mohammed ali and his house-第68部分

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；　in　Butheita's　presence　all　that　was　painful　and　disagreeable　in　his　position　had　been　forgotten。　Now　he　endeavors　to　force　his　thoughts　to　consider　these　things。　Away　with　thoughts　of　thee；　Queen　of　the　Desert！

He　rises　from　the　mat；　and　thanks　his　hostess　for　the　repast　in　set　phrases；　and　with　a　cold　manner；　he　begs　her　to　pay　no　attention　to　him；　and　not　to　allow　herself　to　be　disturbed　in　her　household　occupations　by　him。　Butheita　looks　at　him　with　astonishment…an　expression　of　offended　pride　in　her　countenance。

〃You　desire　to　be　alone；　stranger？　I　can　well　understand　that　my　foolish　words　annoy　you。　I　will　leave　you　alone；　sarechsme。　I　see　well　you　are　a　proud　man；　and　it　does　not　seem　proper　to　you　to　be　alone　with　a　Bedouin's　daughter　long。　I　can　not　prevent　it；　forgive　me。　I　will　attend　to　my　household　affairs；　as　you　suggest。　I　rely　on　your　promise；　stranger；　not　to　leave　the　inner　apartment。〃

〃You　can　rely　on　my　word；〃　said　he；　earnestly。　〃I　am　your　prisoner；　your　slave。　I　am　so　more　completely　than　you　think。〃

A　charming　smile　again　lights　up　her　brown　countenance。　With　a　joyous　nod　of　her　head；　she　bounds　out　of　the　tent。




CHAPTER　III

THE　AGREEMENT。


THE　sun　was　already　low　in　the　heavens。　The　palm　trees　in　the　neighboring　wood　of　Petresin　threw　long　shadows　across　the　yellow　sand；　and　yet　Sheik　Arnhyn　had　not　yet　come；　and　Mohammed　waited　in　vain　for　intelligence　concerning　his　captor's　purposes。

He　had　again　been　seated　with　Butheita　on　the　mat；　and　had　eaten　with　her　as　in　the　morning。

He　had　endeavored　to　chat　gayly　with　the　Queen　of　the　Desert；　but　her　quick　eye　had　read　in　his　countenance　that　a　cloud　rested　on　his　soul；　and　the　brightness　faded　from　her　eyes。

She　turned　to　him　when　he　had　risen　from　the　mat　and　was　walking　thoughtfully；　to　and　fro　in　the　narrow　tent。　〃Tell　me；　O　stranger；　is　your　heart　so　very　sad？　Is　there　nothing　Butheita　can　do　for　you。　You　are　wearied；　this　space　is　too　narrow　for　you。　Your　soul；　whose　wings　are　pinioned；　would　fly　out　into　the　world。　The　world　without　is　very　beautiful；　I　know。〃

〃Do　you　know　this　world？〃　asked　Mohammed；　his　lips　smiling　as　he　looked　at　her。

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　she。　〃I　have　been　with　father　to　Tantah　several　times。　While　there　I　heard　the　scha…er　tell　their　beautiful　stories　of　Ey…Zahir。　I　listened　with　breathless　attention。　And　then；　too；　I　heard　the　female　singers；　the　Gavasi。　They　sang　beautiful　songs；　and　the　words　and　tones　have　often　since　resounded　in　my　heart。　Do　you　know；　sarechsme；　that　often；　when　my　father　had　gone　out　with　his　Bedouins　to　fight　or　to　plunder；　as　was　sometimes　the　case；　then　my　only　pleasure　was　to　take　down　the　zammarah　bisoan；　on　which　my　mother　played；　and　sing　to　its　accompaniment　the　songs　I　had　learned　from　the　Gavasi。　〃Shall　I　sing　them　for　you？　Shall　I？〃　But　you　must　not　laugh　at　me　for　repeating　what　the　Gavasi　sang　in　Tantah。〃

Without　awaiting　a　reply；　she　took　down　the　little　bagpipe　with　its　bag　of　goat…skin；　and　to　its　shrill　accompaniment　sang　a　quaint　love…song　with　an　admixture　of　the　comic。

Her　countenance　had　become　grave；　and　a　sweet　fire　burned　in　her　eyes；　while　singing　to　the　monotonous　air　in　a　shrill；　vibrating　voice；　as　was　customary　with　the　street…singers　of　the　Egyptian　towns。　When　she　had　finished　her　song；　she　turned　the　gaze　of　her　dark　eyes　upon　Mohammed　with　an　inquiring　expression。　When　she　saw　the　smile　on　his　countenance；　and　encountered　the　wondrous　glance　that　seemed　to　penetrate　to　her　very　soul；　she　stated。　〃It　pleases　you；〃　said　she。　〃I　read　in　your　countenance　that　you　are　pleased。　Then　I　will　sing　you　another　song。〃

She　took　up　her　instrument　again；　and　sang；　in　loud；　joyous　tones；　a　song　about　a　gazelle…like　maiden　who　had　run　away　with　her　lover's　soul；　concluding　with；

〃Throughout　the　long；　long　night　his　sighing　ceases　not；　his　sighing　for　the　dear　gazelle　that　stole　away　his　soul。　Have　pity　on　your　lover；　come　back　to　me；　gazelle。　〃

〃Gazelle；　come　back　to　me！　〃　cried　Mohammed；　with　outstretched　arms。　〃Gazelle；　have　pity　on　your　lover。〃

She　seemed　not　to　have　heard　him；　bowed　down　over　her　instrument；　and　played　in　such　loud；　shrill　tones；　that　it　almost　deafened　Mohammed；　who　well　understood　Butheita's　motive　in　playing　so。

He　smiled　at　her　in　silence。　Butheita　laughed。

〃You　see　my　song　has　gladdened　you；　and　your　countentance　smiles　again。　O　joy！　See；　there　in　the　distance！　Yes；　there　come　two　figures。　That　is　my　father；　that　is　Sheik　Arnhyn。　Some　one　accompanies　him。　Rejoice；　sarechsme；　you　will　be　relieved　of　your　ennui！〃

He　laid　his　band　gently　on　her　shoulder；　and　regarded　her　with　a　long；　earnest　look；　that　recalled　the　roses　to　her　brown　cheeks。

〃I　do　not　rejoice；　Butheita；　Queen　of　the　Desert。　I　have　erected　a　throne　for　you　in　my　heart；　and　my　heart　spoke　to　you　in　the　words　of　your　song'Throughout　the　long；　long　night　my　sighing　ceases　not；　my　sighing　for　the　dear　gazelle　that　stole　away　my　heart。'　Then　speak；　gazelle；　shall　I　take　you　with　me？　Will　you　live　with　me　in　the　great　city？　Speak　to　me；　gazelle。〃

She　gazed　far　out　over　the　yellow　sand　toward　the　two　specks；　in　which　her　keen　eye　recognized　two　human　figures；　but　in　which　he　saw　only　two　black　specks　that　gradually　increased　in　size。

〃Answer　me；　Butheita。　Their　coming　does　not　gladden　me；　and　the　thought　of　leaving　you　makes　me　sad。　If　you　fancy　I　have　found　it　dull　here；　you　are　in　error。　My　heart　is　only　too　much　occupied。　Butheita；　sweetest　of　maidens；　speak　to　me！　Speak　to　me；　gazelle！〃

〃See；　sarechsmefather　waves　his　hand！〃　cried　she。　〃He　already　sees　us　standing　here；　his　eye　is　as　keen　as　an　eagle's。　He　sees　us！　Come；　let　us　step　back　for　a　moment；　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。　To　be　sure　I　might　have　told　you　where　we　were；〃　she　continued；　blushing；　as　she　stepped　behind　the　curtain。　〃I　might　as　well　have　told　you　at　the　door；　for　father　could　not　have　heard　it；　although　he　could　see　us。〃

〃Speak；　Butheita；　what　did　you　wish　to　say？　Speak！〃

〃I　have　forgotten；　sarechsme。　But　I　believe　I　wished　to　thank　you　for　saying　you　had　not　found　it　dull　here。　It　seems　to　me　that　only　a　moment　has　passed　since　I　saw　you　yesterday；　and　yet　it　is　an　eternity。　Yesterday　lies　far　behind　me；　and　today　seems　entirely　different。　The　sun　seems　to　be　another；　and　I　myself　another；　too。　You　see　I　am　a　very　silly　child。〃

〃And　why　do　you　falter？　Why　do　I　see　tears　in　your　eyes；　Butheita？〃

〃Because　I'm　a　foolish　child！　A　strange　feeling　comes　over　me；〃　said　she；　sadly。　〃You　will　now　go；　the　man　who　is　coming　with　father　will　take　you　away　from　us；　and　I　shall　never　see　you　again。〃

〃Then　give　me；　O　Butheita；　give　me　one　of　the　roses　that　blossom　on　your　lips。〃

〃That　blossom　on　my　lips？〃　said　she；　surprised；　as　she　passed　her　little　brown　hand　across　her　mouth。　〃A　rose　on　my　lips　？　What　does　that　mean；　stranger？〃

He　bowed　down　over　her。　She　felt　his　warm　breath　on　her　brown　cheek。

〃Give　me　a　rose！　Let　me　pluck　a　kiss　from　your　lips！〃

Butheita's　cheeks　blushed　crimson。　She　put　out　her　rosy　lips；　but　then　suddenly　drew　back　and　defended　herself　vigorously。

〃Did　I　not　tell　you　of　my　promise　to　my　father？　No　man　shall　ever　kiss　me　except　the　one　who　shall　lead　me　to　his　tent　as　his　wife。　It　is　well　that　father　is　coming。　Farewell；　sarechsme；　if　I　should　riot　see　you　again！　Farewell！　and　let　me　keep　my　vow！〃

She　gently　pushes　him　back；　and　flies　out　of　the　tent　to　meet　her　father。　Sheik　Arnhyn　recognizes　and　hails　her　with　a　shout　of　delight。

〃Butheita；　have　you　succeeded；　have　you　guarded　the　stranger　well？〃

〃I　have　taken　good　care　of　him；　come；　father；　and　see！〃　She　takes　her　father's　arm；　and；　without　looking　at　the　man　who　walks　close　behind　him；　draws　the　sheik　quickly　to　the　tent。

But　Mohammed；　with　a　proud　and　grave　expression　of　countenance；　advances　to　meet　them。　Butheita　now　hardly　recognizes；　in　the　haughty　sarechsme；　with　his　imperious　bearing；　the　stranger；　who　is　no　longer　a　stranger　to　her　heart。

〃Speak；　sheik！　How　dared　you　lead　me　away；　a　prisoner；　from　my　army？　Really；　you　were　very　presumptuous。　Such　conduct　is　calculated　to　excite　my　just　anger　and　indignation。〃

The　sheik　made　a　profound　obeisance。

〃I　trust　you　will　forgive　me；　sarechsme；　what　I　did　was　done　at　the　command　of　my　master。　There　he　comes；　he　is　called　Osman　Bey　Bardissi。　He　comes　crowned　with　victory；　and　will　treat　with　you。　Come；　Butheita；　what　they　have　to　say　to　each　other　does　not　concern　us；　we　have　done　our　duty；　and　I　have　performed　what　I　promised。　The　Mameluke　bey　has　also　kept　his　promise；　and　my　men　are　already　on　the　battlefield；　I；　too；　must　speedily　return；　my　child；　for　we　are　to　bring　home　costly　spoils。〃

While　walking　with　her　to　the　tent；　he　tells　her　of　the　splendid　caftans；　the　golden　vessels；　the　jewelled　daggers；　and　the　costly　arms；　that　he　has　already　gathered　from　the　field　of　battle。

In　the　mean　while　the　two　men　have　approached　each　other。　Now　they　stand　face　to　face；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　and　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　regard　each　other　with　a　long；　gloomy　look。　Both；　it　seems；　wish　to　avoid　being　the　first　to　speak　a　word　of　greeting。

Finally；　Osman　breaks　the　silence。　〃This；　Mohammed　Ali；　is　our　third　meeting。　The　first；　you　will　recollect；　was　at　Cavalla。　Two　boys；　both　ambitious；　addressed　each　other　in　tones　of　mockery　and　derision。　In　the　years　that　have　since　passed；　I　have　often　thought　of　the　boy　with　the　eagle　eyes　and　the　haughty；　contemptuous　smile。　Our　second　meeting　occurred　a　few　months　since；　after　the　massacre　at　Aboukir。　You　were　my　enemy；　and　yet　you　acted　as　my　friend。　You　saved　Osman　Bey　Bardissi's　life。　Then　I　said　to　you：　'I　will　remember　this；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　in　me　you　have　found　a　friend　for　all　time。'〃

〃Such　were　your　words；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；〃　replied　Mohammed；　his　voice　tremulous　with　anger；　〃and　now　I　have　received　a　proof　of　your　friendship！　You　have　had　me　snared　like　a　wild　beast；　and　abducted　from　my　camp　and　my　soldiers；　to　become　a　laughing…stock　for　them　and　an　object　of　derision　for　your　people。〃

Bardissi　shook　his　head　quietly。　〃You　are　in　error；　Mohammed　Ali；　none　of　my　men　know　what　has　occurred；　nor　do　I　believe　that　yours　do。　No　one　shall　ever