conscious。 He seemed afraid to eat and refused the gazelle。 Mustapha
broke out into turbulent surprise and prolonged explanations of the
delicious flavour of this desert food。 But Androvsky still refused；
looking desperately disconcerted。
〃It really is delicious；〃 said Domini； who was eating it。 〃But perhaps
you don't care about meat。〃
She spoke quite carelessly and was surprised to see him look at her as
if with sudden suspicion and immediately help himself to the gazelle。
This man was perpetually giving a touch of the whip to her curiosity
to keep it alert。 Yet she felt oddly at ease with him。 He seemed
somehow part of her impression of the desert； and now； as they sat
under the fig tree between the high earth walls； and at their /al
fresco/ meal in unbroken silencefor since her last remark Androvsky
had kept his eyes down and had not uttered a wordshe tried to
imagine the desert without him。
She thought of the gorge of El…Akbara； the cold； the darkness； and
then the sun and the blue country。 They had framed his face。 She
thought of the silent night when the voice of the African hautboy had
died away。 His step had broken its silence。 She thought of the garden
of Count Anteoni； and of herself kneeling on the hot sand with her
arms on the white parapet and gazing out over the regions of the sun；
of her dream upon the tower； of her vision when Irena danced。 He was
there； part of the noon； part of the twilight； chief surely of the
worshippers who swept on in the pale procession that received gifts
from the desert's hands。 She could no longer imagine the desert
without him。 The almost painful feeling that had come to her in the
gardenof the human power to distract her attention from the desert
powerwas dying； perhaps had completely died away。 Another feeling
was surely coming to replace it； that Androvsky belonged to the desert
more even than the Arabs did； that the desert spirits were close about
him； clasping his hands； whispering in his ears； and laying their
unseen hands about his heart。 But
They had finished their meal。 Domini set her chair once more in front
of the sluggish stream； while honest Mustapha bounded； with motions
suggestive of an ostentatious panther； to get the coffee。 Androvsky
followed her after an instant of hesitation。
〃Do smoke；〃 she said。
He lit a small cigar with difficulty。 She did not wish to watch him；
but she could not help glancing at him once or twice； and the
conviction came to her that he was unaccustomed to smoking。 She lit a
cigarette； and saw him look at her with a sort of horrified surprise
which changed to staring interest。 There was more boy； more child in
this man than in any man she had ever known。 Yet at moments she felt
as if he had penetrated more profoundly into the dark and winding
valleys of experience than all the men of her acquaintance。
〃Monsieur Androvsky；〃 she said； looking at the slow waters of the
stream slipping by towards the hidden gardens； 〃is the desert new to
you？〃
She longed to know。
〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃I thought perhapsI wondered a little whether you had travelled in
it already。〃
〃No； Madame。 I saw it for the first time the day before yesterday。〃
〃When I did。〃
〃Yes。〃
So they had entered it for the first time together。 She was silent；
watching the pale smoke curl up through the shade and out into the
glare of the sun； the lizards creeping over the hot earth； the flies
circling beneath the lofty walls； the palm trees looking over into
this garden from the gardens all around； gardens belonging to Eastern
people； born here； and who would probably die here； and go to dust
among the roots of the palms。
On the earthen bank on the far side of the stream there appeared；
while she gazed； a brilliant figure。 It came soundlessly on bare feet
from a hidden garden； a tall； unveiled girl； dressed in draperies of
vivid magenta； who carried in her exquisitely…shaped brown hands a
number of handkerchiefsscarlet； orange； yellow green and flesh
colour。 She did not glance into the /auberge/ garden； but caught up
her draperies into a bunch with one hand； exposing her slim legs far
above the knees； waded into the stream； and bending； dipped the
handkerchiefs in the water。
The current took them。 They streamed out on the muddy surface of the
stream； and tugged as if； suddenly endowed with life； they were
striving to escape from the hand that held them。
The girl's face was beautiful； with small regular features and
lustrous； tender eyes。 Her figure； not yet fully developed； was
perfect in shape； and seemed to thrill softly with the spirit of
youth。 Her tint of bronze suggested statuary； and every fresh pose
into which she fell； while the water eddied about her； strengthened
the suggestion。 With the golden sunlight streaming upon her； the brown
banks； the brown waters； the brown walls throwing up the crude magenta
of her bunched…up draperies； the vivid colours of the handkerchiefs
that floated from her hand； with the feathery palms beside her； the
cloudless blue sky above her； she looked so strangely African and so
completely lovely that Domini watched her with an almost breathless
attention。
She withdrew the handkerchiefs from the stream； waded out； and spread
them one by one upon the low earth wall to dry； letting her draperies
fall。 When she had finished disposing them she turned round； and； no
longer preoccupied with her task； looked under her level brows into
the garden opposite and saw Domini and her companion。 She did not
start； but stood quite still for a moment； then slipped away in the
direction whence she had come。 Only the brilliant patches of colour on
the wall remained to hint that she had been there and would come
again。 Domini sighed。
〃What a lovely creature！〃 she said； more to herself than to Androvsky。
He did not speak； and his silence made her consciously demand his
acquiescence in her admiration。
〃Did you ever see anything more beautiful and more characteristic of
Africa？〃 she asked。
〃Madame；〃 he said in a slow； stern voice； 〃I did not look at her。〃
Domini felt piqued。
〃Why not？〃 she retorted。
Androvsky's face was cloudy and almost cruel。
〃These native women do not interest me；〃 he said。 〃I see nothing
attractive in them。〃
Domini knew that he was telling her a lie。 Had she not seen him
watching the dancing girls in Tahar's cafe？ Anger rose in her。 She
said to herself then that it was anger at man's hypocrisy。 Afterwards
she knew that it was anger at Androvsky's telling a lie to her。
〃I can scarcely believe that；〃 she answered bluntly。
They looked at each other。
〃Why not； Madame？〃 he said。 〃If I say it is so？〃
She hesitated。 At that moment she realised； with hot astonishment；
that there was something in this man that could make her almost
afraid； that could prevent her even； perhaps； from doing the thing she
had resolved to do。 Immediately she felt hostile to him； and she knew
that； at that moment； he was feeling hostile to her。
〃If you say it is so naturally I am bound to take your word for it；〃
she said coldly。
He flushed and looked down。 The rigid defiance that had confronted her
died out of his face。
Honest Mustapha broke joyously upon them with the coffee。 Domini
helped Androvsky to it。 She had to make a great effort to perform this
simple act with quiet； and apparently indifferent； composure。
〃Thank you； Madame。〃
His voice sounded humble； but she felt hard and as if ice were in all
her veins。 She sipped her coffee； looking straight before her at the
stream。 The magenta robe appeared once more coming out from the brown
wall。 A yellow robe succeeded it； a scarlet； a deep purple。 The girl；
with three curious young companions； stood in the sun examining the
foreigners with steady； unflinching eyes。 Domini smiled grimly。 Fate
gave her an opportunity。 She beckoned to the girls。 They looked at
each other but did not move。 She held up a bit of silver so that the
sun was on it； and beckoned them again。 The magenta robe was lifted
above the pretty knees it had covered。 The yellow； the scarlet； the
deep purple robes rose too； making their separate revelations。 And the
four girls； all staring at the silver coin； waded through the muddy
water and stood before Domini and Androvsky； blotting out the glaring
sunshine with their young figures。 Their smiling faces were now eager
and confident； and they stretched out their delicate hands hopefully
to the silver。 Domini signified that they must wait a moment。
She felt full of malice。
The girls wore many ornaments。 She began slowly and deliberately to
examine them； the huge gold earrings that were as large as the little
ears that sustained them； the bracelets and anklets； the triangular
silver skewers that fastened the draperies across the gentle swelling
breasts； the narrow girdles； worked with gold thread； and hung with
lumps of coral； that circled the small； elastic waists。 Her inventory
was an adagio； and while it lasted Androvsky sat on his low straw
chair with this wall of young womanhood before him； of young womanhood
no longer self…conscious and timid； but eager； hardy； natural； warm
with the sun and damp with the tricklin