the garden of allah-第79章

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repulsion　of　his　nature。　His　efforts　had　been　useless。　He　had　prayed
to　be　given　the　sympathy　for　this　man　that　the　true　Christian　ought　to
feel　towards　every　human　being；　even　the　most　degraded。　But　he　felt
that　his　prayers　had　not　been　answered。　With　every　day　his　antipathy
for　Androvsky　increased。　Yet　he　was　entirely　unable　to　ground　it　upon
any　definite　fact　in　Androvsky's　character。　He　did　not　know　that
character。　The　man　was　as　much　a　mystery　to　him　as　on　the　day　when
they　first　met。　And　to　this　living　mystery　from　which　his　soul
recoiled　he　was　about　to　consign；　with　all　the　beautiful　and　solemn
blessings　of　his　Church；　a　woman　whose　character　he　respected；　whose
innate　purity；　strength　and　nobility　he　had　quickly　divined；　and　no
less　quickly　learned　to　love。

It　was　a　bitter；　even　a　horrible；　moment　to　him。

The　little　acolyte；　a　French　boy；　son　of　the　postmaster　of　Beni…Mora；
was　startled　by　the　sight　of　the　Father's　face　when　he　opened　the
sacristy　door。　He　had　never　before　seen　such　an　expression　of　almost
harsh　pain　in　those　usually　kind　eyes；　and　he　drew　back　from　the
threshold　like　one　afraid。　His　movement　recalled　the　priest　to　a　sharp
consciousness　of　the　necessities　of　the　moment；　and　with　a　strong
effort　he　conquered　his　pain　sufficiently　to　conceal　all　outward
expression　of　it。　He　smiled　gently　at　the　little　boy　and　said：

〃Is　it　time？〃

The　child　looked　reassured。

〃Yes；　Father。〃

He　came　into　the　sacristy　and　went　towards　the　cupboard　where　the
vestments　were　kept；　passing　the　silver　crucifix。　As　he　did　so　he
glanced　at　it。　He　opened　the　cupboard；　then　stood　for　a　moment　and
again　turned　his　eyes　to　the　Christ。　The　Father　watched　him。

〃What　are　you　looking　at；　Paul？〃　he　asked。

〃Nothing；　Father；〃　the　boy　replied；　with　a　sudden　expression　of
reluctance　that　was　almost　obstinate。

And　he　began　to　take　the　priest's　robes　out　of　the　cupboard。

Just　then　the　wind　wailed　again　furiously　about　the　church；　and　the
crucifix　fell　down　upon　the　floor　of　the　sacristy。

The　priest　started　forward；　picked　it　up；　and　stood　with　it　in　his
hand。　He　glanced　at　the　wall；　and　saw　at　once　that　the　nail　to　which
the　crucifix　had　been　fastened　had　come　out　of　its　hole。　A　flake　of
plaster　had　been　detached；　perhaps　some　days　ago；　and　the　hole　had
become　too　large　to　retain　the　nail。　The　explanation　of　the　matter　was
perfect；　simple　and　comprehensible。　Yet　the　priest　felt　as　if　a
catastrophe　had　just　taken　place。　As　he　stared　at　the　cross　he　heard　a
little　noise　near　him。　The　acolyte　was　crying。

〃Why；　Paul；　what's　the　matter？〃　he　said。

〃Why　did　it　do　that？〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　as　if　alarmed。　〃Why　did　it　do
that？〃

〃Perhaps　it　was　the　wind。　Everything　is　shaking。　Come；　come；　my　child；
there　is　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。〃

He　laid　the　crucifix　on　the　table。　Paul　dried　his　eyes　with　his　fists。

〃I　don't　like　to…day；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　like　to…day。〃

The　priest　patted　him　on　the　shoulder。

〃The　weather　has　upset　you；〃　he　said；　smiling。

But　the　nervous　behaviour　of　the　child　deepened　strangely　his　own
sense　of　apprehension。　When　he　had　robed　he　waited　for　the　arrival　of
the　bride　and　bridegroom。　There　was　to　be　no　mass；　and　no　music　except
the　Wedding　March；　which　the　harmonium　player；　a　Marseillais　employed
in　the　date…packing　trade；　insisted　on　performing　to　do　honour　to
Mademoiselle　Enfilden；　who　had　taken　such　an　interest　in　the　music　of
the　church。　Androvsky；　as　the　priest　had　ascertained；　had　been　brought
up　in　the　Catholic　religion；　but；　when　questioned；　he　had　said　quietly
that　he　was　no　longer　a　practising　Catholic　and　that　he　never　went　to
confession。　Under　these　circumstances　it　was　not　possible　to　have　a
nuptial　mass。　The　service　would　be　short　and　plain；　and　the　priest　was
glad　that　this　was　so。　Presently　the　harmonium　player　came　in。

〃I　may　play　my　loudest　to…day；　Father；〃　he　said；　〃but　no　one　will　hear
me。〃

He　laughed；　settled　the　pinJoan　of　Arc's　face　in　metalin　his　azure
blue　necktie；　and　added：

〃Nom　d'un　chien；　the　wind's　a　cruel　wedding　guest！〃

The　priest　nodded　without　speaking。

〃Would　you　believe；　Father；〃　the　man　continued；　〃that　Mademoiselle　and
her　husband　are　going　to　start　for　Arba　from　the　church　door　in　all
this　storm！　Batouch　is　getting　the　palanquin　on　to　the　camel。　How　they
will　ever〃

〃Hush！〃　said　the　priest；　holding　up　a　warning　finger。

This　idle　chatter　displeased　him　in　the　church；　but　he　had　another
reason　for　wishing　to　stop　the　conversation。　It　renewed　his　dread　to
hear　of　the　projected　journey；　and　made　him　see；　as　in　a　shadowy
vision；　Domini　Enfilden's　figure　disappearing　into　the　windy
desolation　of　the　desert　protected　by　the　living　mystery　he　hated。
Yes；　at　this　moment；　he　no　longer　denied　it　to　himself。　There　was
something　in　Androvsky　that　he　actually　hated　with　his　whole　soul；
hated　even　in　his　church；　at　the　very　threshold　of　the　altar　where
stood　the　tabernacle　containing　the　sacred　Host。　As　he　thoroughly
realised　this　for　a　moment　he　was　shocked　at　himself；　recoiled
mentally　from　his　own　feeling。　But　then　something　within　him　seemed　to
rise　up　and　say；　〃Perhaps　it　is　because　you　are　near　to　the　Host　that
you　hate　this　man。　Perhaps　you　are　right　to　hate　him　when　he　draws
nigh　to　the　body　of　Christ。〃

Nevertheless　when；　some　minutes　later；　he　stood　within　the　altar　rails
and　saw　the　face　of　Domini；　he　was　conscious　of　another　thought；　that
came　through　his　mind；　dark　with　doubt；　like　a　ray　of　gold：　〃Can　I　be
right　in　hating　what　this　good　womanthis　woman　whose　confession　I
have　received；　whose　heart　I　knowcan　I　be　right　in　hating　what　she
loves；　in　fearing　what　she　trusts；　in　secretly　condemning　what　she
openly　enthrones？〃　And　almost　in　despite　of　himself　he　felt　reassured
for　an　instant；　even　happy　in　the　thought　of　what　he　was　about　to　do。

Domini's　face　at　all　times　suggested　strength。　The　mental　and
emotional　power　of　her　were　forcibly　expressed；　too；　through　her　tall
and　athletic　body；　which　was　full　of　easy　grace；　but　full；　too；　of
well…knit　firmness。　To…day　she　looked　not　unlike　a　splendid　Amazon　who
could　have　been　a　splendid　nun　had　she　entered　into　religion。　As　she
stood　there　by　Androvsky；　simply　dressed　for　the　wild　journey　that　was
before　her；　the　slight　hint　in　her　personality　of　a　Spartan　youth；
that　stamped　her　with　a　very　definite　originality；　was　blended　with；
even　transfigured　by；　a　womanliness　so　intense　as　to　be　almost　fierce；
a　womanliness　that　had　the　fervour；　the　glowing　vigour　of　a　glory　that
had　suddenly　become　fully　aware　of　itself；　and　of　all　the　deeds　that
it　could　not　only　conceive；　but　do。　She　was　triumph　embodied　in　the
flesh；　not　the　triumph　that　is　a　school…bully；　but　that　spreads　wings；
conscious　at　last　that　the　human　being　has　kinship　with　the　angels；
and　need　not；　should　not；　wait　for　death　to　seek　bravely　their
comradeship。　She　was　love　triumphant；　woman　utterly　fearless　because
instinctively　aware　that　she　was　fulflling　her　divine　mission。

As　he　gazed　at　her　the　priest　had　a　strange　thoughtof　how　Christ's
face　must　have　looked　when　he　said；　〃Lazarus；　come　forth！〃

Androvsky　stood　by　her；　but　the　priest　did　not　look　at　him。

The　wind　roared　round　the　church；　the　narrow　windows　rattled；　and　the
clouds　of　sand　driven　against　them　made　a　pattering　as　of　fingers
tapping　frantically　upon　the　glass。　The　buff…coloured　curtains
trembled；　and　the　dusty　pink　ribands　tied　round　the　ropes　of　the
chandeliers　shook　incessantly　to　and　fro；　as　if　striving　to　escape　and
to　join　the　multitudes　of　torn　and　disfigured　things　that　were　swept
through　space　by　the　breath　of　the　storm。　Beyond　the　windows；　vaguely
seen　at　moments　through　the　clouds　of　sand；　the　outlines　of　the　palm
leaves　wavered；　descended；　rose；　darted　from　side　to　side；　like　hands
of　the　demented。

Suzanne；　who　was　one　of　the　witnesses；　trembled；　and　moved　her　full
lips　nervously。　She　disapproved　utterly　of　her　mistress'　wedding；　and
still　more　of　a　honeymoon　in　the　desert。　For　herself　she　did　not　care；
very　shortly　she　was　going　to　marry　Monsieur　Helmuth；　the　important
person　in　livery　who　accompanied　the　hotel　omnibus　to　the　station；　and
meanwh