mohammed ali and his house-第91部分

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eita；　because　I　am　not　willing　the　rude　wind　should　kiss　the　cheek　of　my　beloved；　unwilling　the　stars　should　gaze　down　on　you　in　your　loveliness；　unwilling　the　moon　should　adorn　your　countenance　with　its　lustre。　I；　alone；　will　adorn　you；　I；　alone；　will　gaze　on　your　loveliness；　and　my　sighs；　alone；　shall　kiss　your　cheeks！　Yes；　Butheita；　you　belong　to　me　alone；　and　shall　be　my　slave；　as　I　am　your　slave；　and　yet　your　master。　Shake　your　head　if　you　will。　I　am　your　master；　for　you　love　me。　You　shake　your　head　again？　You　mean　to　say　you　hate　me！　I　don't　believe　it。Onward；　my　dromedary；　speed　through　the　desert！　Onward；　my　Alpha！〃

The　dromedary　moves　on　still　more　rapidly　over　the　desert；　its　shadow　dances　beside　them　on　the　sand；　and　behind　them　the　shadow　of　the　Nubian's　steed。

The　moon　grows　pale；　the　stars　vanish；　day　is　beginning　to　dawn。　As　the　sun　rises；　they　reach　their　destination。

The　dromedary　stops　at　the　little　gate　at　the　end　of　the　park。　Achmed　dismounts；　and　opens　the　gate。　Mohammed　has　lifted　Butheita　from　the　palanquin；　and　now　carries　his　precious　burden　into　the　park。

All　are　asleep　in　the　palace。　The　two　glide　softly　through　the　park　to　the　door　of　the　harem。　Achmed　unlocks　it；　and　Mohammed　ascends　the　stairway　with　noiseless　footsteps。　No　one　hears　or　sees　him。　Achmed　hastens　back　to　care　for　the　horse　and　the　dromedary。　Mohammed　carries　the　precious　burden；　that　lies　quietly　in　his　arms；　through　the　suite　of　glittering　apartments。　Butheita　sees　nothing　of　the　splendor　through　which　they　pass；　and；　if　she　saw　it；　would　not　heed　it。

What　cares　she　for　gilded　rooms！　the　desert　puts　on　more　glorious　attire　with　each　day's　dawn；　and　nothing　can　be　more　sublime　than　the　sphinx　near　the　great　pyramids。　He　who　has　seen　that　is　astonished　at　nothing　else；　to　him　all　things　in　the　houses　of　men　seem　petty。

Mohammed　is　aware　of　this；　and　he　understands　the　heart　of　the　girl　he　bears　in　his　arms；　he　now　enters　the　large　room　at　the　end　of　the　apartments　of　the　harem。　Here　he　gently　lays　her　down；　and　locks　the　door。　The　sun　has　risen　and　gilds　with　its　light　the　lattice…work　of　the　windows；　throwing　little　crimson　circles　on　the　mat　that　covers　the　floor。　Mohammed　unties　the　silken　scarf　that　binds　Butheita's　feet；　and　assists　her　to　stand　up。

He　also　unties　the　scarf　that　binds　her　hands；　and　she　now　stands　before　him　with　her　face　veiled。　He　gently　removes　the　cuffei　from　her　head。　Her　large　black　eyes　glance　around　the　wide　space；　and　she　sees　the　tent　that　looks　exactly　like　her　father's。　She　turns　her　eyes　on　Mohammed　with　a　loving　glance。　He　draws　her　to　his　heart。

〃Are　you　still　resolved；　Butheita；　that　he　only　shall　kiss　you　who　leads　you　to　his　tent　as　his　wife。　And　will　you　only　allow　him　to　kiss　you　at　the　door　of　the　tent？〃

〃I　am　still　so　resolved！〃　she　exclaims；　but　in　joyous　tones。　〃I　am　still　so　resolved！〃

Mohammed　lifts　her　in　his　arms　and　carries　her　to　the　tent。

〃Butheita；　this　is　my　tent！　I　lead　you　into　it　as　my　wife。　Butheita；　may　I　now　kiss　you？〃

She　makes　no　answer；　but；　with　a　loud　cry；　throws　herself　upon　his　breast；　and　kisses　him　passionately。　Mohammed　encircles　Butheita　with　his　arms；　and　bears　her　into　his　tent。




CHAPTER　XVII

CONCLUSION。


THE　citadel　presents　a　scene　of　great　animation；　its　apartments；　especially　those　in　which　the　viceroy's　eons　are　to　reside；　are　richly　adorned　and　hung　with　flowers。　All　the　doors　are　thrown　open；　and　a　number　of　richly…attired　female　slaves　are　standing　in　the　hall　at　the　head　of　the　grand　stairway　which　is　covered　with　costly　carpets　from　Damascus。

The　citadel　has　put　on　festive　attire　in　honor　of　the　wife　and　sons　of　the　viceroy　Mohammed　Ali；　who　are　expected　to　arrive　to…day。

The　people　are　repairing　in　vast　numbers　to　Boulak　on　the　shore　of　the　Nile；　where　the　viceroy　is　to　receive　his　family；　and　it　is　whispered　among　them　that　she　who　has　resided　in　the　palace　of　the　Esbekieh　is　not　his　first；　but　a　second　wife。　No　one　has　seen　her；　but　very　beautiful　she　must　be；　else　her　husband　would　not　guard　her　so　closely。　No　one　has　seen　her；　but　a　woman　certainly　dwells　there　in　the　harem；　its　windows　are　lighted　up　at　night；　and　eunuchs　stand　guard　outside；　veiled　slaves　have　also　been　seen　going　in　and　out　of　the　palace。　Yes；　the　harem　has　an　occupant；　but　it　is　only　the　second　wife　who　lives　there；　the　first　is　to　arrive　to…day　with　her　sons　from　Alexandria！

The　people　repair　in　vast　numbers　to　Boulak；　to　be　present　at　the　reunion　of　the　family　of　their　viceroy；　who　has　already　made　himself　beloved　by　his　subjects。　He　throws　money　among　the　poor　when　he　drives　through　Cairo。　He　is　just；　and　punishes　the　guilty　with　perfect　impartiality；　the　fellah　and　courtier　alike。

Mohammed；　accompanied　by　his　officers；　has　ridden　down　to　Boulak；　where　two　landings　have　been　prepared；　and　richly　adorned　with　carpets；　flowers；　and　overhanging　silken　awnings。　Here；　at　the　landing　where　the　viceroy　and　his　generals　are　waiting；　will　the　sons；　and　at　the　other；　where　the　women　stand；　will　the　wife　arrive。

The　viceroy；　erect　in　his　stirrups；　looks　down　the　river；　and　he　is　the　first　to　discover　the　red　flags　that　appear　above　the　horizon。　The　sight　of　the　father　is　keener　than　that　of　the　curious。　A　smile　lights　up　his　countenance；　and　he　turns　to　Hassan；　who　stands　beside　him。　〃They　are　coming；　Hassan；　my　sons　are　coming！〃

〃Yes；　they　are　coming！　The　princes　are　coming！〃　cry　the　people。　The　splendid　vessel　approaches　nearer　and　nearer；　the　flags　flutter　gayly　in　the　sunshine；　and　now　Mohammed　sees　the　three　figures；　standing　on　the　deck；　waving　white　handkerchiefs　in　their　outstretched　hands。　These　are　his　sons。　How　changed　the　three　boys　seem　to　the　father！　These　are　no　longer　boys；　they　are　now　youths。　It　is；　however；　not　strange　that　they　have　altered　in　appearance；　great　changes　take　place　in　five　years。

The　vessel　lands；　and　his　sons　spring　quickly　to　the　shore。　The　viceroy；　Mohammed　Ali；　had　determined　to　make　the　meeting　a　theatrical　spectacle　for　the　people。　The　people　love　such　spectacles；　and　they　were　to　be　permitted　to　look　into　the　sanctuary　of　his　domestic　life　as　through　a　glass　door。　Such　had　been　his　purpose。　But　at　the　moment；　all　this　is　forgotten；　and　it　is　not　the　viceroy；　dismounting　in　a　stately　manner　from　his　horse　to　receive　his　sons；　his　first　servants；　it　is　only　the　father　who　springs　with　a　single　bound　from　his　saddle；　encircles　his　three　sons　in　one　embrace；　presses　them　to　his　heart；　and　kisses　them　tenderly。

The　people　shout　with　delight；　〃Long　live　our　viceroy　and　the　princes！〃　The　guns　of　the　citadel　thunder　forth　a　greeting；　and　announce　to　the　people　that　the　viceroy　no　longer　rules　alone；　but　that　his　sons　now　rule　with　him。　The　welfare　of　the　land　is　assured；　for　the　existence　of　the　ruling　house　is　assured。

The　young　princes　mount　the　horses　held　in　readiness　for　them；　and　ride　into　the　city　bide　their　father。　The　thunder　of　the　cannon　resounds　continuously；　shout　after　shout　rends　the　air；　the　band　of　the　regiment　of　soldiers　that　had　been　drawn　up　at　the　landing　to　receive　the　princes；　joins　in　the　acclaim　with　merry　strains　of　music；　and　the　regiment　falls　into　line；　and　marches　behind　the　viceroy　and　his　suite。　Dense　masses　of　people；　Turks　and　Armenians；　Copts　and　Jews；　Arabs　and　fellahs；　throng　the　streets　through　which　they　pass。　On　the　imposing　procession　moves　toward　the　citadel。

At　the　same　time　a　splendid　debahieh　has　landed　at　the　second　place；　it　is　the　wife　of　Mohammed　Ali；　who　stands　on　the　deck。　No　soldiers；　and　in　fact　no　men；　await　her　on　the　shore。　A　wide　space　about　the　landing　is　kept　free　by　the　eunuchs；　who　drive　the　curious　back　with　threatening　gestures。　Hundreds　of　women　stand　on　either　side　of　the　landing…place　in　long　rows；　their　heads　enveloped　in　long　white　veils　that　fall　down　over　the　splendid　dresses　glittering　with　silver　embroidery。

Mohammed　has　commanded　that　all　the　women　of　Cairo　should　go　down　to　Boulak　to　meet　his　wife　Ada；　and　obey　they　must；　they　well　know；　for　he　is　certain　to　punish　disobedience　to　his　commands。　They　were　also　to　tender　her　presents　upon　their　arrival　at　the　palace。

She　stands　on　the　deck；　gazing　around　with　indifference　at　the　spectacle　before　her。　She　is　looking　for　him　onlyfor　her　husband。　But　he　is　nowhere　to　be　seen。　He　does　not　receive　her。　It　would　probably　not　become　the　great　ruler　to　welcome　his　wife　before　the　world。　No　one　must　perceive　that　the　viceroy　is　also　a　husband；　a　man！

Yes；　she　has　already　heard　of　this：　the　heart　must　not　be　laid　bare　to　the　world；　for　the　world　ridicules　it。

This　is　why　Mohammed　is　not　there。　She　draws　her　veil　more　closely　about　her；　and；　conducted　by　the　eunuchs；　descends　slowly　the　stairway；　strewed　with　flowers；　to　the　landing…place；　where　the　women　press　forward　to　greet　her。

〃Welcome；　Sitta　Ada！　Blessed　be　your　coming！　Allah's　blessings　upon　you；　Sitta　Ada！〃

Hundreds　of　voices　repeat　the　words。　She　is　glad　to　escape　these　noisy　greetings　by　entering　the　gilded　coach　that　now　drives　up　to　the　landing…place。　The　equipage　moves　on　slowly；　followed　by　the　procession　of　women　who　are　to　accompany　her　to　the　citadel。

It　is　well　that　the　curtains　are　drawn　over　the　windows　of　the　carriage；　and　that　no　one　can　see　the　tears　that　burst　from　Sitta　Ada's　eyes；　or　hear　the　sighs　that　escape　her　breast。

〃Oh　that　I　had　remained　in　Cavalla！　This　cold　splendor　alarms　me！　Would　that　Mohammed　had　received　me　quietly；　pressed　me　to　his　heart　and　said；　‘Welcome；　Adawelcome　to　my　heart　and　home！〃

Is　she　welcome？　He　rejoices　in　his　sons；　now　growing　up　to　manhood　and　soon　to　accompany　him　to　battle　and　become　heroes。　In　his　joy　over　his　sons；　he　has　forgotten　the　wife　who　is　now　approaching　the　citadel　with　her　brilliant　suite。　He　is　first　reminded　of　her　presence　by　the　thunder　of　the　guns　that　announce　her　arrival　at　the　citadel。　The　reception　must；　however；　be　completed。　He　has　arranged　every　thing　with　the　master　of　ceremonies；　who　is　to　conduct　his　queen　into　the　grand　audience…chamber　to　the　throne　that　stands　on　a　scaffold　under　a　purple　canopy。

Ada's　heart　trembles　as　she　approaches　it；　and　her　thoughts　are　with　the　house　in　Cavalla。　Oh　that　Mohammed　A