the garden of allah-第50章
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beauty of the noon seemed spoiled。
〃Forgive my malice；〃 Count Anteoni said。 〃It was really a thing of
thistledown。 Can it be going to do harm？ I can scarcely think so。〃
〃No； no。〃
She roused herself； with the instinct of a woman who has lived much in
the world； to conceal the vexation that； visible； would cause a
depression to stand in the natural place of cheerfulness。
〃The desert is making me abominably natural；〃 she thought。
At this moment the black figure of Father Roubier came out of the
shadows of the trees with Bous…Bous trotting importantly beside it。
〃Ah； Father；〃 said Count Anteoni； going to meet him； while Domini got
up from her chair； 〃it is good of you to come out in the sun to eat
fish with such a bad parishioner as I am。 Your little companion is
welcome。〃
He patted Bous…Bous； who took little notice of him。
〃You know Miss Enfilden； I think？〃 continued the Count。
〃Father Roubier and I meet every day；〃 said Domini； smiling。
〃Mademoiselle has been good enough to take a kind interest in the
humble work of the Church in Beni…Mora；〃 said the priest with the
serious simplicity characteristic of him。
He was a sincere man； utterly without pretension； and； as such men
often are； quietly at home with anybody of whatever class or creed。
〃I must go to the garden gate；〃 Domini said。 〃Will you excuse me for a
moment？〃
〃To meet Monsieur Androvsky？ Let us accompany you if Father Roubier〃
〃Please don't trouble。 I won't be a minute。〃
Something in her voice made Count Anteoni at once acquiesce； defying
his courteous instinct。
〃We will wait for you here；〃 he said。
There was a whimsical plea for forgiveness in his eyes。 Domini's did
not reject it； they did not answer it。 She walked away； and the two
men looked after her tall figure with admiration。 As she went along
the sand paths between the little streams； and came into the deep
shade； her vexation seemed to grow darker like the garden ways。 For a
moment she thought she understood the sensations that must surely
sometimes beset a treacherous woman。 Yet she was incapable of
treachery。 Smain was standing dreamily on the great sweep of sand
before the villa。 She and he were old friends now； and every day he
calmly gave her a flower when she came into the garden。
〃What time is it； Smain？〃
〃Nearly half…past twelve； Madame。〃
〃Will you open the door and see if anyone is coming？〃
He went towards the great door； and Domini sat down on a bench under
the evergreen roof to wait。 She had seldom felt more discomposed； and
began to reason with herself almost angrily。 Even if the presence of
the priest was unpleasant to Androvsky； why should she mind？
Antagonism to the priesthood was certainly not a mental condition to
be fostered； but a prejudice to be broken down。 But she had wished
she still wished with ardourthat Androvsky's first visit to the
garden should be a happy one； should pass off delightfully。 She had a
dawning instinct to make things smooth for him。 Surely they had been
rough in the past； rougher even than for herself。 And she wondered for
an instant whether he had come to Beni…Mora； as she had come； vaguely
seeking for a happiness scarcely embodied in a definite thought。
〃There is a gentleman coming； Madame。〃
It was the soft voice of Smain from the gate。 In a moment Androvsky
stood before it。 Domini saw him framed in the white wood； with a
brilliant blue behind him and a narrow glimpse of the watercourse。 He
was standing still and hesitating。
〃Monsieur Androvsky！〃 she called。
He started； looked across the sand； and stepped into the garden with a
sort of reluctant caution that pained her； she scarcely knew why。 She
got up and went towards him； and they met full in the sunshine。
〃I came to be your cicerone。〃
〃Thank you； Madame。〃
There was the click of wood striking against wood as Smain closed the
gate。 Androvsky turned quickly and looked behind him。 His demeanour
was that of a man whose nerves were tormenting him。 Domini began to
dread telling him of the presence of the priest； and；
characteristically； did without hesitation what she feared to do。
〃This is the way；〃 she said。
Then； as they turned into the shadow of the trees and began to walk
between the rills of water； she added abruptly：
〃Father Roubier is here already； so our party is complete。〃
Androvsky stood still。
〃Father Roubier！ You did not tell me he was coming。〃
〃I did not know it till five minutes ago。〃
She stood still too； and looked at him。 There was a flaming of
distrust in his eyes； his lips were compressed； and his whole body
betokened hostility。
〃I did not understand。 I thought Senor Anteoni would be alone here。〃
〃Father Roubier is a pleasant companion； sincere and simple。 Everyone
likes him。〃
〃No doubt； Madame。 Butthe fact is I〃he hesitated； then added；
almost with violence〃I do not care for priests。〃
〃I am sorry。 Still； for oncefor an houryou can surely〃
She did not finish the sentence。 While she was speaking she felt the
banality of such phrases spoken to such a man； and suddenly changed
tone and manner。
〃Monsieur Androvsky；〃 she said； laying one hand on his arm； 〃I knew
you would not like Father Roubier's being here。 If I had known he was
coming I should have told you in order that you might have kept away
if you wished to。 But now that you are herenow that Smain has let
you in and the Count and Father Roubier must know of it； I am sure you
will stay and govern your dislike。 You intend to turn back。 I see
that。 Well； I ask you to stay。〃
She was not thinking of herself； but of him。 Instinct told her to
teach him the way to conceal his aversion。 Retreat would proclaim it。
〃For yourself I ask you；〃 she added。 〃If you go； you tell them what
you have told me。 You don't wish to do that。〃
They looked at each other。 Then； without a word； he walked on again。
As she kept beside him she felt as if in that moment their
acquaintanceship had sprung forward； like a thing that had been
forcibly restrained and that was now sharply released。 They did not
speak again till they saw； at the end of an alley； the Count and the
priest standing together beneath the jamelon tree。 Bous…Bous ran
forward barking； and Domini was conscious that Androvsky braced
himself up； like a fighter stepping into the arena。 Her keen
sensitiveness of mind and body was so infected by his secret
impetuosity of feeling that it seemed to her as if his encounter with
the two men framed in the sunlight were a great event which might be
fraught with strange consequences。 She almost held her breath as she
and Androvsky came down the path and the fierce sunrays reached out to
light up their faces。
Count Anteoni stepped forward to greet them。
〃Monsieur AndrovskyCount Anteoni；〃 she said。
The hands of the two men met。 She saw that Androvsky's was lifted
reluctantly。
〃Welcome to my garden；〃 Count Anteoni said with his invariable easy
courtesy。 〃Every traveller has to pay his tribute to my domain。 I dare
to exact that as the oldest European inhabitant of Beni…Mora。〃
Androvsky said nothing。 His eyes were on the priest。 The Count noticed
it； and added：
〃Do you know Father Roubier？〃
〃We have often seen each other in the hotel；〃 Father Roubier said with
his usual straightforward simplicity。
He held out his hand； but Androvsky bowed hastily and awkwardly and
did not seem to see it。 Domini glanced at Count Anteoni； and surprised
a piercing expression in his bright eyes。 It died away at once； and he
said：
〃Let us go to the /salle…a…manger/。 /Dejeuner/ will be ready； Miss
Enfilden。〃
She joined him； concealing her reluctance to leave Androvsky with the
priest； and walked beside him down the path； preceded by Bous…Bous。
〃Is my /fete/ going to be a failure？〃 he murmured。
She did not reply。 Her heart was full of vexation； almost of
bitterness。 She felt angry with Count Anteoni； with Androvsky； with
herself。 She almost felt angry with poor Father Roubier。
〃Forgive me！ do forgive me！〃 the Count whispered。 〃I meant no harm。〃
She forced herself to smile； but the silence behind them； where the
two men were following； oppressed her。 If only Andr
