an to bite her lips nervously... she did not hear what her
bridesmaids were chattering about ... her eyes went often, with that
stealth that invites regard, to the tiny platinum and diamond watch
upon her wrist.

Would they never finish? Would they never be free? She wondered if
she dared feign an illness to rise and leave them; but no, that
would mean solicitude, companions....

And now the slaves were bringing still another round of trays....

Oh, hurry, hurry, her tightening nerves besought.

At last! The older women were going. Not even for a wedding would
they deeply infringe upon that rule which keeps the Moslem women
indoors after the sun has set. Ceremoniously each made to the bride
her adieux and good wishes, and ceremoniously a frantically
impatient Aimee returned the formal thanks due for "assistance at
the humble fete."

She did not see that black mantle anywhere.

Her heart sank. Stupid, she told herself with quivering lips, to
dream that he could dare to linger, that he had any way to get her
out. By help he meant no more than getting letters to France for
her.... And yet his eyes when they had met hers.... Surely he had
meant--but when she had disappeared from the reception room to
attend the supper, when there seemed no way of speaking again to
her, and all the outsiders, all but the invited guests were
departed, he had been, obliged to go, too.

Perhaps some one had begun to notice him.... She wondered if he had
been careful about his shoes, his hands.... How had he managed about
the dress anyway?

And then she remembered that girl, that pretty American with the
ruddy hair to whom she had seen him talking, and she conjectured
that there was feminine aid and confidence....

A wave of bitterness swept over her. He had told that girl about
her--he knew that girl well enough to tell her! And perhaps he was
only sorry for the poor little French girl in the Turkish harem,
perhaps they were _both_ sorry....

Had he told that girl, she thought with bitter mutiny, that he had
kissed her?

That girl must have been very sure of him not to be jealous of his
interest in herself!

And now they could be somewhere together, perhaps talking her over,
while she was here ... here forever....

She was so white now, so silent, so distrait, that all the chatter
of the younger girls who were lingering around her could not dispel
the feeling of depression. They cast covert glances of discomfort at
each other