dread telling him of the presence of the priest； and；
characteristically； did without hesitation what she feared to do。
〃This is the way；〃 she said。
Then； as they turned into the shadow of the trees and began to walk
between the rills of water； she added abruptly：
〃Father Roubier is here already； so our party is complete。〃
Androvsky stood still。
〃Father Roubier！ You did not tell me he was coming。〃
〃I did not know it till five minutes ago。〃
She stood still too； and looked at him。 There was a flaming of
distrust in his eyes； his lips were compressed； and his whole body
betokened hostility。
〃I did not understand。 I thought Senor Anteoni would be alone here。〃
〃Father Roubier is a pleasant companion； sincere and simple。 Everyone
likes him。〃
〃No doubt； Madame。 Butthe fact is I〃he hesitated； then added；
almost with violence〃I do not care for priests。〃
〃I am sorry。 Still； for oncefor an houryou can surely〃
She did not finish the sentence。 While she was speaking she felt the
banality of such phrases spoken to such a man； and suddenly changed
tone and manner。
〃Monsieur Androvsky；〃 she said； laying one hand on his arm； 〃I knew
you would not like Father Roubier's being here。 If I had known he was
coming I should have told you in order that you might have kept away
if you wished to。 But now that you are herenow that Smain has let
you in and the Count and Father Roubier must know of it； I am sure you
will stay and govern your dislike。 You intend to turn back。 I see
that。 Well； I ask you to stay。〃
She was not thinking of herself； but of him。 Instinct told her to
teach him the way to conceal his aversion。 Retreat would proclaim it。
〃For yourself I ask you；〃 she added。 〃If you go； you tell them what
you have told me。 You don't wish to do that。〃
They looked at each other。 Then； without a word； he walked on again。
As she kept beside him she felt as if in that moment their
acquaintanceship had sprung forward； like a thing that had been
forcibly restrained and that was now sharply released。 They did not
speak again till they saw； at the end of an alley； the Count and the
priest standing together beneath the jamelon tree。 Bous…Bous ran
forward barking； and Domini was conscious that Androvsky braced
himself up； like a fighter stepping into the arena。 Her keen
sensitiveness of mind and body was so infected by his secret
impetuosity of feeling that it seemed to her as if his encounter with
the two men framed in the sunlight were a great event which might be
fraught with strange consequences。 She almost held her breath as she
and Androvsky came down the path and the fierce sunrays reached out to
light up their faces。
Count Anteoni stepped forward to greet them。
〃Monsieur AndrovskyCount Anteoni；〃 she said。
The hands of the two men met。 She saw that Androvsky's was lifted
reluctantly。
〃Welcome to my garden；〃 Count Anteoni said with his invariable easy
courtesy。 〃Every traveller has to pay his tribute to my domain。 I dare
to exact that as the oldest European inhabitant of Beni…Mora。〃
Androvsky said nothing。 His eyes were on the priest。 The Count noticed
it； and added：
〃Do you know Father Roubier？〃
〃We have often seen each other in the hotel；〃 Father Roubier said with
his usual straightforward simplicity。
He held out his hand； but Androvsky bowed hastily and awkwardly and
did not seem to see it。 Domini glanced at Count Anteoni； and surprised
a piercing expression in his bright eyes。 It died away at once； and he
said：
〃Let us go to the /salle…a…manger/。 /Dejeuner/ will be ready； Miss
Enfilden。〃
She joined him； concealing her reluctance to leave Androvsky with the
priest； and walked beside him down the path； preceded by Bous…Bous。
〃Is my /fete/ going to be a failure？〃 he murmured。
She did not reply。 Her heart was full of vexation； almost of
bitterness。 She felt angry with Count Anteoni； with Androvsky； with
herself。 She almost felt angry with poor Father Roubier。
〃Forgive me！ do forgive me！〃 the Count whispered。 〃I meant no harm。〃
She forced herself to smile； but the silence behind them； where the
two men were following； oppressed her。 If only Androvsky would speak！
He had not said one word since they were all together。 Suddenly she
turned her head and said：
〃Did you ever see such palms； Monsieur Androvsky？ Aren't they
magnificent？〃
Her voice was challenging； imperative。 It commanded him to rouse
himself； to speak； as a touch of the lash commands a horse to quicken
his pace。 Androvsky raised his head； which had been sunk on his breast
as he walked。
〃Palms！〃 he said confusedly。
〃Yes； they are wonderful。〃
〃You care for trees？〃 asked the Count； following Domini's lead and
speaking with a definite intention to force a conversation。
〃Yes； Monsieur； certainly。〃
〃I have some wonderful fellows here。 After /dejeuner/ you must let me
show them to you。 I spent years in collecting my children and teaching
them to live rightly in the desert。〃
Very naturally； while he spoke； he had joined Androvsky； and now
walked on with him； pointing out the different varieties of trees。
Domini was conscious of a sense of relief and of a strong feeling of
gratitude to their host。 Following upon the gratitude came a less
pleasant consciousness of Androvsky's lack of good breeding。 He was
certainly not a man of the world； whatever he might be。 To…day；
perhaps absurdly； she felt responsible for him； and as if he owed it
to her to bear himself bravely and govern his dislikes if they clashed
with the feelings of his companions。 She longed hotly for him to make
a good impression； and； when her eyes met Father Roubier's； was almost
moved to ask his pardon for Androvsky's rudeness。 But the Father
seemed unconscious of it； and began to speak about the splendour of
the African vegetation。
〃Does not its luxuriance surprise you after England？〃 he said。
〃No；〃 she replied bluntly。 〃Ever since I have been in Africa I have
felt that I was in a land of passionate growth。〃
〃Butthe desert？〃 he replied with a gesture towards the long flats of
the Sahara； which were still visible between the trees。
〃I should find it there too；〃 she answered。 〃There； perhaps； most of
all。〃
He looked at her with a gentle wonder。 She did not explain that she
was no longer thinking of growth in Nature。
The /salle…a…manger/ stood at the end of a broad avenue of palms not
far from the villa。 Two Arab servants were waiting on each side of the
white step that led into an ante…room filled with divans and coffee…
tables。 Beyond was a lofty apartment with an arched roof； in the
centre of which was an oval table laid for breakfast； and decorated
with masses of trumpet…shaped scarlet flowers in silver vases。 Behind
each of the four high…backed chairs stood an Arab motionless as a
statue。 Evidently the Count's /fete/ was to be attended by a good deal
of ceremony。 Domini felt sorry； though not for herself。 She had been
accustomed to ceremony all her life； and noticed it； as a rule； almost
as little as the air she breathed。 But she feared that to Androvsky it
would be novel and unpleasant。 As they came into the shady room she
saw him glance swiftly at the walls covered with dark Persian
hangings； at the servants in their embroidered jackets； wide trousers；
and snow…white turbans； at the vivid flowers on the table； then at the
tall windows； over which flexible outside blinds； dull green in
colour； were drawn； and it seemed to her that he was feeling like a
trapped animal； full of a fury of uneasiness。 Father Roubier's
unconscious serenity in the midst of a luxury to which he was quite
unaccustomed emphasised Androvsky's secret agitation； which was no
secret to Domini； and which she knew must be obvious to Count Anteoni。
She began to wish ardently that she had let Androvsky follow his
impulse to go when he heard of Father Roubier's presence。
They sat down。 She was on the Count's right hand； with Androvsky
opposite to her and Father Roubier on her left。 As they took their
places she and the Father said a silent grace and made the sign of the
Cross； and when she glanced up after doing so she saw Androvsky's hand
lifted to his forehead。 For a moment she fancied that he had joined in
the tiny prayer； and was about to make the sacred sign； but as she
looked at him his hand fell heavily to the table。 The glasses by his
plate jingled。
〃I only remembered this morning that this is a /jour maigre/；〃 said
Count Anteoni as they unfolded their napkins。 〃I am afraid； Father
Roubier； you will not be able to do full justice to my chef； Hamdane；
although he has thought of you and done his best for you。 But I hope
Miss Enfilden and〃
〃I keep Friday；〃 Domini interrupted quietly。
〃Yes？ Poor Hamdane！〃
He looked in grave despair； but she knew that he was really pleased
that she kept the fast day。
〃Anyhow；〃 he continued； 〃I hope that you； Monsieur Androvsky； will be
able to join me in testing Hamdane's powers to the full。 Or are you
too〃
He did not continue； for Androvsky at once said； in a loud and firm
voice：
〃I keep no fast days。〃
The words sounded like a defiance flung at the two Catholics； and for
a moment Domini