told him to avoid the heights and depths； to shun the ardours of
nature and of life。
〃Or； having come； one should leave it。〃
A sensation of lurking danger increased upon her； bringing with it the
thought of flight。
〃One can always do that；〃 she said； looking at him。 She saw fear in
his eyes； but it seemed to her that it was not fear of peril； but fear
of flight。 So strongly was this idea borne in upon her that she
bluntly exclaimed：
〃Unless it is one's nature to face things； never to turn one's back。
Is it yours； Monsieur Androvsky？〃
〃Fear could never drive me to leave Beni…Moni；〃 he answered。
〃Sometimes I think that the only virtue in us is courage；〃 she said；
〃that it includes all the others。 I believe I could forgive everything
where I found absolute courage。〃
Androvsky's eyes were lit up as if by a flicker of inward fire。
〃You might create the virtue you love；〃 he said hoarsely。
They looked at each other for a moment。 Did he mean that she might
create it in him？
Perhaps she would have asked； or perhaps he would have told her； but
at that moment something happened。 Larbi stopped playing。 In the last
few minutes they had both forgotten that he was playing； but when he
ceased the garden changed。 Something was withdrawn in which； without
knowing it； they had been protecting themselves； and when the music
faded their armour dropped away from them。 With the complete silence
came an altered atmosphere； the tenderness of mysticism instead of the
tenderness of a wild humanity。 The love of man seemed to depart out of
the garden and another love to enter it； as when God walked under the
trees in the cool of the day。 And they sat quite still； as if a common
impulse muted their lips。 In the long silence that followed Domini
thought of her mirage of the palm tree growing towards the African
sun； feeling growing in the heart of a human being。 But was it a
worthy image？ For the palm tree rises high。 It soars into the air。 But
presently it ceases to grow。 There is nothing infinite in its growth。
And the long； hot years pass away and there it stands； never nearer to
the infinite gold of the sun。 But in the intense feeling of a man or
woman is there not infinitude？ Is there not a movement that is
ceaseless till death comes to destroyor to translate？
That was what she was thinking in the silence of the garden。 And
Androvsky？ He sat beside her with his head bent； his hands hanging
between his knees； his eyes gazing before him at the ordered tangle of
the great trees。 His lips were slightly parted； and on his strongly…
marked face there was an expression as of emotional peace； as if the
soul of the man were feeling deeply in calm。 The restlessness； the
violence that had made his demeanour so embarrassing during and after
the /dejeuner/ had vanished。 He was a different man。 And presently；
noticing it； feeling his sensitive serenity； Domini seemed to see the
great Mother at work about this child of hers； Nature at her tender
task of pacification。 The shared silence became to her like a song of
thanksgiving； in which all the green things of the garden joined。 And
beyond them the desert lay listening； the Garden of Allah attentive to
the voices of man's garden。 She could hardly believe that but a few
minutes before she had been full of irritation and bitterness； not
free even from a touch of pride that was almost petty。 But when she
remembered that it was so she realised the abysses and the heights of
which the heart is mingled； and an intense desire came to her to be
always upon the heights of her own heart。 For there only was the light
of happiness。 Never could she know joy if she forswore nobility。 Never
could she be at peace with the love within herlove of something that
was not self； of something that seemed vaguer than God； as if it had
entered into God and made him Loveunless she mounted upwards during
her little span of life。 Again； as before in this land； in the first
sunset； on the tower； on the minaret of the mosque of Sidi…Zerzour；
Nature spoke to her intimate words of inspiration； laid upon her the
hands of healing； giving her powers she surely had not known or
conceived of till now。 And the passion that is the chiefest grace of
goodness； making it the fire that purifies； as it is the little sister
of the poor that tends the suffering； the hungry； the groping beggar…
world； stirred within her； like the child not yet born； but whose
destiny is with the angels。 And she longed to make some great offering
at the altar on whose lowest step she stood； and she was filled； for
the first time consciously； with woman's sacred desire for sacrifice。
A soft step on the sand broke the silence and scattered her
aspirations。 Count Anteoni was coming towards them between the trees。
The light of happiness was still upon his face and made him look much
younger than usual。 His whole bearing； in its elasticity and buoyant
courage； was full of anticipation。 As he came up to them he said to
Domini：
〃Do you remember chiding me？〃
〃I！〃 she said。 〃For what？〃
Androvsky sat up and the expression of serenity passed away from his
face。
〃For never galloping away into the sun。〃
〃Oh！yes； I do remember。〃
〃Well； I am going to obey you。 I am going to make a journey。〃
〃Into the desert？〃
〃Three hundred kilometers on horseback。 I start to…morrow。〃
She looked up at him with a new interest。 He saw it and laughed；
almost like a boy。
〃Ah； your contempt for me is dying！〃
〃How can you speak of contempt？〃
〃But you were full of it。〃 He turned to Androvsky。 〃Miss Enfilden
thought I could not sit a horse； Monsieur； unlike you。 Forgive me for
saying that you are almost more dare…devil than the Arabs themselves。
I saw you the other day set your stallion at the bank of the river
bed。 I did not think any horse could have done it； but you knew
better。〃
〃I did not know at all；〃 said Androvsky。 〃I had not ridden for over
twenty years until that day。〃
He spoke with a blunt determination which made Domini remember their
recent conversation on truth…telling。
〃Dio mio！〃 said the Count； slowly； and looking at him with undisguised
wonder。 〃You must have a will and a frame of iron。〃
〃I am pretty strong。〃
He spoke rather roughly。 Since the Count had joined them Domini
noticed that Androvsky had become a different man。 Once more he was on
the defensive。 The Count did not seem to notice it。 Perhaps he was too
radiant。
〃I hope I shall endure as well as you； Monsieur；〃 he said。 〃I go to
Beni…Hassan to visit Sidi El Hadj Aissa； one of the mightiest
marabouts in the Sahara。 In your Church；〃 he added； turning again to
Domini； 〃he would be a powerful Cardinal。〃
She noticed the 〃your。〃 Evidently the Count was not a professing
Catholic。 Doubtless； like many modern Italians； he was a free…thinker
in matters of religion。
〃I am afraid I have never heard of him；〃 she said。 〃In which direction
does Beni…Hassan lie？〃
〃To go there one takes the caravan route that the natives call the
route to Tombouctou。〃
An eager look came into her face。
〃My road！〃 she said。
〃Yours？〃
〃The one I shall travel on。 You remember； Monsieur Androvsky？〃
〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃Let me into your secret；〃 said the Count； laughingly； yet with
interest too。
〃It is no secret。 It is only that I love that route。 It fascinates me；
and I mean some day to make a desert journey along it。〃
〃What a pity that we cannot join forces；〃 the Count said。 〃I should
feel it an honour to show the desert to one who has the reverence for
it； the understanding of its spell； that you have。〃
He spoke earnestly； paused； and then added：
〃But I know well what you are thinking。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃That you will go to the desert alone。 You are right。 It is the only
way； at any rate the first time。 I went like that many years ago。〃
She said nothing in assent； and Androvsky got up from the bench。
〃I must go； Monsieur。〃
〃Already！ But have you seen the garden？〃
〃It is wonderful。 Good…bye； Monsieur。 Thank you。〃
〃Butlet me see you to the gate。 On Fridays〃
He was turning to Domini when she got up too。
〃Don't you distribute alms on Fridays？〃 she said。
〃How should you know it？〃
〃I have heard all about you。 But is this the hour？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Let me see the distribution。〃
〃And we will speed Monsieur Androvsky on his way at the same time。〃
She noticed that there was no question in his mind of her going with
Androvsky。 Did she mean to go with him？ She had not decided yet。
They walked towards the gate and were soon on the great sweep of sand
before the villa。 A murmur of many voices was audible outside in the
desert； nasal exclamations； loud guttural cries that sounded angry；
the twittering of flutes and the snarl of camels。
〃Do you hear my pensioners？〃 said the Count。 〃They are always
impatient。〃
There was the noise of a tomtom and of a whining shriek。
〃That is old Bel Cassem's announcement of his presence。 He has been
living on me for years； the old ruffian； ever since his right eye was
gouged out by his rival in the affections of the Marechale of the
dancing…girls。 Smain！〃
He blew his silver whistle。 Instantly Smain came out of