She longed to explain how he and the desert were linked together in
her heart； and she dropped her hand upon his left hand； which lay palm
downwards in the warm sand。
〃I love this land；〃 she began； 〃because I found you in it； because I
feel〃
She stopped。
〃Yes； Domini？〃 he said。
〃No； not now。 I can't tell you。 There's too much light。〃
〃Domini；〃 he repeated。
Then they were silent once more； thinking of how the darkness would
come to them at Arba。
In the late afternoon they drew near to the Bordj； moving along a
difficult route full of deep ruts and holes； and bordered on either
side by bushes so tall that they looked almost like trees。 Here；
tended by Arabs who stared gravely at the strangers in the palanquin；
were grazing immense herds of camels。 Above the bushes to the horizon
on either side of the way appeared the serpentine necks flexibly
moving to and fro； now bending deliberately towards the dusty twigs；
now stretched straight forward as if in patient search for some solace
of the camel's fate that lay in the remoteness of the desert。 Baby
camels； many of them only a few days old； yet already vowed to the
eternal pilgrimages of the wastes； with mild faces and long；
disobedient…looking legs； ran from the caravan； nervously seeking
their morose mothers； who cast upon them glances that seemed
expressive of a disdainful pity。 In front； beyond a watercourse； now
dried up； rose the low hill on which stood the Bordj； a huge； square
building； with two square towers pierced with loopholes。 From a
distance it resembled a fort threatening the desert in magnificent
isolation。 Its towers were black against the clear lemon of the
failing sunlight。 Pigeons； that looked also black； flew perpetually
about them； and the telegraph posts； that bordered the way at regular
intervals on the left； made a diminishing series of black vertical
lines sharply cutting the yellow till they were lost to sight in the
south。 To Domini these posts were like pointing fingers beckoning her
onward to the farthest distances of the sun。 Drugged by the long
journey over the flats； and the unceasing caress of the air； that was
like an importunate lover ever unsatisfied； she watched from the
height on which she was perched this evening scene of roaming； feeding
animals； staring nomads； monotonous herbage and vague； surely…
retreating mountains； with quiet； dreamy eyes。 Everything which she
saw seemed to her beautiful； a little remote and a little fantastic。
The slow movement of the camels； the swifter movements of the circling
pigeons about the square towers on the hill； the motionless； or
gently…gliding； Arabs with their clubs held slantwise； the telegraph
poles； one smaller than the other； diminishing tillas if magically
they disappeared in the lemon that was growing into gold； were woven
together for her by the shuttle of the desert into a softly brilliant
tapestryone of those tapestries that is like a legend struck to
sleep as the Beauty in her palace。 As they began to mount the hill；
and the radiance of the sky increased； this impression faded； for the
life that centred round the Bordj was vivid； though sparse in
comparison with the eddying life of towns； and had that air of
peculiar concentration which may be noted in pictures representing a
halt in the desert。
No longer did the strongly…built Bordj seem to Domini like a fort
threatening the oncomer； but like a stalwart host welcoming him； a
host who kept open house in this treeless desolation that yet had； for
her； no feature that was desolate。 It was earth…coloured； built of
stone； and had in the middle of the facade that faced them an immense
hospitable doorway with a white arch above it。 This doorway gave a
partial view of a vast courtyard； in which animals and people were
moving to and fro。 Round about； under the sheltering shadow of the
windowless wall； were many Arabs； some squatting on their haunches；
some standing upright with their backs against the stone； some moving
from one group to another； gesticulating and talking vivaciously。 Boys
were playing a game with stones set in an ordered series of small
holes scooped by their fingers in the dust。 A negro crossed the flat
space before the Bordj carrying on his head a huge earthen vase to the
well near by； where a crowd of black donkeys； just relieved of their
loads of brushwood； was being watered。 From the south two Spahis were
riding in on white horses； their scarlet cloaks floating out over
their saddles； and from the west； moving slowly to a wailing sound of
indistinct music； a faint beating of tomtoms； was approaching a large
caravan in a cloud of dust which floated back from it and melted away
into the radiance of the sunset。
When they gained the great open space before the building they were
bathed in the soft golden light； in which all these figures of
Africans； and all these animals； looked mysterious and beautiful； and
full of that immeasurable significance which the desert sheds upon
those who move in it； specially at dawn or at sundown。 From the
plateau they dominated the whole of the plain they had traversed as
far as Beni…Mora； which on the morrow would fade into the blue
horizon。 Its thousands of palms made a darkness in the gold； and still
the tower of the hotel was faintly visible； pointing like a needle
towards the sky。 The range of mountains showed their rosy flanks in
the distance。 They； too； on the morrow would be lost in the desert
spaces； the last outposts of the world of hill and valley； of stream
and sea。 Only in the deceptive dream of the mirage would they appear
once more； looming in a pearl…coloured shaking veil like a fluid on
the edge of some visionary lagune。
Domini was glad that on this first night of their journey they could
still see Beni…Mora； the place where they had found each other and
been given to each other by the Church。 As the camel stopped before
the great doorway of the Bordj she turned in the palanquin and looked
down upon the desert； motioning to the camel…driver to leave the beast
for a moment。 She put her arm through Androvsky's and made his eyes
follow hers across the vast spaces made magical by the sinking sun to
that darkness of distant palms which； to her； would be a sacred place
for ever。 And as they looked in silence all that Beni…Mora meant to
her came upon her。 She saw again the garden hushed in the heat of
noon。 She saw Androvsky at her feet on the sand。 She heard the chiming
church bell and the twitter of Larbi's flute。 The dark blue of trees
was as the heart of the world to her and as the heart of life。 It had
seen the birth of her soul and given to her another newborn soul。
There was a pathos in seeing it fade like a thing sinking down till it
became one with the immeasurable sands； and at that moment she said to
herself； 〃When shall I see Beni…Mora againand how？〃 She looked at
Androvsky； met his eyes； and thought： 〃When I see it again how
different I shall be！ How I shall be changed！〃 And in the sunset she
seemed to be saying a mute good…bye to one who was fading with Beni…
Mora。
As soon as they had got off the camel and were standing in the group
of staring Arabs； Batouch begged them to come to their tents； where
tea would be ready。 He led them round the angle of the wall towards
the west； and there； pitched in the full radiance of the sunset； with
a wide space of hard earth gleaming with gypse around it； was a white
tent。 Before it； in the open air； was stretched a handsome Arab
carpet； and on this carpet were set a folding table and two folding
chairs。 The table held a japanned tray with tea…cups； a milk jug and
plates of biscuits and by it； in an attitude that looked deliberately
picturesque stood Ouardi； the youth selected by Batouch to fill the
office of butler in the desert。
Ouardi smiled a broad welcome as they approached； and having made sure
that his pose had been admired； retired to the cook's abode to fetch
the teapot； while Batouch invited Domini and Androvsky to inspect the
tent prepared for them。 Domini assented with a dropped…out word。 She
still felt in a dream。 But Androvsky； after casting towards the tent
door a glance that was full of a sort of fierce shyness； moved away a
few steps； and stood at the edge of the hill looking down upon the
incoming caravan； whose music was now plainly audible in the stillness
of the waste。
Domini went into the tent that was to be their home for many weeks；
alone。 And she was glad just then that she was alone。 For she too；
like Androvsky； felt a sort of exquisite trouble moving； like a wave；
in her heart。 On some pretext； but only after an expression of
admiration； she got rid of Batouch。 Then she stood and looked round。
From the big tent opened a smaller one； which was to serve Androvsky
as a dressing…room and both of them as a baggage room。 She did not go
into that； but saw； with one glance of soft inquiry； the two small；
low beds； the strips of gay carpet； the dressing…table； the stand and
the two cane chairs which furnished the sleeping…tent。 Then she looked
back to the aperture。 In the distance； standing alone at the edge of
the hill； she saw Androvsky； bathed in the sunset； lookin