herself。 The recruits had reached their destination。 Hers was a longer
pilgramage and still towards the sun。 She could not afterwards
remember what she thought about during this part of her journey。
Subsequent events so coloured all her memories of Africa that every
fold of its sun…dried soil was endowed in her mind with the
significance of a living thing。 Every palm beside a well； every
stunted vine and clambering flower upon an /auberge/ wall； every form
of hill and silhouette of shadow； became in her heart intense with the
beauty and the pathos she used； as a child； to think must lie beyond
the sunset。
And so she forgot。
A strange sense of leaving all things behind had stolen over her。 She
was really fatigued by travel and by want of sleep； but she did not
know it。 Lying back in her seat； with her head against the dirty white
covering of the shaking carriage； she watched the great change that
was coming over the land。
It seemed as if God were putting forth His hand to withdraw gradually
all things of His creation； all the furniture He had put into the
great Palace of the world； as if He meant to leave it empty and
utterly naked。
So Domini thought。
First He took the rich and shaggy grass； and all the little flowers
that bloomed modestly in it。 Then He drew away the orange groves； the
oleander and the apricot trees； the faithful eucalyptus with its pale
stems and tressy foliage； the sweet waters that fertilised the soil；
making it soft and brown where the plough seamed it into furrows； the
tufted plants and giant reeds that crowd where water is。 And still； as
the train ran on； His gifts were fewer。 At last even the palms were
gone； and the Barbary fig displayed no longer among the crumbling
boulders its tortured strength； and the pale and fantastic evolutions
of its unnatural foliage。 Stones lay everywhere upon the pale yellow
or grey…brown earth。 Crystals glittered in the sun like shallow
jewels； and far away； under clouds that were dark and feathery；
appeared hard and relentless mountains； which looked as if they were
made of iron carved into horrible and jagged shapes。 Where they fell
into ravines they became black。 Their swelling bosses and flanks；
sharp sometimes as the spines of animals； were steel coloured。 Their
summits were purple； deepening where the clouds came down to ebony。
Journeying towards these terrible fastnesses were caravans on which
Domini looked with a heavy and lethargic interest。 Many Kabyles；
fairer than she was； moved slowly on foot towards their rock villages。
Over the withered earth they went towards the distant mountains and
the clouds。 The sun was hidden。 The wind continued to rise。 Sand found
its way in through the carriage windows。 The mountains； as Domini saw
them more clearly； looked more gloomy； more unearthly。 There was
something unnatural in their hard outlines； in the rigid mystery of
their innumerable clefts。 That all these people should be journeying
towards them was pathetic； and grieved the imagination。
The wind seemed so cold； now the sun was hidden； that she had drawn
both the windows up and thrown a rug over her。 She put her feet up on
the opposite seat； and half closed her eyes。 But she still turned them
towards the glass on her left； and watched。 It seemed to her quite
impossible that this shaking and slowly moving train had any
destination。 The desolation of the country had become so absolute that
she could not conceive of anything but still greater desolation lying
beyond。 She had no feeling that she was merely traversing a tract of
sterility。 Her sensation was that she had passed the boundary of the
world God had created； and come into some other place； upon which He
had never looked and of which He had no knowledge。
Abruptly she felt as if her father had entered into some such region
when he forced his way out of his religion。 And in this region he had
died。 She had stood on the verge of it by his deathbed。 Now she was in
it。
There were no Arabs journeying now。 No tents huddled among the low
bushes。 The last sign of vegetation was obliterated。 The earth rose
and fell in a series of humps and depressions； interspersed with piles
of rock。 Every shade of yellow and of brown mingled and flowed away
towards the foot of the mountains。 Here and there dry water…courses
showed their teeth。 Their crumbling banks were like the rind of an
orange。 Little birds； the hue of the earth； with tufted crests；
tripped jauntily among the stones； fluttered for a few yards and
alighted； with an air of strained alertness； as if their minute bodies
were full of trembling wires。 They were the only living things Domini
could see。
She thought again of her father。 In some such region as this his soul
must surely be wandering； far away from God。
She let down the glass。
The wind was really cold and blowing gustily。 She drank it in as if
she were tasting a new wine； and she was conscious at once that she
had never before breathed such air。 There was a wonderful； a startling
flavour in it； the flavour of gigantic spaces and of rolling leagues
of emptiness。 Neither among mountains nor upon the sea had she ever
found an atmosphere so fiercely pure； clean and lively with
unutterable freedom。 She leaned out to it； shutting her eyes。 And now
that she saw nothing her palate savoured it more intensely。 The
thought of her father fled from her。 All detailed thoughts； all the
minutia of the mind were swept away。 She was bracing herself to an
encounter with something gigantic； something unshackled； the being
from whose lips this wonderful breath flowed。
When two lovers kiss their breath mingles； and； if they really love；
each is conscious that in the breath of the loved one is the loved
one's soul； coming forth from the temple of the body through the
temple door。 As Domini leaned out； seeing nothing； she was conscious
that in this breath she drank there was a soul； and it seemed to her
that it was the soul which flames in the centre of things； and beyond。
She could not think any longer of her father as an outcast because he
had abandoned a religion。 For all religions were surely here； marching
side by side； and behind them； background to them； there was something
far greater than any religion。 Was it snow or fire？ Was it the
lawlessness of that which has made laws； or the calm of that which has
brought passion into being？ Greater love than is in any creed； or
greater freedom than is in any human liberty？ Domini only felt that if
she had ever been a slave at this moment she would have died of joy；
realising the boundless freedom that circles this little earth。
〃Thank God for it！〃 she murmured aloud。
Her own words woke her to a consciousness of ordinary thingsor made
her sleep to the eternal。
She closed the window and sat down。
A little later the sun came out again； and the various shades of
yellow and of orange that played over the wrinkled earth deepened and
glowed。 Domini had sunk into a lethargy so complete that； though not
asleep； she was scarcely aware of the sun。 She was dreaming of
liberty。
Presently the train slackened and stopped。 She heard a loud chattering
of many voices and looked out。 The sun was now shining brilliantly；
and she saw a station crowded with Arabs in white burnouses； who were
vociferously greeting friends in the train； were offering enormous
oranges for sale to the passengers； or were walking up and down gazing
curiously into the carriages； with the unblinking determination and
indifference to a return of scrutiny which she had already noticed and
thought animal。 A guard came up； told her the place was El…Akbara； and
that the train would stay there ten minutes to wait for the train from
Beni…Mora。 She decided to get out and stretch her cramped limbs。 On
the platform she found Suzanne； looking like a person who had just
been slapped。 One side of the maid's face was flushed and covered with
a faint tracery of tiny lines。 The other was greyish white。 Sleep hung
in her eyes； over which the lids drooped as if they were partially
paralysed。 Her fingers were yellow from peeling an orange； and her
smart little hat was cocked on one side。 There were grains of sand on
her black gown； and when she saw her mistress she at once began to
compress her lips； and to assume the expression of obstinate patience
characteristic of properly…brought…up servants who find themselves
travelling far from home in outlandish places。
〃Have you been asleep； Suzanne？〃
〃No； Mam'zelle。〃
〃You've had an orange？〃
〃I couldn't get it down； Mam'zelle。〃
〃Would you like to see if you can get a cup of coffee here？〃
〃No； thank you； Mam'zelle。 I couldn't touch this Arab stuff。〃
〃We shall soon be there now。〃
Suzanne made all her naturally small features look much smaller；
glanced down at her skirt； and suddenly began to shake the grains of
sand from it in an outraged manner； at the same time extending her
left foot。 Two or three young Arabs came up and stood； staring； round
her。 Their eyes were magnificent； and gravely observant。 Suzanne went
on shaking and patting her skirt； and Domini walked away down the
platform； wondering what a French maid's mind wa