gestures and poses of the plaster saints。 Yet as Domini touched her
forehead and breast with holy water； and knelt for a moment on the
stone floor； she was conscious that this rather pitiful house of God
moved her to an emotion she had not felt in the great and beautiful
churches to which she was accustomed in England and on the Continent。
Through the windows she saw the outlines of palm leaves vibrating in
the breeze； African fingers； feeling； with a sort of fluttering
suspicion； if not enmity； round the heart of this intruding religion；
which had wandered hither from some distant place； and； stayed；
confronting the burning glance of the desert。 Bold； little； humble
church！ Domini knew that she would love it。 But she did not know then
how much。
She wandered round slowly with a grave face。 Yet now and then； as she
stood by one of the plaster saints； she smiled。 They were indeed
strange offerings at the shrine of Him who held this Africa in the
hollow of His hand； of Him who had ordered the pageant of the sun
which she had seen last night among the mountains。 And presently she
and this little church in which she stood alone became pathetic in her
thoughts； and even the religion which the one came to profess in the
other pathetic too。 For here； in Africa； she began to realise the
wideness of the world； and that many things must surely seem to the
Creator what these plaster saints seemed just then to her。
〃Oh； how little； how little！〃 she whispered to herself。 〃Let me be
bigger！ Oh； let me grow； and here； not only hereafter！〃
The church door creaked。 She turned her head and saw the priest whom
she had met in the tunnel entering。 He came up to her at once； saluted
her； and said：
〃I saw you from my window； Madame； and thought I would offer to show
you our little church here。 We are very proud of it。〃
Domini liked his voice and his naive remark。 His face； too； though
undistinguished； looked honest； kind； and pathetic； but with a pathos
that was unaffected and quite unconscious。 The lower part of it was
hidden by a moustache and beard。
〃Thank you；〃 she answered。 〃I have been looking round already。〃
〃You are a Catholic； Madame？〃
〃Yes。〃
The priest looked pleased。 There was something childlike in the
mobility of his face。
〃I am glad；〃 he said simply。 〃We are not a rich community in Beni…
Mora； but we have been fortunate in bygone years。 Our great Cardinal；
the Father of Africa； loved this place and cherished his children
here。〃
〃Cardinal Lavigerie？〃
〃Yes； Madame。 His house is now a native hospital。 His statue faces the
beginning of the great desert road； But we remember him and his spirit
is still among us。〃
The priest's eyes lit up as he spoke。 The almost tragic expression of
his face changed to one of enthusiasm。
〃He loved Africa； I believe；〃 Domini said。
〃His heart was here。 And what he did！ I was to have been one of his
/freres armes/； but my health prevented； and afterwards the
association was dissolved。〃
The sad expression returned to his face。
〃There are many temptations in such a land and climate as this；〃 he
said。 〃And men are weak。 But there are still the White Fathers whom he
founded。 Glorious men。 They carry the Cross into the wildest places of
the world。 The most fanatical Arabs respect the White Marabouts。〃
〃You wish you were with them？〃
〃Yes； Madame。 But my health only permits me to be a humble parish
priest here。 Not all who desire to enter the most severe life can do
so。 If it were otherwise I should long since have been a monk。 The
Cardinal himself showed me that my duty lay in other paths。〃
He pointed out to Domini one or two things in the church which he
admired and thought worthy； the carving of the altar rail into grapes；
ears of corn； crosses； anchors； the white embroidered muslin that
draped the tabernacle； the statue of a bishop in a red and gold mitre
holding a staff and Bible； and another statue representing a saint
with a languid and consumptive expression stretching out a Bible； on
the leaves of which a tiny； smiling child was walking。
As they were about to leave the church he made Domini pause in front
of a painting of Saint Bruno dressed in a white monkish robe； beneath
which was written in gilt letters：
〃Saint Bruno ordonne a ses disciples
De renoncer aux biens terrestres
Pour acquerir les biens celestes。〃
The disciples stood around the saint in grotesque attitudes of pious
attention。
〃That； I think； is very beautiful；〃 he said。 〃Who could look at it
without feeling that the greatest act of man is renunciation？〃
His dark eyes flamed。 Just then a faint soprano bark came to them from
outside the church door； a very discreet and even humble； but at the
same time anxious； bark。 The priest's face changed。 The almost
passionate asceticism of it was replaced by a soft and gentle look。
〃Bous…Bous wants me；〃 he said； and he opened the door for Domini to
pass out。
A small white and yellow dog； very clean and well brushed； was sitting
on the step in an attentive attitude。 Directly the priest appeared it
began to wag its short tail violently and to run round his feet；
curving its body into semi…circles。 He bent down and patted it。
〃My little companion； Madame；〃 he said。 〃He was not with me yesterday；
as he was being washed。〃
Then he took off his hat and walked towards his house； accompanied by
Bous…Bous； who had suddenly assumed an air of conscious majesty； as of
one born to preside over the fate of an important personage。
Domini stood for a moment under the palm trees looking after them。
There was a steady shining in her eyes。
〃Madame is a Catholic too？〃 asked Batouch； staring steadily at her。
Domini nodded。 She did not want to discuss religion with an Arab minor
poet just then。
〃Take me to the market；〃 she said； mindful of her secret resolve to
get rid of her companion as soon as possible。
They set out across the gardens。
It was a celestial day。 All the clear； untempered light of the world
seemed to have made its home in Beni…Mora。 Yet the heat was not
excessive； for the glorious strength of the sun was robbed of its
terror； its possible brutality； by the bright and feathery dryness and
coolness of the airs。 She stepped out briskly。 Her body seemed
suddenly to become years younger； full of elasticity and radiant
strength。
〃Madame is very strong。 Madame walks like a Bedouin。〃
Batouch's voice sounded seriously astonished； and Domini burst out
laughing。
〃In England there are many strong women。 But I shall grow stronger
here。 I shall become a real Arab。 This air gives me life。〃
They were just reaching the road when there was a clatter of hoofs；
and a Spahi； mounted on a slim white horse； galloped past at a
tremendous pace； holding his reins high above the red peak of his
saddle and staring up at the sun。 Domini looked after him with
critical admiration。
〃You've got some good horses here；〃 she said when the Spahi had
disappeared。
〃Madame knows how to ride？〃
She laughed again。
〃I've ridden ever since I was a child。〃
〃You can buy a fine horse here for sixteen pounds；〃 remarked Batouch；
using the pronoun 〃tu；〃 as is the custom of the Arabs。
〃Find me a good horse； a horse with spirit； and I'll buy him；〃 Domini
said。 〃I want to go far out in the desert； far away from everything。〃
〃You must not go alone。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃There are bandits in the desert。〃
〃I'll take my revolver；〃 Domini said carelessly。 〃But I will go
alone。〃
They were in sight of the market now； and the hum of voices came to
them； with nasal cries； the whine of praying beggars； and the fierce
braying of donkeys。 At the end of the small street in which they were
Domini saw a wide open space； in the centre of which stood a quantity
of pillars supporting a peaked roof。 Round the sides of the square
were arcades swarming with Arabs； and under the central roof a mob of
figures came and went； as flies go and come on a piece of meat flung
out into a sunny place。
〃What a quantity of people！ Do they all live in Beni…Mora？〃 she asked。
〃No； they come from all parts of the desert to sell and to buy。 But
most of those who sell are Mozabites。〃
Little children in bright…coloured rags came dancing round Domini；
holding out their copper…coloured hands； and crying shrilly； 〃'Msee；
M'dame！ 'Msee； M'dame！〃 A deformed man； who looked like a distorted
beetle； crept round her feet； gazing up at her with eyes that squinted
horribly； and roaring in an imperative voice some Arab formula in
which the words 〃Allah…el…Akbar〃 continually recurred。 A tall negro；
with a long tuft of hair hanging from his shaven head； followed hard
upon her heels； rolling his bulging eyes； in which two yellow flames
were caught； and trying to engage her attention； though with what
object she could not imagine。 From all directions tall men with naked
arms and legs； and fluttering white garments； came slowly towards her；
staring intently at her with lustrous eyes； whose expression seemed to
denote rather a calm and dignified appraisement than any vulgar
curiosity。 Boys； with the whitest teeth she had ever beheld； and
flowers above their well…shaped； delicate ear