is love。'〃
He was silent； but his face still spoke to her； his eyes read her
eyes。 And in that moment at last they understood each other fully and
for ever。 〃It was written〃that was Domini's thought〃it was written
by God。〃 Far away the church bell chimed。
〃Boris；〃 Domini said quietly； 〃we must go to…day。 We must leave Beni…
Mora。 You know that？〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I know。〃
He looked out into the garden。 The almost fierce resolution； that had
something in it of triumph； faded from him。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃this is the end； the real end； forthere； it will
all be differentit will be terrible。〃
〃Let us sit here for a little while together；〃 Domini said； 〃and be
quiet。 Is it like the garden of El…Largani； Boris？〃
〃No。 But when I first came here； when I saw the white walls； the great
door； when I saw the poor Arabs gathered there to receive alms； it
made me feel almost as if I were at El…Largani。 That was why〃 he
paused。
〃I understand； Boris； I understand everything now。〃
And then they were silent。 Such a silence as theirs was then could
never be interpreted to others。 In it the sorrows； the aspirations；
the struggles； the triumphs； the torturing regrets； the brave
determinations of poor； great； feeble； noble humanity were enclosed as
in a casketa casket which contains many kinds of jewels； but surely
none that are not precious。
And the garden listened； and beyond the garden the desert listened
that other garden of Allah。 And in this garden was not Allah； too；
listening to this silence of his children； this last mutual silence of
theirs in the garden where they had wandered； where they had loved；
where they had learned a great lesson and drawn near to a great
victory？
They might have sat thus for hours； they had lost all count of time。
But presently； in the distance among the trees； there rose a light；
frail sound that struck into both their hearts like a thin weapon。 It
was the flute of Larbi； and it reminded themof what did it not
remind them？ All their passionate love of the body； all their
lawlessness； all the joy of liberty and of life； of the barbaric life
that is liberty； all their wandering in the great spaces of the sun；
were set before them in Larbi's fluttering tune； that was like the
call of a siren； the call of danger； the call of earth and of earthly
things； summoning them to abandon the summons of the spirit。 Domini
got up swiftly。
〃Come； Boris；〃 she said； without looking at him。
He obeyed her and rose to his feet。
〃Let us go to the wall；〃 she said； 〃and look out once more on the
desert。 It must be nearly noon。 Perhapsperhaps we shall hear the
call to prayer。〃
They walked down the winding alleys towards the edge of the garden。
The sound of the flute of Larbi died away gradually into silence。 Soon
they saw before them the great spaces of the Sahara flooded with the
blinding glory of the summer sunlight。 They stood and looked out over
it from the shelter of some pepper trees。 No caravans were passing。 No
Arabs were visible。 The desert seemed utterly empty； given over；
naked； to the dominion of the sun。 While they stood there the nasal
voice of the Mueddin rose from the minaret of the mosque of Beni…Mora；
uttered its fourfold cry； and died away。
〃Boris；〃 Domini said； 〃that is for the Arabs； but for us； too； for we
belong to the garden of Allah as they do； perhaps even more than
they。〃
〃Yes； Domini。〃
She remembered how； long ago； Count Anteoni had stood there with her
and repeated the words of the angel to the Prophet； and she murmured
them now：
〃O thou that art covered； arise； and magnify thy Lord； and purify thy
clothes； and depart from uncleanness。〃
Then； standing side by side； they prayed； looking at the desert。
CHAPTER XXX
In the evening of that day they left Beni…Mora。
Domini wished to go quietly； but； knowing the Arabs； she feared it
would be impossible。 Nevertheless； when she paid Batouch in the hotel
and thanked him for all his services； she said：
〃We'll say adieu here； Batouch。〃
The poet displayed a large surprise。
〃But I will accompany Madame to the station。 I will〃
〃It is not necessary。〃
Batouch looked offended but obstinate。 His ample person became almost
rigid。
〃If I am not at the station； Madame； what will Hadj think； and Ali；
and Ouardi； and〃
〃They will be there？〃
〃Of course； Madame。 Where else should they be？ Does Madame wish to
leave us like a thief in the night； or like〃
〃No； no； Batouch。 I am very grateful to you all； but especially to
you。〃
Batouch began to smile。
〃Madame has entered into our hearts as no other stranger has ever
done；〃 he remarked。 〃Madame understands the Arabs。 We shall all come
to say /au revoir/ and to wish Madame and Monsieur a happy journey。〃
For the moment the irony of her situation struck Domini so forcibly
that she could say nothing。 She only looked at Batouch in silence。
〃What is it？ But I know。 Madame is sad at leaving the desert； at
leaving Beni…Mora。〃
〃Yes； Batouch。 I am sad at leaving Beni…Mora。〃
〃But Madame will return？〃
〃Who knows？〃
〃I know。 The desert has a spell。 He who has once seen the desert must
see it again。 The desert calls and its voice is always heard。 Madame
will hear it when she is far away； and some day she will feel； 'I must
come back to the land of the sun and to the beautiful land of
forgetfulness。'〃
〃I shall see you at the station； Batouch；〃 Domini said quickly。 〃Good…
bye till then。〃
The train for Tunis started at sundown； in order that the travellers
might avoid the intense heat of the day。 All the afternoon they kept
within doors。 The Arabs were sleeping in dark rooms。 The gardens were
deserted。 Domini could not sleep。 She sat near the French window that
opened on to the verandah and said a silent good…bye to life。 For that
was what she feltthat life was leaving her； life with its intensity；
its fierce meaning。 She had come out of a sort of death to find life
in Beni…Mora； and now she felt that she was going back again to
something that would be like death。 After her strife there came a
numbness of the spirit； a heavy dullness。 Time passed and she sat
there without moving。 Sometimes she looked at the trunks lying on the
floor ready for the journey； at the labels on which was written 〃Tunis
/via/ Constantine。〃 And then she tried to imagine what it would be
like to travel in the train after her long travelling in the desert；
and what it would be like to be in a city。 But she could not。 The heat
was intense。 Perhaps it affected her mind through her body。 Faintly；
far down in her mind and heart； she knew that she was wishing； even
longing； to realise all that these last hours in Beni…Mora meant； to
gather up in them all the threads of her life and her sensations
there； to survey； as from a height； the panorama of the change that
had come to her in Africa。 But she was frustrated。
The hours fled； and she remained cold； listless。 Often she was hardly
thinking at all。 When the Arab servant came in to tell her that it was
time to start for the station she got up slowly and looked at him
vaguely。
〃Time to go already？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； Madame。 I have told Monsieur。〃
〃Very well。〃
At this moment Androvsky came into the room。
〃The carriage is waiting；〃 he said。
She felt almost as if a stranger was speaking to her。
〃I am ready；〃 she said。
And without looking round the room she went downstairs and got into
the carriage。
They drove to the station without speaking。 She had not seen Father
Roubier。 Androvsky took the tickets。 When they came out upon the
platform they found there a small crowd of Arab friends； with Batouch
in command。 Among them were the servants who had accompanied them upon
their desert journey； and Hadj。 He came forward smiling to shake
hands。 When she saw him Domini remembered Irena； and； forgetting that
it is not etiquette to inquire after an Arab's womenfolk； she said：
〃Ah； Hadj； and are you happy now？ How is Irena？〃
Hadj's face fell； and he showed his pointed teeth in a snarl。 For a
moment he hesitated； looking round at the other Arabs。 Then he said：
〃I am always happy； Madame。〃
Domini saw that she had made a mistake。 She took out her purse and
gave him five francs。
〃A parting present；〃 she said。
Hadj shook his head with recovered cheerfulness； tucked in his chin
and laughed。 Domini turned away； shook hands with all her dark
acquaintances； and climbed up into the train； followed by Androvsky。
Batouch sprang upon the step as the porter shut the door。
〃Madame！〃 he exclaimed。
〃What is it； Batouch？〃
〃To…day you have put Hadj to shame。〃
He smiled broadly。
〃I？ How？ What have I done？〃
〃Irena is dancing at Onargla； far away in the desert beyond Amara。〃
〃Irena！ But〃
〃She could not live shut up in a room。 She could not wear the veil for
Hadj。〃
〃But then？〃
〃She has divorced him； Madame。 It is easy here。 For a few francs one
can〃
The whistle sounded。 The train jerked。 Batouch seized her hand； seized
Androvsky's； sprang back to the platform。
〃Good…bye； Batouch！ Good…bye； Ouardi！ Good…bye； Smain！〃
The train moved on。 As it reached the end of the platform Domini saw
an