweth　the　cry　of　this　voice。〃

The　sunlight　on　the　page　of　the　little　book　was　like　the　vivid　flame
and　the　burning　torch　spoken　of　in　it。　Heat；　light；　a　fierce　vitality。
Domini　had　been　weary　so　long；　weary　of　soul；　that　she　was　almost
startled　to　find　herself　responding　quickly　to　the　sacred　passion　on
the　page；　to　the　bright　beam　that　kissed　it　as　twin　kisses　twin。　She
knelt　down　to　say　her　morning　prayer；　but　all　she　could　whisper　was：

〃O；　God；　renew　me。　O；　God；　renew　me。　Give　me　power　to　feel；　keenly；
fiercely；　even　though　I　suffer。　Let　me　wake。　Let　me　feel。　Let　me　be　a
living　thing　once　more。　O；　God；　renew　me；　renew　me！〃

While　she　prayed　she　pressed　her　face　so　hard　against　her　hands　that
patches　of　red　came　upon　her　cheeks。　And　afterwards　it　seemed　to　her
as　if　her　first　real；　passionate　prayer　in　Beni…Mora　had　been　almost
like　a　command　to　God。　Was　not　such　a　fierce　prayer　perhaps　a
blasphemy？

She　rose　from　that　prayer　to　the　first　of　her　new　days。

After　breakfast　she　looked　over　the　edge　of　the　verandah　and　saw
Batouch　and　Hadj　squatting　together　in　the　shadow　of　the　trees　below。
They　were　smoking　cigarettes　and　talking　eagerly。　Their　conversation；
which　was　in　Arabic；　sounded　violent。　The　accented　words　were　like
blows。　Domini　had　not　looked　over　the　parapet　for　more　than　a　minute
before　the　two　guides　saw　her　and　rose　smiling　to　their　feet。

〃I　am　waiting　to　show　the　village　to　Madame；〃　said　Batouch；　coming　out
softly　into　the　road；　while　Hadj　remained　under　the　trees；　exposing
his　teeth　in　a　sarcastic　grin；　which　plainly　enough　conveyed　to　Domini
his　pity　for　her　sad　mistake　in　not　engaging　him　as　her　attendant。

Domini　nodded；　went　back　into　her　room　and　put　on　a　shady　hat。　Suzanne
handed　her　a　large　parasol　lined　with　green；　and　she　descended　the
stairs　rather　slowly。　She　was　not　sure　whether　she　wanted　a　companion
in　her　first　walk　about　Beni…Mora。　There　would　be　more　savour　of
freedom　in　solitude。　Yet　she　had　hardly　the　heart　to　dismiss　Batouch；
with　all　his　dignity　and　determination。　She　resolved　to　take　him　for　a
little　while　and　then　to　get　rid　of　him　on　some　pretext。　Perhaps　she
would　make　some　purchases　in　the　bazaars　and　send　him　to　the　hotel
with　them。

〃Madame　has　slept　well？〃　asked　the　poet　as　she　emerged　into　the　sun。

〃Pretty　well；〃　she　answered；　nodding　again　to　Hadj；　whose　grin　became
more　mischievous；　and　opening　her　parasol。　〃Where　a