the garden of allah-第28章
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mysteriously； introduced them to one another and mysteriously
departed。
The evening drew on in their silence and the dream was deeper now。 All
that Domini had felt when first she approached the parapet she felt
more strangely； and she grasped； with physical and mental vision； not
only the whole； but the innumerable parts of that which she looked on。
She saw； fancifully； the circles widen in the pool of peace； but she
saw also the things that had been hidden in the pool。 The beauty of
dimness； the beauty of clearness； joined hands。 The one and the other
were； with her； like sisters。 She heard the voices from below； and
surely also the voices of the stars that were approaching with the
night； blending harmoniously and making a music in the air。 The
glowing sky and the glowing mountains were as comrades； each
responsive to the emotions of the other。 The lights in the rocky
clefts had messages for the shadowy moon； and the palm trees for the
thin； fire…tipped clouds about the west。 Far off the misty purple of
the desert drew surely closer； like a mother coming to fold her
children in her arms。
The Jewess still danced upon the roof to the watching Zouaves； but now
there was something mystic in her tiny movements which no longer
roused in Domini any furtive desire not really inherent in her nature。
There was something beautiful in everything seen from this altitude in
this wondrous evening light。
Presently； without turning to her companion； she said：
〃Could anything look ugly in Beni…Mora from here at this hour； do you
think？〃
Again there was the silence that seemed characteristic of this man
before he spoke； as if speech were very difficult to him。
〃I believe not； Madame。〃
〃Even that woman down there on that roof looks gracefulthe one
dancing for those soldiers。〃
He did not answer。 She glanced at him and pointed。
〃Down there； do you see？〃
She noticed that he did not follow her hand and that his face became
stern。 He kept his eyes fixed on the trees of the garden of the
Gazelles near Cardinal Lavigerie's statue and replied：
〃Yes； Madame。〃
His manner made her think that perhaps he had seen the dance at close
quarters and that it was outrageous。 For a moment she felt slightly
uncomfortable； but determined not to let him remain under a false
impression； she added carelessly：
〃I have never seen the dances of Africa。 I daresay I should think them
ugly enough if I were near； but from this height everything is
transformed。〃
〃That is true； Madame。〃
There was an odd； muttering sound in his voice； which was deep； and
probably strong； but which he kept low。 Domini thought it was the most
male voice she had ever heard。 It seemed to be full of sex； like his
hands。 Yet there was nothing coarse in either the one or the other。
Everything about him was vital to a point that was so remarkable as to
be not actually unnatural but very near the unnatural。
She glanced at him again。 He was a big man； but very thin。 Her
experienced eyes of an athletic woman told her that he was capable of
great and prolonged muscular exertion。 He was big…boned and deep…
chested； and had nervous as well as muscular strength。 The timidity in
him was strange in such a man。 What could it spring from？ It was not
like ordinary shyness； the /gaucherie/ of a big； awkward lout
unaccustomed to woman's society but able to be at his ease and
boisterous in the midst of a crowd of men。 Domini thought that he
would be timid even of men。 Yet it never struck her that he might be a
coward； unmanly。 Such a quality would have sickened her at once； and
she knew she would have at once divined it。 He did not hold himself
very well； but was inclined to stoop and to keep his head low； as if
he were in the habit of looking much on the ground。 The idiosyncrasy
was rather ugly； and suggested melancholy to her； the melancholy of a
man given to over…much meditation and afraid to face the radiant
wonder of life。
She caught herself up at this last thought。 Shethinking naturally
that life was full of radiant wonder！ Was she then so utterly
transformed already by Beni…Mora？ Or had the thought come to her
because she stood side by side with someone whose sorrows had been
unfathomably deeper than her own； and so who； all unconsciously； gave
her a knowledge of her owntill then unsuspectedhopefulness？
She looked at her companion again。 He seemed to have relinquished his
intention of leaving her； and was standing quietly beside her； staring
towards the desert； with his head slightly drooped forward。 In one
hand he held a thick stick。 He had put his hat on again。 His attitude
was much calmer than it had been。 Already he seemed more at ease with
her。 She was glad of that。 She did not ask herself why。 But the
intense beauty of evening in this land and at this height made her
wish enthusiastically that it could produce a happiness such as it
created in her in everyone。 Such beauty； with its voices； its colours；
its lines of tree and leaf； of wall and mountain ridge； its mystery of
shapes and movements； stillness and dreaming distance； its atmosphere
of the far off come near； chastened by journeying； fine with the
unfamiliar； its solemn changes towards the impenetrable night； was too
large a thing and fraught with too much tender and lovable invention
to be worshipped in any selfishness。 It made her feel as if she could
gladly be a martyr for unseen human beings； as if sacrifice would be
an easy thing if made for those to whom such beauty would appeal。
Brotherhood rose up and cried in her； as it surely sang in the sunset；
in the mountains； the palm groves and the desert。 The flame above the
hills； their purple outline； the moving； feathery trees； dark under
the rose…coloured glory of the west； and most of all the immeasurably
remote horizons； each moment more strange and more eternal； made her
long to make this harsh stranger happy。
〃One ought to find happiness here；〃 she said to him very simply。
She saw his hand strain itself round the wood of his stick。
〃Why？〃 he said。
He turned right round to her and looked at her with a sort of anger。
〃Why should you suppose so？〃 he added； speaking quite quickly； and
without his former uneasiness and consciousness。
〃Because it is so beautiful and so calm。〃
〃Calm！〃 he said。 〃Here！〃
There was a sound of passionate surprise in his voice。 Domini was
startled。 She felt as if she were fighting； and must fight hard if she
were not to be beaten to the dust。 But when she looked at him she
could find no weapons。 She said nothing。 In a moment he spoke again。
〃You find calm here；〃 he said slowly。 〃Yes； I see。〃
His head dropped lower and his face hardened as he looked over the
edge of the parapet to the village； the blue desert。 Then he lifted
his eyes to the mountains and the clear sky and the shadowy moon。 Each
element in the evening scene was examined with a fierce； painful
scrutiny； as if he was resolved to wring from each its secret。
〃Why； yes；〃 he added in a low； muttering voice full of a sort of
terrified surprise； 〃it is so。 You are right。 Why； yes； it is calm
here。〃
He spoke like a man who had been suddenly convinced； beyond power of
further unbelief； of something he had never suspected； never dreamed
of。 And the conviction seemed to be bitter to him； even alarming。
〃But away out there must be the real home of peace； I think；〃 Domini
said。
〃Where？〃 said the man； quickly。
She pointed towards the south。
〃In the depths of the desert；〃 she said。 〃Far away from civilisation；
far away from modern men and modern women； and all the noisy trifles
we are accustomed to。〃
He looked towards the south eagerly。 In everything he did there was a
flamelike intensity； as if he could not perform an ordinary action； or
turn his eyes upon any object； without calling up in his mind； or
heart； a violence of thought or of feeling。
〃You think ityou think there would be peace out there； far away in
the desert？〃 he said； and his face relaxed slightly； as if in
obedience to some thought not wholly sad。
〃It may be fanciful；〃 she replied。 〃But I think there must。 Surely
Nature has not a lying face。〃
He was still
