the garden of allah-第43章
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〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃I thought perhapsI wondered a little whether you had travelled in
it already。〃
〃No； Madame。 I saw it for the first time the day before yesterday。〃
〃When I did。〃
〃Yes。〃
So they had entered it for the first time together。 She was silent；
watching the pale smoke curl up through the shade and out into the
glare of the sun； the lizards creeping over the hot earth； the flies
circling beneath the lofty walls； the palm trees looking over into
this garden from the gardens all around； gardens belonging to Eastern
people； born here； and who would probably die here； and go to dust
among the roots of the palms。
On the earthen bank on the far side of the stream there appeared；
while she gazed； a brilliant figure。 It came soundlessly on bare feet
from a hidden garden； a tall； unveiled girl； dressed in draperies of
vivid magenta； who carried in her exquisitely…shaped brown hands a
number of handkerchiefsscarlet； orange； yellow green and flesh
colour。 She did not glance into the /auberge/ garden； but caught up
her draperies into a bunch with one hand； exposing her slim legs far
above the knees； waded into the stream； and bending； dipped the
handkerchiefs in the water。
The current took them。 They streamed out on the muddy surface of the
stream； and tugged as if； suddenly endowed with life； they were
striving to escape from the hand that held them。
The girl's face was beautiful； with small regular features and
lustrous； tender eyes。 Her figure； not yet fully developed； was
perfect in shape； and seemed to thrill softly with the spirit of
youth。 Her tint of bronze suggested statuary； and every fresh pose
into which she fell； while the water eddied about her； strengthened
the suggestion。 With the golden sunlight streaming upon her； the brown
banks； the brown waters； the brown walls throwing up the crude magenta
of her bunched…up draperies； the vivid colours of the handkerchiefs
that floated from her hand； with the feathery palms beside her； the
cloudless blue sky above her； she looked so strangely African and so
completely lovely that Domini watched her with an almost breathless
attention。
She withdrew the handkerchiefs from the stream； waded out； and spread
them one by one upon the low earth wall to dry； letting her draperies
fall。 When she had finished disposing them she turned round； and； no
longer preoccupied with her task； looked under her level brows into
the garden opposite and saw Domini and her companion。 She did not
start； but stood quite still for a moment； then slipped away in the
direction whence she had come。 Only the brilliant patches of colour on
the wall remained to hint that she had been there and would come
again。 Domini sighed。
〃What a lovely creature！〃 she said； more to herself than to Androvsky。
He did not speak； and his silence made her consciously demand his
acquiescence in her admiration。
〃Did you ever see anything more beautiful and more characteristic of
Africa？〃 she asked。
〃Madame；〃 he said in a slow； stern voice； 〃I did not look at her。〃
Domini felt piqued。
〃Why not？〃 she retorted。
Androvsky's face was cloudy and almost cruel。
〃These native women do not interest me；〃 he said。 〃I see nothing
attractive in them。〃
Domini knew that he was telling her a lie。 Had she not seen him
watching the dancing girls in Tahar's cafe？ Anger rose in her。 She
said to herself then that it was anger at man's hypocrisy。 Afterwards
she knew that it was anger at Androvsky's telling a lie to her。
〃I can scarcely believe that；〃 she answered bluntly。
They looked at each other。
〃Why not； Madame？〃 he said。 〃If I say it is so？〃
She hesitated。 At that moment she realised； with hot astonishment；
that there was something in this man that could make her almost
afraid； that could prevent her even； perhaps； from doing the thing she
had resolved to do。 Immediately she felt hostile to him； and she knew
that； at that moment； he was feeling hostile to her。
〃If you say it is so naturally I am bound to take your word for it；〃
she said coldly。
He flushed and looked down。 The rigid defiance that had confronted her
died out of his face。
Honest Mustapha broke joyously upon them with the coffee。 Domini
helped Androvsky to it。 She had to make a great effort to perform this
simple act with quiet； and apparently indifferent； composure。
〃Thank you； Madame。〃
His voice sounded humble； but she felt hard and as if ice were in all
her veins。 She sipped her coffee； looking straight before her at the
stream。 The magenta robe appeared once more coming out from the brown
wall。 A yellow robe succeeded it； a scarlet； a deep purple。 The girl；
with three curious young companions； stood in the sun examining the
foreigners with steady； unflinching eyes。 Domini smiled grimly。 Fate
gave her an opportunity。 She beckoned to the girls。 They looked at
each other but did not move。 She held up a bit of silver so that the
sun was on it； and beckoned them again。 The magenta robe was lifted
above the pretty knees it had covered。 The yellow； the scarlet； the
deep purple robes rose too； making their separate revelations。 And the
four girls； all staring at the silver coin； waded through the muddy
water and stood before Domini and Androvsky； blotting out the glaring
sunshine with their young figures。 Their smiling faces were now eager
and confident； and they stretched out their delicate hands hopefully
to the silver。 Domini signified that they must wait a moment。
She felt full of malice。
The girls wore many ornaments。 She began slowly and deliberately to
examine them； the huge gold earrings that were as large as the little
ears that sustained them； the bracelets and anklets； the triangular
silver skewers that fastened the draperies across the gentle swelling
breasts； the narrow girdles； worked with gold thread； and hung with
lumps of coral； that circled the small； elastic waists。 Her inventory
was an adagio； and while it lasted Androvsky sat on his low straw
chair with this wall of young womanhood before him； of young womanhood
no longer self…conscious and timid； but eager； hardy； natural； warm
with the sun and damp with the trickling drops of the water。 The vivid
draperies touched him； and presently a little hand stole out to his
breast； caught at the silver chain that lay across it； and jerked out
of its hiding…placea wooden cross。
Domini saw the light on it for a second； heard a low； fierce
exclamation； saw Androvsky's arm push the pretty hand roughly away；
and then a thing that was strange。
He got up violently from his chair with the cross hanging loose on his
breast。 Then he seized hold of it； snapped the chain in two； threw the
cross passionately into the stream and walked away down the garden。
The four girls； with a twittering cry of excitement； rushed into the
water； heedless of draperies； bent down； knelt down； and began to feel
frantically in the mud for the vanished ornament。 Domini stood up and
watched them。 Androvsky did not come back。 Some minutes passed。 Then
there was an exclamation of triumph from the stream。 The girl in
magenta held up the dripping cross with the bit of silver chain in her
dripping fingers。 Domini cast a swift glance behind her。 Androvsky had
disappeared。 Quickly she went to the edge of the water。 As she was in
riding…dress she wore no ornaments except two earrings made of large
and beautiful turquoises。 She took them hastily out of her ears and
held them out to the girl； signifying by gestures that she bartered
them for the little cross and chain。 The girl hesitated； but the clear
blue tint of the turquoise pleased her eyes。 She yielded； snatched the
earrings with an eager； gave up the cross and chain with a reluctant；
hand。 Domini's fingers closed round the wet gold。 She threw some coins
across the stream on to the bank； and turned away； thrusting the cross
into her bosom。
And she felt at that moment as if she had saved a sacred thing from
outrage。
At the cabaret door she found Androvsky； once more surrounded by
Arabs； whom honest Mustapha was trying to beat off。 He turned when he
heard her。 His eyes were still full of a light that revealed an
intensity of
