mohammed ali and his house-第14部分

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　a　free　man；　although　a　poor　one。　His　hands　are　not　fettered；　he　serves　no　master；　and　he　cannot　be　bargained　for　and　sold　like　a　bale　of　goods　！　He　is　a　free　human　being；　conscious　of　his　own　worth；　and　also　conscious　of　the　great　future　that　awaits　him。

He　is　thinking　of　it　now　as　he　stands　on　the　rock　leaning　on　his　gun；　and　staring　out　into　the　air　after　the　vanished　ship。　He　does　not　see　the　future；　he　only　dreams　of　it　as　he　looks　out　into　the　vacant　air；　oblivious　of　the　present。　Nor　does　he　see　the　mother；　who；　while　he　stands　there；　is　hastening　painfully　and　breathlessly；　her　head　bowed　down；　from　her　humble　but　to　the　proud；　main　street　of　the　city；　to　the　store　of　the　merchant　Lion。

The　merchant　saw　her　coming；　met　her　at　the　door；　and　held　out　his　hand　to　her。

〃Is　it　you；　Sitta　Khadra？〃　he　cried；　as　she　reached　the　door。　〃I　must　tell　you　I　have　expected　you；　esteemed　lady；　light　of　my　eyes〃

She　tottered　into　the　hall　and　seated　herself　in　the　chair　which　the　merchant　had　hastened　to　bring　her。

〃Why　these　fine　phrases；　sir？　Talk　to　me　in　short　and　terse　language；　as　you　Franks　are　accustomed　to　do；　and　pay　no　attention　to　the　flowery　words　which；　with　us；　the　men　are　in　the　habit　of　mocking　instead　of　flattering　us　poor　creatures。〃

〃I　am　not　mocking　you；　Sitta　Khadra；〃　said　the　merchant；　gravely。　〃　I　esteem　you；　for　you　are　a　good　woman；　and　therefore　I　addressed　you　as　I　did。　I　know　you　well；　and　I　know　what　you　have　there　hidden　under　your　veil。〃

〃What　have　I　there；　sir？〃

〃You　have　brought　me　back　the　gold…embroidered　goods；　and　the　veil　bordered　with　golden　fringe；　which　your　son　Mohammed　bought　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　have　brought　them　back。　They　do　not　become　me。　I　did　not　like　to　tell　the　boy　so；　for　it　pleases　him　to　think　I　will　array　myself　in　them。　I　therefore　accepted　them；　hoping　you　would　take　them　back。〃

〃I　expected　you；　and　see；　I　have　the　money　ready　for　you。　When　I　saw　you　coming；　I　took　it　quickly　from　my　purse。　Here；　good　Sitta　ghadra；　are　the　six　ducats　which　Mohammed　gave　me。〃

She　shook　her　head　gently。

〃You　are　very　kind；　sir；　and　I　thank　you。　Yet；　I　cannot　accept　them。　Mohammed　would　scold　me　when　he　learned　it。　He　told　me；　himself；　that　he　had　given　you　four　ducats　and　not　six。　I　divined　that　you　had　given　him　the　goods　at　a　cheaper　price；　and　that　he　could　not　have　paid　for　them　at　their　real　value。　By　this　I　perceived　that　the　sale　was　only　a　pretended　one；　and　have　hoped　you　would　take　back　the　goods。　But　the　money　I　will　not　receive。〃

〃To　whom　shall　I　give　it；　then？〃　asked　the　astonished　merchant。　〃I　dare　not　offer　it　to　Mohammed；　I　believe　it　would　make　him　so　angry　that　he　would　raise　his　hand　against　me。　You　must　not　tell　him；　Sitta　Khadra；　that　you　have　brought　me　back　the　goods。〃

〃You　are　right；　sir；　I　should　not　like　to　cause　him　this　unhappiness。　I　shall　tell　him　I　have　taken　the　goods　to　the　tailor　to　have　it　made　into　a　dress　by　the　next　Bairam's　festival。　But　when　the　festival　comes；　I　shall　no　longer　be　here；　and　he　will　not　see　that　I　have　not　put　on　the　costly　dress。〃

〃You　will　not　be　here；　Sitta　Khadra？　Then　where　will　you　be？〃　asked　the　merchant。

She　slowly　raised　her　arm；　and　pointed　upward。

〃Up　there；　sir；　with　my　beloved　master；　Ibrahim　Aga；　I　shall　see　the　glory　of　Allah；　and　shall　see　the　prophet；　the　great　prophet　to　whom　my　heart…felt　prayers　so　often　ascend。〃

〃What　is　it　you　are　saying；　good　Sitta？　At　the　next　Bairam's　festival；　you　will　surely　still　be　with　us　on　earth。〃

She　slowly　shook　her　head。

〃I　am　dying；　sir。　I　have　been　dying　for　the　last　two　days　look　at　my　lips。〃

〃They　are　red　and　fresh；　and　show　that　you　are　in　health；　Sitta　Khadra。〃

〃Yea；　my　lips　are　red；　because　I　have　colored　them　with　henna；　that　Mohammed　may　not　see　how　pale　they　are。　For　him　I　have　colored　my　cheeks；　too。　Good　sir；　one　may　deceive　out　of　love；　and　Allah　will　forgive　me　for　having　made　my　face　a　lie　out　of　love　for　my　son。　I　tell　you　I　am　dying；　therefore　have　I　come　to　bring　you　the　goods；　and　to　beg　you　to　take　the　money　and　keep　it。　When　he　is　in　want　give　it　to　him；　and　tell　him　Mother　Khadra　sends　it　with　her　best　blessing；　and　that　he　must　accept　it　as　a　present　from　me；　and　make　a　good　use　of　it。　I　know；　sir；　that　you　will　give　it　to　him；　and　that　you　will　watch　over　him　that　you　may　know　when　he　needs　it。

〃And　one　thing　more　I　beg　of　you；　whenever　you　see　my　beloved　son；　say　to　him：　Mohammed　Ali；　your　mother　Khadra；　loved　you　very　dearly；　and　sends　you　a　greeting　from　Heaven；　through　me。　She　dwells；　above　with　your　father；　Ibrahim　Aga；　and　both　are　looking　down　upon　you；　and　observing　your　actions。　Therefore　be　thoughtful；　Mohammed；　to　walk　pure　and　free　in　the　sight　of　Allah　and　your　parents。　Promise　me；　that　you　will　often　say　this　to　my　son。〃

〃I　promise；　Sitta　Khadra；〃　said　the　merchant；　solemnly。　〃I　promise　you　that　I　will　watch　over　your　dear　son；　and　that；　if　it　is　in　my　power；　I　will　at　all　times　be　ready　to　lend　him　a　helping　hand。　I　give　you　my　hand　to　seal　this　promise；　Sitta　Khadra。〃

She　took　his　hand；　and　the　merchant　knew　by　the　heat　of　her　thin；　wan　fingers　that　a　burning　fever　was　in　her　blood；　and　that　Death　had　kissed　her　lips。

〃Now；　all　is　well；〃　said　she；　as　she　rose　to　her　feet　with　a　painful　effort。　〃Now　I　will　return　home；　that　my　darling；　my　Mohammed；　may　find　me　when　he　comes。　I　have　but　a　few　more　days　to　live；　and　I　would　not　lose　a　moment　that　I　can　spend　with　him。　Farewell！　Allah　be　with　you！〃




CHAPTER　VIII

THE　FRIENDS。


In　the　house　of　the　governor　every　thing　was　changed　since　the　day　on　which　the　grand…vizier　had　taken　up　his　abode　in　the　upper　saloons。　Young　Osman；　the　son　of　the　tschorbadji；　experienced　this　change　with　great　displeasure。

Since　the　stranger's　harem　had　been　installed　in　the　side…building；　whose　windows　open　on　the　garden；　the　governor's　son　can　no　longer　walk　freely　in　all　parts　of　the　beautiful　park　and　enjoy　its　solitude　without　fear　of　interruption。　By　far　the　greater　portion　of　the　park　has　been　set　apart　for　the　use　of　the　harem；　and　only　a　small　portion　adjoining　the　courtyard　is　reserved　for　him。

〃And　yet　fresh　air　and　the　sunshine　are　my　only　enjoyments；〃　said　he；　complainingly；　to　Mohammed　Ali；　who　had　come　the　next　day；　according　to　promise；　to　repeat　to　young　Osman　what　the　scha…er　had　spoken；　to　narrate　to　him　the　wondrous　stories　of　the　Mamelukes。

He　lay　reclining　on　a　mat　in　front　of　young　Osman's　couch；　and　in　excited　words；　with　glowing　eyes；　he　told　the　heroic　stories　of　the　proudest　people　of　Egypt。

Osman's　large　eyes　were　fixed　on　his　face　in　an　earnest　gaze；　and　a　slight　color　tinged　his　pale　cheeks　as　he　listened。

〃Beautiful；　is　it　not？〃　asked　Mohammed；　as　he　finished　his　narrative。　〃Would　not　you；　too；　like　to　go　to　the　land　where；　as　the　scha…er　says；　slaves　become　heroes；　and　heroes　princes？'

Osman　shook　his　head　gently。

〃I　do　not　know；　Mohammed。　I　should　be　contented；　I　think；　to　remain　here；　reclining　on　my　cushions；　the　sun　above　me；　and　you　at　my　side。〃

〃But　what　I　have　related　is　beautiful；　is　it　not？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　replied　Osman；　for　the　second　time。　〃I　regarded　you　while　you　were　speaking；　and　I　rejoiced　in　you。　It　seems　to　me；　Mohammed；　as　though　you　were　the　better　part　of　myself。　I　feel　as　you　feel；　and　think　as　you　think；　and　rejoice　when　I　hear　you　utter　in　fresh　and　glowing　words　that　which　my　lips　can　utter　with　timidity　and　hesitation　only。　If　I　were　healthy；　Mohammed；　I　should　be；　I　think；　as　you　are。　Therefore；　whenever　I　look　at　you；　it　seems　to　me　I　see　myself　as　I　might　be；　but　am　not。〃

〃You　will　be　yourself；　again；〃　said　Mohammed；　tenderly。　〃When　you　have　become　strong　again；　no　one　will　be　able　to　compete　with　you　in　manly　exercises；　and　like　all　the　other　boys　I　shall　have　to　bow　my　head　humbly　before　you；　and　shall　have　to　pay　you　the　tribute　as　they　pay　it　to　me。〃

In　reply；　Osman　merely　raised　his　pale；　transparent　hand　and　showed　it　to　Mohammed。

〃Look　at　this　pare；　colorless　hand。　A　poor；　withered　flower；　good　for　nothing　except　to　press　the　hand　of　a　friend；　but　a　hand　that　can　never　wield　the　sword　or　battle　with　the　unruly　waves　as　yours　can。　No；　Mohammed！　I　shall　perhaps　have　health　enough　to　live　like　the　flower　or　the　blade　of　grass；　but　not　to　live　like　the　eagle；　like　the　steed；　like　Mohammed　Ali！　But　I　will　not　complain。　I　am　contented；　every　one　has　his　portion　of　happiness　on　earth；　mine　is；　to　lie　on　the　purple　in　the　sunshine；　and　to　hear　my　Mohammed　tell　stories。　But　I　entreat　you　to　come　very　often；〃　he　continued；　with　a　sigh。　〃They　have　now　curtailed　my　little　earthly　happiness；　since　this　Turk　has　come　with　his　harem　and　his　glittering　suite；　I　am　very　miserable。　I　know　that　my　father　feels　it；　too；　and　often　wishes　his　distinguished　guest　had　taken　his　departure。〃

〃Will　he　remain　long；　Osman？〃

〃That　depends　on　whether　his　sun　shines　again　in　Stamboul；〃　said　young　Osman；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃I　must　tell　you；　Mohammed；　there　are　peculiar　circumstances　connected　with　this　gentleman。　He　has　fallen　into　disfavor；　and　is　waiting　here　to　see　whether　his　sun　will　shine　again　or　not。　He　has　been　sent　into　exile；　and　it　was　really　intended　that　he　should　go　to　Egypt；　where　the　Mamelukes　of　whom　you　have　just　been　relating　such　heroic　stories；　have　again　risen　in　wild　insurrection　against　the　Turkish　governor；　and　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　lying　in　wait　here　because　he　has　good　friends　in　Stamboul　who　are　working　for　him；　and　because　he　hopes　to　be　able　to　return　to　the　beautiful　capital　where　he　can　revel　in　luxury；　whereas；　if　he　should　go　to　Egypt；　he　would　be　compelled　to　draw　the　sword　and　march　out　to　bloody　battle。〃

〃I　hate　himthe　coward！〃　exclaimed　Mohammed。　〃I　despise　men　who　prefer　eating　sugar　with　women　in　the　harem；　to　mounting　their　steeds　and　taking　the　field　against　the　enemy；　sword　in　hand。〃

〃That　will　never　be　your　preference；〃　said　Osman；　regarding　him　tenderly。

〃No；　never；〃　protested　the　boy。　〃Women　are　good　playthings　for　hours　of　leisure；　when　a　man　has　nothing　better　to　do。　But　to　revel；　like　Cousrouf；　in　luxuryto　hide　himself　while　he　might　be　attempting　deeds　of　heroismto　be　dallying　with　women　instead　of　mowing　off　the