she wished； that presently she meant Androvsky to pass through the
white gate and be met on the sand by Smain with his rose。
One day Count Anteoni had asked her whether she had made acquaintance
with the man who had fled from prayer。
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃You know it。〃
〃How？〃
〃We have ridden to Sidi…Zerzour。〃
〃I am not always by the wall。〃
〃No； but I think you were that day。〃
〃Why do you think so？〃
〃I am sure you were。〃
He did not either acknowledge or deny it。
〃He has never been to see my garden；〃 he said。
〃No。〃
〃He ought to come。〃
〃I have told him so。〃
〃Ah？ Is he coming？〃
〃I don't think so。〃
〃Persuade him to。 I have a pride in my gardenoh； you have no idea
what a pride！ Any neglect of it； any indifference about it rasps me；
plays upon the raw nerve each one of us possesses。〃
He spoke smilingly。 She did not know what he was feeling； whether the
remote thinker or the imp within him was at work or play。
〃I doubt if he is a man to be easily persuaded；〃 she said。
〃Perhaps notpersuade him。〃
After a moment Domini said：
〃I wonder whether you recognise that there are obstacles which the
human will can't negotiate？〃
〃I could scarcely live where I do without recognising that the grains
of sand are often driven by the wind。 But when there is no wind！〃
〃They lie still？〃
〃And are the desert。 I want to have a strange experience。〃
〃What？〃
〃A /fete/ in my garden。〃
〃A fantasia？〃
〃Something far more banal。 A lunch party； a /dejeuner/。 Will you
honour me？〃
〃By breakfasting with you？ Yes； of course。 Thank you。〃
〃And will you bringthe second sun worshipper？〃
She looked into the Count's small； shining eyes。
〃Monsieur Androvsky？〃
〃If that is his name。 I can send him an invitation； of course。 But
that's rather formal； and I don't think he is formal。〃
〃On what day do you ask us？〃
〃Any dayFriday。〃
〃And why do you ask us？〃
〃I wish to overcome this indifference to my garden。 It hurts me； not
only in my pride； but in my affections。〃
The whole thing had been like a sort of serious game。 Domini had not
said that she would convey the odd invitation； but when she was alone；
and thought of the way in which Count Anteoni had said 〃Persuade him；〃
she knew she would； and she meant Androvsky to accept it。 This was an
opportunity of seeing him in company with another man； a man of the
world； who had read； travelled； thought； and doubtless lived。
She asked him that evening； and saw the red； that came as it comes in
a boy's face； mount to his forehead。
〃Everybody who comes to Beni…Mora comes to see the garden；〃 she said
before he could reply。 〃Count Anteoni is half angry with you for being
an exception。〃
〃Butbut； Madame； how can Monsieur the Count know that I am here？ I
have not seen him。〃
〃He knows there is a second traveller； and he's a hospitable man。
Monsieur Androvsky； I want you to come； I want you to see the garden。〃
〃It is very kind of you； Madame。〃
The reluctance in his voice was extreme。 Yet he did not like to say
no。 While he hesitated； Domini continued：
〃You remember when I asked you to ride？〃
〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃That was new to you。 Well； it has given you pleasure； hasn't it？〃
〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃So will the garden。 I want to put another pleasure into your life。〃
She had begun to speak with the light persuasiveness of a woman of the
worldwishing to overcome a man's diffidence or obstinacy； but while
she said the words she felt a sudden earnestness rush over her。 It
went into the voice； and surely smote upon him like a gust of the hot
wind that sometimes blows out of the desert。
〃I shall come； Madame；〃 he said quickly。
〃Friday。 I may be in the garden in the morning。 I'll meet you at the
gate at half…past twelve。〃
〃Friday？〃 he said。
Already he seemed to be wavering in his acceptance。 Domini did not
stay with him any longer。
〃I'm glad；〃 she said in a finishing tone。
And she went away。
Now Count Anteoni told her that he had invited the priest。 She felt
vexed； and her face showed that she did。 A cloud came down and
immediately she looked changed and disquieting。 Yet she liked the
priest。 As she sat in silence her vexation became more profound。 She
felt certain that if Androvsky had known the priest was coming he
would not have accepted the invitation。 She wished him to come； yet
she wished he had known。 He might think that she had known the fact
and had concealed it。 She did not suppose for a moment that he
disliked Father Roubier personally； but he certainly avoided him。 He
bowed to him in the coffee…room of the hotel； but never spoke to him。
Batouch had told her about the episode with Bous…Bous。 And she had
seen Bous…Bous endeavour to renew the intimacy and repulsed with
determination。 Androvsky must dislike the priesthood。 He might fancy
that she； a believing Catholic； hada number of disagreeable
suppositions ran through her mind。 She had always been inclined to
hate the propagandist since the tragedy in her family。 It was a pity
Count Anteoni had not indulged his imp in a different fashion。 The
beauty of the noon seemed spoiled。
〃Forgive my malice；〃 Count Anteoni said。 〃It was really a thing of
thistledown。 Can it be going to do harm？ I can scarcely think so。〃
〃No； no。〃
She roused herself； with the instinct of a woman who has lived much in
the world； to conceal the vexation that； visible； would cause a
depression to stand in the natural place of cheerfulness。
〃The desert is making me abominably natural；〃 she thought。
At this moment the black figure of Father Roubier came out of the
shadows of the trees with Bous…Bous trotting importantly beside it。
〃Ah； Father；〃 said Count Anteoni； going to meet him； while Domini got
up from her chair； 〃it is good of you to come out in the sun to eat
fish with such a bad parishioner as I am。 Your little companion is
welcome。〃
He patted Bous…Bous； who took little notice of him。
〃You know Miss Enfilden； I think？〃 continued the Count。
〃Father Roubier and I meet every day；〃 said Domini； smiling。
〃Mademoiselle has been good enough to take a kind interest in the
humble work of the Church in Beni…Mora；〃 said the priest with the
serious simplicity characteristic of him。
He was a sincere man； utterly without pretension； and； as such men
often are； quietly at home with anybody of whatever class or creed。
〃I must go to the garden gate；〃 Domini said。 〃Will you excuse me for a
moment？〃
〃To meet Monsieur Androvsky？ Let us accompany you if Father Roubier〃
〃Please don't trouble。 I won't be a minute。〃
Something in her voice made Count Anteoni at once acquiesce； defying
his courteous instinct。
〃We will wait for you here；〃 he said。
There was a whimsical plea for forgiveness in his eyes。 Domini's did
not reject it； they did not answer it。 She walked away； and the two
men looked after her tall figure with admiration。 As she went along
the sand paths between the little streams； and came into the deep
shade； her vexation seemed to grow darker like the garden ways。 For a
moment she thought she understood the sensations that must surely
sometimes beset a treacherous woman。 Yet she was incapable of
treachery。 Smain was standing dreamily on the great sweep of sand
before the villa。 She and he were old friends now； and every day he
calmly gave her a flower when she came into the garden。
〃What time is it； Smain？〃
〃Nearly half…past twelve； Madame。〃
〃Will you open the door and see if anyone is coming？〃
He went towards the great door； and Domini sat down on a bench under
the evergreen roof to wait。 She had seldom felt more discomposed； and
began to reason with herself almost angrily。 Even if the presence of
the priest was unpleasant to Androvsky； why should she mind？
Antagonism to the priesthood was certainly not a mental condition to
be fostered； but a prejudice to be broken down。 But she had wished
she still wished with ardourthat Androvsky's first visit to the
garden should be a happy one； should pass off delightfully。 She had a
dawning instinct to make things smooth for him。 Surely they had been
rough in the past； rougher even than for herself。 And she wondered for
an instant whether he had come to Beni…Mora； as she had come； vaguely
seeking for a happiness scarcely embodied in a definite thought。
〃There is a gentleman coming； Madame。〃
It was the soft voice of Smain from the gate。 In a moment Androvsky
stood before it。 Domini saw him framed in the white wood； with a
brilliant blue behind him and a narrow glimpse of the watercourse。 He
was standing still and hesitating。
〃Monsieur Androvsky！〃 she called。
He started； looked across the sand； and stepped into the garden with a
sort of reluctant caution that pained her； she scarcely knew why。 She
got up and went towards him； and they met full in the sunshine。
〃I came to be your cicerone。〃
〃Thank you； Madame。〃
There was the click of wood striking against wood as Smain closed the
gate。 Androvsky turned quickly and looked behind him。 His demeanour
was that of a man whose nerves were tormenting him。 Domini began to
dread telling him of the presence of the priest； and；
characteristically； did withou