y, as soon as the door was closed; "if all
French officers were like this one, Tom, I think we shall not care how
long we stay in the Desert----"

"Your heart has very quickly ceased to bleed for the poor Arabs, I see."

"But how can we be sure that Dominique's stories are all true? No, Tom;
I won't believe any harm of this kind-looking Commandant. I only wish he
had not come till the room was tidied and I had got on a muslin frock,
but, as we are sure of having no more visitors, I'll finish your room
and then unpack."

We were fairly at our work again, when another military step sounded,
and another sword rattled in the passage outside. This time Dominique's
arm swung back the door with less pomposity, and Dominique's voice was a
trifle less emphatic as he ushered in "M. le Capitaine."

Again Mary and I scuttled about like young rabbits, and then stood
still, staring shyly, and again our embarrassment was met by the calmest
nonchalance. The second figure was a man of much more presence than the
Commandant. He had the polished, graceful ease of a man of the world,
and, though quite as good-natured as the Commandant, his good-nature
pleased us less, because it was less spontaneous.

"I hope you will stay some time at Teschoun," he said, looking at Mary.
"The ennui of our lives here is terrible. Think of it, mademoiselle; we
have no theatre, no music, no society, and no domestic life. To find a
lady here is like the miraculous advent of an angel." Mary blushed, and
had no courage to make the sprightly answers she had made the
Commandant.

The fine air and grand compliments of the Capitaine overcame the little
thing, but she looked distractingly pretty as she sat opposite to him,
smiling and blushing when he addressed her, and only saying, "Oui,
monsieur," or "Non, monsieur," or at most, "Vraiment, monsieur."

"Does mademoiselle ride?" asked the gallant Capitaine.

"Oui, monsieur."

"Then mademoiselle shall ride my little barb; there is hardly such a
horse anywhere, mademoiselle, so docile, so sweet-tempered, and so
sure-footed. It is not every lady I would trust with my little horse;
but I know how an Englishwoman can sit in the saddle, and I am proud to
offer it to mademoiselle."

"Je vous remercie bien, monsieur."

Then the Capitaine talked of Christmas-day.

"We will have a little fete-champetre in mademoiselle's honor," he said;
"we will go to the great water-falls of Boisel-Kebir and breakfast there.
I