on shaking and patting her skirt； and Domini walked away down the
platform； wondering what a French maid's mind was like。 Suzanne's
certainly had its limitations。 It was evident that she was horrified
by the sight of bare legs。 Why？
As Domini walked along the platform among the fruit…sellers； the
guides； the turbaned porters with their badges； the staring children
and the ragged wanderers who thronged about the train； she thought of
the desert to which she was now so near。 It lay； she knew； beyond the
terrific wall of rock that faced her。 But she could see no opening。
The towering summits of the cliffs； jagged as the teeth of a wolf；
broke crudely upon the serene purity of the sky。 Somewhere； concealed
in the darkness of the gorge at their feet； was the mouth from which
had poured forth that wonderful breath； quivering with freedom and
with unearthly things。 The sun was already declining； and the light it
cast becoming softened and romantic。 Soon there would be evening in
the desert。 Then there would be night。 And she would be there in the
night with all things that the desert holds。
A train of camels was passing on the white road that descended into
the shadow of the gorge。 Some savage…looking men accompanied them；
crying continually； 〃Oosh！ Oosh！〃 They disappeared； desert…men with
their desert…beasts； bound no doubt on some tremendous journey through
the regions of the sun。 Where would they at last unlade the groaning
camels？ Domini saw them in the midst of dunes red with the dying fires
of the west。 And their shadows lay along the sands like weary things
reposing。
She started when a low voice spoke to her in French； and； turning
round； saw a tall Arab boy； magnificently dressed in pale blue cloth
trousers； a Zouave jacket braided with gold； and a fez； standing near
her。 She was struck by the colour of his skin； which was faint as the
colour of /cafe au lait/； and by the contrast between his huge bulk
and his languid； almost effeminate； demeanour。 As she turned he smiled
at her calmly； and lifted one hand toward the wall of rock。
〃Madame has seen the desert？〃 he asked。
〃Never；〃 answered Domini。
〃It is the garden of oblivion；〃 he said； still in a low voice； and
speaking with a delicate refinement that was almost mincing。 〃In the
desert one forgets everything； even the little heart one loves； and
the desire of one's own soul。〃
〃How can that be？〃 asked Domini。
〃Shal…lah。 It is the will of God。 One remembers nothing any more。〃
His eyes were fixed upon the gigantic pinnacles of the rocks。 There
was something fanatical and highly imaginative in their gaze。
〃What is your name？〃 Domini asked。
〃Batouch； Madame。 You are going to Beni…Mora？〃
〃Yes； Batouch。〃
〃I too。 To…night； under the mimosa trees； I shall compose a poem。 It
will be addressed to Irena； the dancing…girl。 She is like the little
moon when it first comes up above the palm trees。〃
Just then the train from Beni…Mora ran into the station； and Domini
turned to seek her carriage。 As she was coming to it she noticed； with
the pang of the selfish traveller who wishes to be undisturbed； that a
tall man； attended by an Arab porter holding a green bag； was at the
door of it and was evidently about to get in。 He glanced round as
Domini came up； half drew back rather awkwardly as if to allow her to
precede him； then suddenly sprang in before her。 The Arab lifted in
the bag； and the man； endeavouring hastily to thrust some money into
his hand； dropped the coin； which fell down between the step of the
carriage and the platform。 The Arab immediately made a greedy dive
after it； interposing his body between Domini and the train； and she
was obliged to stand waiting while he looked for it； grubbing
frantically in the earth with his brown fingers； and uttering muffled
exclamations； apparently of rage。 Meanwhile； the tall man had put the
green bag up on the rack； gone quickly to the far side of the
carriage； and sat down looking out of the window。
Domini was struck by the mixture of indecision and blundering haste
which he had shown； and by his impoliteness。 Evidently he was not a
gentleman； she thought； or he would surely have obeyed his first
impulse and allowed her to get into the train before him。 It seemed；
too； as if he were determined to be discourteous； for he sat with his
shoulder deliberately turned towards the door； and made no attempt to
get his Arab out of the way； although the train was just about to
start。 Domini was very tired； and she began to feel angry with him；
contemptuous too。 The Arab could not find the money； and the little
horn now piped its warning of departure。 It was absolutely necessary
for her to get in at once if she did not mean to stay at El…Akbara。
She tried to pass the grovelling Arab； but as she did so he suddenly
sprang up； jumped on to the step of the carriage； and； thrusting his
body half through the doorway； began to address a torrent of Arabic to
the passenger within。 The horn sounded again； and the carriage jerked
backwards preparatory to starting on its way to Beni…Mora。
Domini caught hold of the short European jacket the Arab was wearing；
and said in French：
〃You must let me get in at once。 The train is going。〃
The man； however； intent on replacing the coin he had lost； took no
notice of her； but went on vociferating and gesticulating。 The
traveller said something in Arabic。 Domini was now very angry。 She
gripped the jacket； exerted all her force； and pulled the Arab
violently from the door。 He alighted on the platform beside her and
nearly fell。 Before he had recovered himself she sprang up into the
train； which began to move at that very moment。 As she got in； the man
who had caused all the bother was leaning forward with a bit of silver
in his hand； looking as if he were about to leave his seat。 Domini
cast a glance of contempt at him； and he turned quickly to the window
again and stared out； at the same time putting the coin back into his
pocket。 A dull flush rose on his cheek； but he attempted no apology；
and did not even offer to fasten the lower handle of the door。
〃What a boor！〃 Domini thought as she bent out of the window to do it。
When she turned from the door； after securing the handle； she found
the carriage full of a pale twilight。 The train was stealing into the
gorge； following the caravan of camels which she had seen
disappearing。 She paid no more attention to her companion； and her
feeling of acute irritation against him died away for the moment。 The
towering cliffs cast mighty shadows； the darkness deepened； the train；
quickening its speed； seemed straining forward into the arms of night。
There was a chill in the air。 Domini drank it into her lungs again；
and again was startled； stirred； by the life and the mentality of it。
She was conscious of receiving it with passion； as if； indeed； she
held her lips to a mouth and drank some being's very nature into hers。
She forgot her recent vexation and the man who had caused it。 She
forgot everything in mere sensation。 She had no time to ask； 〃Whither
am I going？〃 She felt like one borne upon a wave； seaward； to the
wonder； to the danger； perhaps； of a murmuring unknown。 The rocks
leaned forward； their teeth were fastened in the sky； they enclosed
the train； banishing the sun and the world from all the lives within
it。 She caught a fleeting glimpse of rushing waters far beneath her；
of crumbling banks； covered with debris like the banks of a disused
quarry； of shattered boulders； grouped in a wild disorder； as if they
had been vomited forth from some underworld or cast headlong from the
sky； of the flying shapes of fruit trees； mulberries and apricot
trees； oleanders and palms； of dull yellow walls guarding pools the
colour of absinthe； imperturbable and still。 A strong impression of
increasing cold and darkness grew in her； and the noises of the train
became hollow； and seemed to be expanding； as if they were striving to
press through the impending rocks and find an outlet into space；
failing； they rose angrily； violently； in Domini's ears； protesting；
wrangling； shouting； declaiming。 The darkness became like the darkness
of a nightmare。 All the trees vanished； as if they fled in fear。 The
rocks closed in as if to crush the train。 There was a moment in which
Domini shut her eyes； like one expectant of a tremendous blow that
cannot be avoided。
She opened them to a flood of gold； out of which the face of a man
looked； like a face looking out of the heart of the sun。
CHAPTER III
It flashed upon her with the desert； with the burning heaps of
carnation and orange…coloured rocks； with the first sand wilderness；
the first brown villages glowing in the late radiance of the afternoon
like carven things of bronze； the first oasis of palms； deep green as
a wave of the sea and moving like a wave； the first wonder of Sahara
warmth and Sahara distance。 She passed through the golden door into
the blue country； and saw this face； and； for a moment； moved by the
exalted sensation of a magical change in all her world； she looked at
it simply as a new sight presented； with the sun； the mighty rocks；
the hard； blind villages； and t