e--_couldn't_ we? I know you
have important business or something next month--_can't_ you put it
off?"

Hahmed looked at her for a moment, as she stood very fair and straight,
with her beautiful feet peeping from under her trailing gown; and
frowned a little, noticing the shadows round the big eyes, and the
suspicion of a collar-bone showing above the embroidery of her bodice.

"And why didst thou hesitate, little one, to ask--knowing as thou dost
that thy wish is law absolute to me? Business affairs, what are they?
Let them wait--let the world wait as long as thou art happy. Verily
thou art pale and thin------" Upon which unfortunate remark Jill
turned like the spitfire she had lately become.

"Seeing that you are allowed four wives, Hahmed, there is no reason to
bemoan your fate; this is not Europe, where once married you are for
ever tied to the one girl, who, a bud in her youth, may as time passes
turn to one of those dreadful cabbage-roses, which go purple and fat
with age. I'm sorry," she continued, as she held out both her hands,
"you simply must not notice me these days. I think I am bewitched--I
have even sent my darling old Ameena away because her deformity
suddenly irritated me, and I told Mustapha I would have him thrown as
breakfast to the cheetahs if he dared to make himself seen, and he
believed it, and no shampoo will _ever_ get the sand out of his hair."

"But he _shall_ be thrown to the cheetahs if it would please thee,
beloved!"

And the uncalculating cruelty in the man's voice sent the red to the
girl's white face, and moving over to him made her lean down and kiss
him upon the mouth.

And then she seated herself upon the ground and made tea, laughing like
a child when to please her the Arab drank it protestingly.

"By Allah! it is a poison which you drink in Europe, and yet you would
go and drink it in a crowded city."

"Are we going, Hahmed, oh Hahmed, _are_ we?" whispered Jill, half
afraid to break the spell by the raising of her voice.

"But of course, beloved--hast thou not expressed the wish--though
surely it were better to go to thine own dwelling, for it will go hard
with thee to keep thy face covered and remain undiscovered to thy many
friends, who doubtless will be seeking the solace of Egypt's winter
sun; for the time is not yet at hand when I will permit thee to make
thyself known to them."

But Jill was ready to accept anything as long as her craving could be
satisfied