sure I did not enliven the meal for myself by my
usual humorous observations: to the officer, for example, that I was
doubtful whether the beef was camel, or the mutton was donkey. Ali
seemed rather surprised, especially when I asked him, abruptly, who it
was that sang so sweetly in the neighborhood.

He did not know! My curiosity was unsatisfied; but, perhaps, I went to
bed that night with a fuller gush of happiness at my heart than if I had
heard this prosy fellow's account of the matter. It is a frequent
subject of meditation with me, whether or not I am constituted as other
men are. Are others played upon in this way by some slight
occurrence--by meeting with a face seen before only in a dream, by a
peculiar smile, by a gesture, by a sigh, by a voice singing in the
darkness? If not, who will understand the delicious watchful hours I
passed that night, or the dreams, spangled with bright eyes, fairy
forms, purple clouds, golden gleams, and buzzing with sweeter warblings
than ever rolled in a nightingale's throat, that lured me on until
morning?

Naturally, the first inquiries I made were about the voice; but I did
not that day meet with any success. When evening approached, I again
went up to the terrace; and, not to lengthen the story, I did see, just
as the sun went down upon a low house not very far off, but looking into
another street, a little fairy figure walking up and down, and leading a
child by the hand. A kind of instinct told me that the voice was
embodied before me; and, presently, all doubt was set at rest. The same
silver tones rose upon the air; and this time I recognized that the song
was in the Greek language. I remained looking intently in that
direction, until the form faded into a mere shadow; and then, as
darkness increased, seemed to multiply before my aching eyes, and assume
all sorts of fantastical shapes. Every now and then, a couplet, or a
stanza, came sweeping up. It was evident the lady, whoever she might
be, was not singing merely to amuse the child. The notes were sometimes
lively, but, in general, sad and plaintive. I listened long after the
last quaver had died away; and was rather sulky when Ali came with the
persevering joke that "the camel was getting cold!"

Next day I suddenly remembered that an old Greek priest had frequently
invited me to go to his house; and reproaching myself with the want of
politeness I had hitherto exhibited, I ordered my donkey to be saddled,
and start