mohammed ali and his house-第66部分

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t；　which　she　hands　him　with　a　delicious　smile。

〃Eat；　stranger；　eat；　and　refresh　yourself。〃

She　has　forgotten　that　he　is　bound；　and　that　he　cannot　take　the　fruit　from　her　hand。

〃This　heavenly　fruit　must　be　administered　by　your　fair　hand　alone；〃　said　he。　〃As　my　hands　are　bound；　you　must　hold　it　to　my　lips　yourself。　Oh；　that　they　were　to　be　refreshed　with　yours　instead　of　the　banana！〃

She　smiles　and　looks　down；　blushingly。　She　then　breaks　the　fruit　and　brings　it　to　his　lips　in　little　morsels。　And　each　time　he　raises　his　lips　so　high；　that　they　touch　not　only　the　fruit　but　also　her　delicate　brown　fingers。　It　was　sweet　play；　and　Mohammed　forgets　all　else。　This　night；　minutes　have　been　as　hours　to　him；　and　now　he　would　have　them　become　eternities。　Lovely　is　this　child　of　the　desert　that　bends　down　over　him；　a　whole　world　of　maidenly　purity　and　sweetness　Fate　has　pointed　out　the　road　to　his　goal　through　Butheita；　and　he　feels　that　she　will　lead　him　on　until　he　reaches　the　throne　seen　by　his　mother　in　her　dreams；　and　becomes　the　avenger　of　her　he　loved；　of　his　Masa。

She　still　gazed　upon　the　upturned　countenance　of　her　prisoner；　now　lighted　up　by　the　rosy　light　of　the　morning　sun；　she　is　struck　with　the　tone　of　his　voice；　and　is　surprised　to　learn　that　the　sarechsme　is　not　dejected　at　his　captivity。

〃You　rejoice；〃　said　she；　smiling；　and　again　displaying　her　beautiful　teeth。　〃You　rejoice　over　your　captivity。〃

〃I　should　like　to　be　such　a　captive　forever；　Butheita；　it　is　heavenly　to　be　encircled　in　these　fair　arms。〃

〃You　are　singing　your　sweet　songs　again；　and　oh；　they　sound　so　sweet！〃　said　she。　And　yet；　as　he　attempts　to　lay　his　head　closer　to　her　shoulder；　she　timidly　recoils　with　an　anxious　look　in　her　eyes。

〃Not　so；　stranger。　Honor　the　hospitality　of　my　house；　for　my　dromedary　is　my　house；　and　I　wish　you　to　be　my　guest。　And；　that　you　may　see　that　Butheita　is　sensible　of　the　duties　of　a　hostess；　accept　this　banana　and　refresh　yourself；　you　will　need　it。〃

She　takes　two　bananas　from　the　bag　that　hangs　at　the　side　of　the　saddle；　and　with　delight　Mohammed　sees　her　peel　the　rich　fruit；　which　she　hands　him　with　a　delicious　smile。

〃Eat；　stranger；　eat；　and　refresh　yourself。〃

She　has　forgotten　that　he　is　bound；　and　that　he　cannot　take　the　fruit　from　her　hand。

〃This　heavenly　fruit　must　be　administered　by　your　fair　hand　alone；〃　said　he。　〃As　my　hands　are　bound；　you　must　hold　it　to　my　lips　yourself。　Oh；　that　they　were　to　be　refreshed　with　yours　instead　of　the　banana！〃

She　smiles　and　looks　down；　blushingly。　She　then　breaks　the　fruit　and　brings　it　to　his　lips　in　little　morsels。　And　each　time　he　raises　his　lips　so　high；　that　they　touch　not　only　the　fruit　but　also　her　delicate　brown　fingers。　It　was　sweet　play；　and　Mohammed　forgets　all　else。　This　night；　minutes　have　been　as　hours　to　him；　and　now　he　would　have　them　become　eternities。　Lovely　is　this　child　of　the　desert　that　bends　down　over　him；　a　whole　world　of　maidenly　purity　and　sweetness　permitted　to　wander　freely　through　the　desert；　and　not　cooped　up　in　the　second　apartment　of　the　tent；　and　not　compelled　to　cover　my　face　with　a　veil。　However；　when　I　ride　with　father　to　Tantah；　then；　O　stranger；　I　dress　myself　up　as　the　women　of　the　cities　do！　Then　I　wear　a　long　silk　dress　and　a　splendid　veil；　and　color　my　lips　and　hands　with　henna！〃

〃That　is　to　say；　Butheita；　you　make　of　the　houri　of　paradise　an　ordinary　human　being。　I　should　not　like　to　see　you　when　you　look　like　other　women。　You　are　the　Queen　of　the　Desert；　Butheita。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？　So　am　I　called　by　the　Bedouins　who　are　my　father's　subjects。　Yes；　they　are　very　respectful　to　their　sheik's　daughter；　and　call　me　Queen　of　the　Desert。　They　sometimes　say；〃　continued　she；　smiling：　〃'Her　countenance　shines　like　the　sun；　enkindling　in　flames　the　hearts　of　all　who　approach　her。'　I；　however；　hold　myself　aloof　from　them；　and　do　not　listen　to　what　they　say；　else　my　father　would　become　angry；　and　would　deprive　me　of　my　liberty　to　roam　about　as　I　please。　And　now　you　know　all；　stranger；　and　know　why　I　may　not　kiss　you；　though　I　would　gladly　do　something　to　please　the　poor　prisoner；　but　I　have　promised　this　to　my　father　and　to　myself。　Therefore；　no　more　of　this。　Here　we　must　halt。　Look　at　the　sublime　image　that　stands　there　so　grandly；　and　throws　its　black　shadow　far　out　over　the　yellow　sand。　That　is　the　true　Queen　of　the　Desert。　Let　me　turn　the　animal　so　that　you　can　see　our　queen。〃

Mohammed　looked　up　and　bowed　his　head　in　awe　before　the　monster　image　that　stood　before　him。　He　saw　a　human　face　and　a　mighty　figure　towering　before　him　in　gigantic　proportions。　Yes；　it　was　a　human　countenance！　From　out　those　eyes；　which　seemed　to　compass　a　whole　world　within　their　deep　hollows；　the　grandeur　and　sublimity　of　the　human　mind　appeared　to　speak　to　him。　What　majestic　thought　was　reflected　in　that　massive　forehead？　The　eloquent　mouth　seemed　to　announce　the　grand　mystery　of　the　universe。　The　whole　mighty　countenance　seemed　to　contain　a　heaven　of　sublime　peace；　and　to　be　radiant　with　a　happiness　unknown　to　the　human　breast　on　earth；　for　man　has　suffered　and　suffers。　Doubt；　anxiety；　care；　and　misery；　have　sojourned　in　every　mortal　breast；　but　this　countenance；　that　towers　like　a　mountain　in　its　divine　majesty；　knows　nothing　of　human　doubt　and　suffering。　Its　face　is　radiant　with　divine；　eternal　tranquillitywith　the　peace　of　the　universe。

〃How　grand；　how　sublime！〃　murmured　Mohammed；　gazing　fixedly　at　the　colossal　image　that　has　for　thousands　of　years　looked　on　man；　and　smiled　on　him　from　out　the　depths　of　its　unfathomable　eyes。　The　sphinx　has　looked　calmly　down　upon　generation　after　generation；　upon　men　of　every　faith　and　religion；　and　has　seen　them　pass　away。　Heathens　have　become　Christians；　Jews；　Mohammedans；　and　the　latter　in　their　turn　have　become　converted　to　other　faiths；　and　change　upon　change　has　taken　place。　The　sphinx　has　looked　down　upon　all　this！　itself　divine；　unchangeable　in　the　midst　of　all　that　has　passed　and　passes　away。

〃See；〃　murmured　Butheita；　〃this　is　the　Queen　of　the　Desert。　She　is　the　holy　sphinx；　before　whom　men　and　women　have　fallen　in　the　dust　for　thousands　of　years；　and　before　whom　kings　and　emperors　prostrate　themselves　to　this　day。　Thus　spoke　the　scha…er　whom　I　heard　when　with　my　father　in　Tantah　a　short　time　since：　‘He　who　approaches　the　protecting　goddess　of　mankind　must　fall　down　in　the　dust　before　her；　and　worship　Allah　and　the　saints。'

〃Kneel　down；　my　dromedary；　kneel　down；　my　Alpha！〃　and　she　draws　in　her　reins；　repeating　the　words　in　imperious　tones。　The　animal　understands　her；　and　sinks　gravely　upon　its　knees。　Butheita　bounds　down　from　her　seat　with　the　lightness　of　the　gazelle；　and　bows　low　before　the　sphinx；　her　arms　crossed　on　her　breast。

From　the　back　of　the　dromedary；　where　he　lies　bound；　her　prisoner　looks　down　with　admiration　upon　the　lovely　girlish　figure　that　skips　lightly　across　the　sand　to　the　foot　of　the　godlike　figure。　How　small　she　appears　beside　the　mighty　image；　like　a　flower　blooming　at　its　feet。

Butheita　kneels　down　before　the　sphinx　and　murmurs　a　prayer　for　protection　for　herself　and　father；　for　the　tent　in　which　they　dwell；　for　the　dromedary；　and　for　the　goats；　and　finally　also　for　the　stranger　whom　she　is　about　to　lead　to　her　tent。　〃Grant；　0　Allah；　that　I　may　be　mild；　and　that　he　may　not　feel　his　fetters　too　severely！　And　you；　O　holy　goddess　of　the　desert；　grant　that　Butheita's　heart　may　remain　pure　and　strong；　and　that　she　may　be　enabled　to　keep　the　promise　made　to　her　father！〃

As　she　murmurs　these　words　a　slight　tremor　possessed　itself　of　her　delicate　figure；　and　piously　and　timidly　she　looks　up　into　the　illimitable；　unfathomable　eyes　of　the　sphinx；　that　gaze　out　upon　the　whole　world。　Then　she　rises　and　smilingly　salutes　once　more　with　her　little　brown　hand　the　Queen　of　the　Desert；　and；　springing　lightly　upon　the　back　of　her　dromedary；　grasps　the　reins。

Butheita's　countenance　now　wears　a　serious　expression。　It　seems　she　has　brought　solemn　thoughts　with　her　from　the　goddess　of　the　desert；　and　from　time　to　time　she　casts　a　timid　glance　at　the　prisoner；　who　lies　bound　before　her。　The　dromedary　moves　on　at　a　uniform　speed。　Those　it　is　bearing　on　ward　speak　but　little。　Butheita's　heart　is　oppressed；　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　is　thoughtful　and　grave。

Once　Butheita　raises　her　arm　and　points　to　some　towering　objects　defined　sharply　against　the　sky　in　the　distance。

〃See；　stranger；　see；　those　are　the　grand　monuments　of　our　kings；　the　Pharaohs；　the　pyramids；　and　there　lies　Sakkara；　where　the　graves　of　the　holy　oxen　are　to　be　seen。　We　are　almost　at　our　journey's　end。　There　lies　the　village　of　Petresin。　Its　inhabitants　still　sleep；　and　the　doors　of　the　huts　are　closed：　they　do　not　see　us。　That　is　well；　that　is　necessary；　my　father　said　no　one　must　know　that　we　are　taking　you　away　a　prisoner。　Do　you　see　that　little　spot　on　the　verge　of　the　dessert？　That　is　my　father's　tent。〃

Butheita　patted　her　dromedary　on　the　neck　with　her　little　hand；　urging　it　to　greater　speed。　Like　an　arrow　they　flew　across　the　sand　until　they　had　reached　her　father's　tent。　Butheita　drew　in　her　reins　at　the　door　and　commanded　the　animal　to　kneel　down。

〃Stranger；　we　are　at　our　journey's　end！　At　the　threshold　of　our　tent；　Butheita　bids　you　welcome；　blessed　be　your　entrance　into　our　house！〃

She　quickly　loosens　the　shawl　that　binds　him　to　the　saddle；　and　before　he　is　aware　of　what　she　is　doing　lifts　him　in　her　arms。　Lightly；　as　though　he　were　a　plaything；　she　bears　him　into　the　inner　apartment　of　the　tent；　where　she　smilingly　deposits　him　on　a　mat。

〃Blessed　be　your　entrance　into　my　tent！　Now　refresh　yourself　with　repose　after　your　long　ride。　I　am　going　out　to　prepare　your　breakfast。〃

He　follows　Butheita　with　eager　eyes；　as　she　steps　into　the　other　apartment　of　the　tent。　Forgotten　are　all　the　schemes　and　thoughts　that　ordinarily　occupy　him　day　and　night。　Forgotten　are　the　past　and　future；　he　now　lives　for　the　present　only。　May　the　sun　mercifully　stand　still；　and　this　hour　prove　an　eternity！　Why　occupy　himself　with　thoughts　of　the　future；　the　present　is　so　beautiful；　so　heavenly？　Oh；　that　it　could　last　forever！　But　no！　a　cloud　passes　over　his　brow；　he　remembers

〃No！　Let　the　presen