the garden of allah-第50部分

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〃Monsieur　Androvsky？〃

〃Yes。　He　interested　me　enormously；　profoundly。〃

〃Really！　Yet　he　was　at　his　worst　yesterday。〃

〃Perhaps　that　was　why。　At　any　rate；　he　interested　me　more　than　any　man
I　have　seen　for　years。　But〃　He　paused；　looking　in　at　the　little
chamber　where　the　dog　kept　guard。

〃But　my　interest　was　complicated　by　a　feeling　that　I　was　face　to　face
with　a　human　being　who　was　at　odds　with　life；　with　himself；　even　with
his　Creatora　man　who　had　done　what　the　Arabs　never　dodefied　Allah
in　Allah's　garden。〃

〃Oh！〃

She　uttered　a　little　exclamation　of　pain。　It　seemed　to　her　that　he　was
gathering　up　and　was　expressing　scattered；　half　formless　thoughts　of
hers。

〃You　know；〃　he　continued；　looking　more　steadily　into　the　room　of　the
dog；　〃that　in　Algeria　there　is　a　floating　population　composed　of　many
mixed　elements。　I　could　tell　you　strange　stories　of　tragedies　that
have　occurred　in　this　land；　even　here　in　Beni…Mora；　tragedies　of
violence；　of　greed；　oftragedies　that　were　not　brought　about　by
Arabs。〃

He　turned　suddenly　and　looked　right　into　her　eyes。

〃But　why　am　I　saying　all　this？〃　he　suddenly　exclaimed。　〃What　is
written　is　written；　and　such　women　as　you　are　guarded。〃

〃Guarded？　By　whom？〃

〃By　their　own　souls。〃

〃I　am　not　afraid；〃　she　said　quietly。

〃Need　you　tell　me　that？　Miss　Enfilden；　I　scarcely　know　why　I　have　said
even　as　little　as　I　have　said。　For　I　am；　as　you　know；　a　fatalist。　But
certain　people；　very　few；　so　awaken　our　regard　that　they　make　us
forget　our　own　convictions；　and　might　even　lead　us　to　try　to　tamper
with　the　designs　of　the　Almighty。　Whatever　is　to　be　for　you；　you　will
be　able　to　endure。　That　I　know。　Why　should　I；　or　anyone；　seek　to　know
more　for　you？　But　still　there　are　moments　in　which　the　bravest　want　a
human　hand　to　help　them；　a　human　voice　to　comfort　them。　In　the　desert；
wherever　I　may　beand　I　shall　tell　youI　am　at　your　service。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　simply。

She　gave　him　her　hand。　He　held　it　almost　as　a　father　or　a　guardian
might　have　held　it。

〃And　this　garden　is　yours　day　and　nightSmain　knows。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　again。

The　shrill　whinnying　of　a　horse　came　to　them　from　a　distance。　Their
hands　fell　apart。　Count　Anteoni　looked　round　him　slowly　at　the　great
cocoanut　tree；　at　the　shaggy　grass　of　the　lawn；　at　the　tall　bamboos
and　the　drooping　mulberry　trees。　She　saw　that　he　was　taking　a　silent
farewell　of　them。

〃This　was　a　waste；〃　he　said　at　last　with　a　half…stifled　sigh。　〃I
turned　it　into　a　little　Eden　and　now　I　am　leaving　it。〃

〃For　a　time。〃

〃And　if　it　were　for　ever？　Well；　the　great　thing　is　to　let　the　waste
within　one　be　turned　into　an　Eden；　if　that　is　possible。　And　yet　how
many　human　beings　strive　against　the　great　Gardener。　At　any　rate　I
will　not　be　one　of　them。〃

〃And　I　will　not　be　one。〃

〃Shall　we　say　good…bye　here？〃

〃No。　Let　us　say　it　from　the　wall；　and　let　me　see　you　ride　away　into
the　desert。〃

She　had　forgotten　for　the　moment　that　his　route　was　the　road　through
the　oasis。　He　did　not　remind　her　of　it。　It　was　easy　to　ride　across　the
desert　and　join　the　route　where　it　came　out　from　the　last　palms。

〃So　be　it。　Will　you　go　to　the　wall　then？〃

He　touched　her　hand　again　and　walked　away　towards　the　villa；　slowly　on
the　pale　silver　of　the　sand。　When　his　figure　was　hidden　by　the　trunks
of　the　trees　Domini　made　her　way　to　the　wide　parapet。　She　sat　down　on
one　of　the　tiny　seats　cut　in　it；　leaned　her　cheek　in　her　hand　and
waited。　The　sun　was　gathering　strength；　but　the　air　was　still
deliciously　cool；　almost　cold；　and　the　desert　had　not　yet　put　on　its
aspect　of　fiery　desolation。　It　looked　dreamlike　and　romantic；　not　only
in　its　distances；　but　near　at　hand。　There　must　surely　be　dew；　she
fancied；　in　the　Garden　of　Allah。　She　could　see　no　one　travelling　in
it；　only　some　far　away　camels　grazing。　In　the　dawn　the　desert　was　the
home　of　the　breeze；　of　gentle　sunbeams　and　of　liberty。　Presently　she
heard　the　noise　of　horses　cantering　near　at　hand；　and　Count　Anteoni；
followed　by　two　Arab　attendants；　came　round　the　bend　of　the　wall　and
drew　up　beneath　her。　He　rode　on　a　high　red　Arab　saddle；　and　a　richly…
ornamented　gun　was　slung　in　an　embroidered　case　behind　him　on　the
right…hand　side。　A　broad　and　soft　brown　hat　kept　the　sun　from　his
forehead。　The　two　attendants　rode　on　a　few　paces　and　waited　in　the
shadow　of　the　wall。

〃Don't　you　wish　you　were　going　out？〃　he　said。　〃Out　into　that？〃　And　he
pointed　with　his　whip　towards　the　dreamlike　blue　of　the　far　horizon。
She　leaned　over；　looking　down　at　him　and　at　his　horse；　which　fidgeted
and　arched　his　white　neck　and　dropped　foam　from　his　black　flexible
lips。

〃No；〃　she　answered　after　a　moment　of　thought。　〃I　must　speak　the　truth；
you　know。〃

〃To　me；　always。〃

〃I　feel　that　you　were　right；　that　my　summons　has　not　yet　come　to　me。〃

〃And　when　it　comes？〃

〃I　shall　obey　it　without　fear；　even　if　I　go　in　the　storm　and　the
darkness。〃

He　glanced　at　the　radiant　sky；　at　the　golden　beams　slanting　down　upon
the　palms。

〃The　Coran　says：　'The　fate　of　every　man　have　We　bound　about　his　neck。'
May　yours　be　as　serene；　as　beautiful；　as　a　string　of　pearls。〃

〃But　I　have　never　cared　to　wear　pearls；〃　she　answered。

〃No？　What　are　your　stones？〃

〃Rubies。〃

〃Blood！　No　others？〃

〃Sapphires。〃

〃The　sky　at　night。〃

〃And　opals。〃

〃Fires　gleaming　across　the　white　of　moonlit　dunes。　Do　you　remember？〃

〃I　remember。〃

〃And　you　do　not　ask　me　for　the　end　of　the　Diviner's　vision　even　now？〃

〃No。〃

She　hesitated　for　an　instant。　Then　she　added：

〃I　will　tell　you　why。　It　seemed　to　me　that　there　was　another's　fate　in
it　as　well　as　my　own；　and　that　to　hear　would　be　to　intrude；　perhaps；
upon　another's　secrets。〃

〃That　was　your　reason？〃

〃My　only　reason。〃　And　then　she　added；　repeating　consciously
Androvsky's　words：　〃I　think　there　are　things　that　should　be　let
alone。〃

〃Perhaps　you　are　right。〃

A　stronger　breath　of　the　cool　wind　came　over　the　flats；　and　all　the
palm　trees　rustled。　Through　the　garden　there　was　a　delicate　stir　of
life。

〃My　children　are　murmuring　farewell；〃　said　the　Count。　〃I　hear　them。　It
is　time！　Good…bye；　Miss　Enfildenmy　friend；　if　I　may　call　you　so。　May
Allah　have　you　in　his　keeping；　and　when　your　summons　comes；　obey　it
alone。〃

As　he　said　the　last　word　his　grating　voice　dropped　to　a　deep　note　of
earnest；　almost　solemn；　gravity。　Then　he　lifted　his　hat；　touched　his
horse　with　his　heel；　and　galloped　away　into　the　sun。

Domini　watched　the　three　riders　till　they　were　only　specks　on　the
surface　of　the　desert。　Then　they　became　one　with　it；　and　were　lost　in
the　dreamlike　radiance　of　the　morning。　But　she　did　not　move。　She　sat
with　her　eyes　fixed　up　on　the　blue　horizon。　A　great　loneliness　had
entered　into　her　spirit。　Till　Count　Anteoni　had　gone　she　did　not
realise　how　much　she　had　become　accustomed　to　his　friendship；　how　near
their　sympathies　had　been。　But　directly　those　tiny；　moving　specks
became　one　with　the　desert　she　knew　that　a　gap　had　opened　in　her　life。
It　might　be　small；　but　it　seemed　dark　and　deep。　For　the　first　time　the
desert；　which　she　had　hitherto　regarded　as　a　giver；　had　taken
something　from　her。　And　now；　as　she　sat　looking　at　it；　while　the　sun
grew　stronger　and　the　light　more　brilliant；　while　the　mountains
gradually　assumed　a　harsher　aspect；　and　the　details　of　things；　in　the
dawn　so　delicately　clear；　became；　as　it　were；　more　piercing　in　their
sharpness；　she　realised　a　new　and　terrible　aspect　of　it。　That　which
has　the　power　to　bestow　has　another　power。　She　had　seen　the　great
procession　of　those　who　had　received　gifts　of　the　desert's　hands。
Would　she　some　day；　or　in　the　night　when　the　sky　was　like　a　sapphire；
see　the　procession　of　those　from　whom　the　desert　had　taken　away
perhaps　their　dreams；　perhaps　their　hopes；　perhaps　even　all　that　they
passionately　loved　and　had　desperately　clung　to？

And　in　which　of　the　two　processions　would　she　walk？

She　got　up　with　a　sigh。　The　garden　had　become　tragic　to　her　for　the
moment；　full　of　a　brooding　melancholy。　As　she　turned　to　leave　it　she
resolved　to　go　to　the　priest。　She　had　never　yet　entered　his　house。
Just　then　she　wanted　to　speak　to　someone　with　whom　she　could　be　as　a
little　child；　to　whom　she　could　liberate　some　part　of　her　spirit
simply；　certain　of　a　simple；　yet　not　foolish；　reception　of　it　by　one
to　whom　she　could　look　up。　She　desired　to　be　not　with　the　friend　so
much　as　with　the　spiritual　director。　Something　was　alive　within　her；
something　of　distress；　almost　of　apprehension；　which　needed　the
soothing　hand；　not　of　human　love；　but　of　religion。

When　she　reached　the　priest's　house　Beni…Mora　was　astir　with　a
pleasant　bustle　of　life。　The　military　note　pealed　through　its
symphony。　Spahis　were　galloping　along　the　white　roads。　Tirailleurs
went　by　bearing　despatches。　Zouaves　stood　under　the　palms；　staring
calmly　at　the　morning；　their　sunburned　hands　loosely　clasped　upon
muskets　whose　butts　rested　in　the　sand。　But　Domini　scarcely　noticed
the　brilliant　gaiety　of　the　life　about　her。　She　was　preoccupied；　even
sad。　Yet；　as　she　entered　the　little　garden　of　the　priest；　and　tapped
gently　at　his　door；　a　sensation　of　hope　sprang　up　in　her　heart；　born
of　the　sustaining　power　of　her　religion。

An　Arab　boy　answered　her　knock；　said　that　the　Father　was　in　and　led
her　at　once　to　a　small；　plainly…furnished　room；　with　whitewashed
walls；　and　a　window　opening　on　to　an　enclosure　at　the　back；　where
several　large　palm　trees　reared　their　tufted　heads　above　the　smoothly…
raked　sand。　In　a　moment　the　priest　came　in；　smiling　with　pleasure　and
holding　out　his　hands　in　welcome。

〃Father；〃　she　said　at　once；　〃I　am　come　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you。
Have　you　a　few　moments　to　give　me？〃

〃Sit　down；　my　child；〃　he　said。

He　drew　forward　a　straw　chair　for　her　and　took　one　opposite。

〃You　are　not　in　trouble？〃

〃I　don't　know　why　I　should　be；　but〃

She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　she　said：

〃I　want　to　tell　you　a　little　about　my　life。〃

He　looked　at　her　kindly　without　a　word。

His　eyes　were　an　invitation　for　her　to　speak；　and；　without　further
invitation；　in　as　few　and　simple　words　as　possible；　she　told　him　why
she　had　come　to　Beni…Mora；　and　something　of　her　parents'