rs and papers.

"Are you disappointed, Ruby?"

"No, because we don't need any one. But you roused my expectation, and
then played a cold douche upon it, you tiresome person!"

There was a sort of muffled crossness in her voice, but as she passed
the powder-puff over her face her eyes and her lips were smiling. Nigel
leaned his arm upon the table.

"Ruby," he said.

"Well--what is it?"

She stopped powdering.

"I wish you wouldn't do--all that."

"All what?"

"All those things to your face. You are beautiful. I wish you would
leave your face alone."

"I do, practically. I only try to save it a little from the sun. You
wouldn't have me look like the wife of one of what Ibrahim calls 'the
fellaheen peoples,' would you?"

"I want you to look as natural and simple as you always are with me. I
don't mean that you are simple in mind, of course. I am speaking of your
manner."

"My dear Nigel, who is affected nowadays? But I really mustn't look like
the fellaheen peoples. Ibrahim would be shocked."

Nevertheless, she put the powder-puff down.

"You don't trust your own beauty, Ruby," he said.

She sat back and looked at him very gravely, as if his remark had made a
strong impression upon her. Then she looked into the mirror, then she
looked again at him.

"You think I should be wise to trust it as much as that?"

"Of course you would."

He laid his hand on hers.

"You are blossoming here in Egypt, but you hardly let one know it when
you put things on your face."

She gazed again into the glass in silence.

"Any letters for me?" she said, at last.

"I haven't looked yet. I walked with Baroudi on the bank. He's joined
his dahabeeyah, and is going up to Armant to see to his affairs in the
sugar business up there."

"Oh!"

"I believe he only stays till to-morrow or Wednesday. He invited me to
go over to his boat and have a look at it this afternoon."

"Are you going?"

"I told him I'd let him know. Shall I go?"

"Don't you want to?"

"I should like to see the boat, but--you see, he's half an Oriental, and
perhaps he didn't think it was the proper thing to do, but--"

"He didn't invite me. Why should he? Go, Nigel. You want a man's society
sometimes. You mustn't always sit in my pocket. And besides, you're just
off to the Fayyum. I must get accustomed to an occasional lonely hour."

He pressed his hand on hers.

"I shall soon come back. And soon you shall come with me there."

"I love this