rchant at once began
to yearn towards her; yet he endeavored to restrain himself, and said,
"This beautiful thing is not for me." But the woman cried out, "Selima,
wilt thou consent to love this old man?" The girl gazed in his face
awhile, and then, folding her hands across her bosom, said, "Yes; for
there is goodness in his countenance." Fadlallah wept with joy; and,
returning to the city, announced his approaching marriage to his friends.
According to custom, they expressed civil surprise to his face; but, when
his back was turned, they whispered that he was an old fool, and had been
the dupe of a she-adventurer.

The marriage took place with ceremonies of royal magnificence; and Selima,
who passed unmoved from extreme poverty to abundant riches, seemed to
merit the position of the greatest lady in Beyrout. Never was woman more
prudent than she. No one ever knew her previous history, nor that of her
mother. Some said that a life of misery, perhaps of shame, was before
them, when this unexpected marriage took place. Selima's gratitude to
Fadlallah was unbounded; and out of gratitude grew love. The merchant
daily offered up thanks for the bright diamond which had come to shine in
his house.

In due time a child was born; a boy lively as his mother; and they named
him Halil. With what joy he was received, what festivities announced the
glad intelligence to the town, may easily be imagined. Selima and
Fadlallah resolved to devote themselves to his education, and determined
that he should be the most accomplished youth of Bar-er-Sham. But a long
succession of children followed, each more beautiful than the former--some
boys, some girls; and every new comer was received with additional delight
and still grander ceremonies; so that the people began to say, "Is this a
race of sovereigns?"

Now, Halil grew up to the age of twelve--still a charming lad; but the
parents always fully occupied by the last arrival, had not carried out
their project of education. He was as wild and untamed as a colt, and
spent more of his time in the street than in the company of his mother;
who, by degrees, began to look upon him with a kind of calm friendship due
to strangers. Fadlallah, as he took his accustomed walk with his merchant
friends, used from time to time to encounter a ragged boy fighting in the
streets with the sons of the Jew butcher; but his eyes beginning to grow
dim, he often passed without recognizing him. One day, however, Ha