fierce longing to be reassured； to be made to know that he； like her；
loved the thought that God was specially near to those who travelled
in this land of solitude。
〃Is it beautiful？〃
〃To me it is。 It makes me feel as if in the desert I were specially
watched over and protected； even as if I were specially loved there。〃
Suddenly Androvsky put his arm round her and strained her to him。
〃By me！ By me！〃 he said。 〃Think of me to…night； only of me； as I think
only of you。〃
He spoke as if he were jealous even of her thought of God； as if he
did not understand that it was the very intensity of her love for him
that made her； even in the midst of the passion of the body； connect
their love of each other with God's love of them。 In her heart this
overpowering human love which； in the garden； when first she realised
it fully； had seemed to leave no room in her for love of God； now in
the moment when it was close to absolute satisfaction seemed almost to
be one with her love of God。 Perhaps no man could understand how； in a
good woman； the two streams of the human love which implies the
intense desire of the flesh； and the mystical love which is absolutely
purged of that desire； can flow the one into the other and mingle
their waters。 She tried to think that； and then she ceased to try。
Everything was forgotten as his arms held her fast in the night；
everything except this great force of human love which was like iron；
and yet soft about her； which was giving and wanting； which was
concentrated upon her to the exclusion of all else； plunging the
universe in darkness and setting her in light。
〃There is nothing for me to…night but you；〃 he said； crushing her in
his arms。 〃The desert is your garden。 To me it has always been your
garden； only that； put here for you； and for me because you love me
but for me only because of that。〃
The Arabs' fire was rapidly dying down。
〃When it goes out； when it goes out！〃 Androvsky whispered it her ear。
His breath stirred the thick tresses of her hair。
〃Let us watch it！〃 he whispered。
She pressed his hand but did not reply。 She could not speak any more。
At last the something wild and lawless； the something that was more
than passionate； that was hot and even savage in her nature； had risen
up in its full force to face a similar force in him； which insistently
called it and which it answered without shame。
〃It is dying；〃 Androvsky said。 〃It is dying。 Look how small the circle
of the flame is； how the darkness is creeping up about it！ Dominido
you see？〃
She pressed his hand again。
〃Do you long for the darkness？〃 he asked。 〃Do you； Domini？ The desert
is sending it。 The desert is sending it for you； and for me because
you love me。〃
A log in the fire； charred by the flames； broke in two。 Part of it
fell down into the heart of the fire； which sent up a long tongue of
red gold flame。
〃That is like us；〃 he said。 〃Like us together in the darkness。〃
She felt his body trembling； as if the vehemence of the spirit
confined within it shook it。 In the night the breeze slightly
increased； making the flame of the lamp behind them in the tent
flicker。 And the breeze was like a message； brought to them from the
desert by some envoy in the darkness； telling them not to be afraid of
their wonderful gift of freedom with each other； but to take it open…
handed； open…hearted； with the great courage of joy。
〃Domini； did you feel that gust of the wind？ It carried away a cloud
of sparks from the fire and brought them a little way towards us。 Did
you see？ Fire wandering on the wind through the night calling to the
fire that is in us。 Wasn't it beautiful？ Everything is beautiful
to…night。 There were never such stars before。〃
She looked up at them。 Often she had watched the stars； and known the
vague longings； the almost terrible aspirations they wake in their
watchers。 But to her also they looked different to…night； nearer to
the earth； she thought； brighter； more living than ever before； like
strange tenderness made visible； peopling the night with an
unconquerable sympathy。 The vast firmament was surely intent upon
their happiness。 Again the breeze came to them across the waste； cool
and breathing of the dryness of the sands。 Not far away a jackal
laughed。 After a pause it was answered by another jackal at a
distance。 The voices of these desert beasts brought home to Domini
with an intimacy not felt by her before the exquisite remoteness of
their situation； and the shrill； discordant noise； rising and falling
with a sort of melancholy and sneering mirth； mingled with bitterness；
was like a delicate music in her ears。
〃Hark！〃 Androvsky whispered。
The first jackal laughed once more； was answered again。 A third beast；
evidently much farther off； lifted up a faint voice like a dismal
echo。 Then there was silence。
〃You loved that； Domini。 It was like the calling of freedom to you
and to me。 We've found freedom； we've found it。 Let us feel it。 Let us
take hold of it。 It is the only thing； the only thing。 But you can't
know that as I do； Domini。〃
Again she was conscious that his intensity surpassed hers； and the
consciousness； instead of saddening or vexing； made her thrill with
joy。
〃I am maddened by this freedom；〃 he said； 〃maddened by it； Domini。 I
can't helpI can't〃
He laid his lips upon hers in a desperate caress that almost
suffocated her。 Then he took his lips away from her lips and kissed
her throat； holding her head back against his shoulder。 She shut her
eyes。 He was indeed teaching her to forget。 Even the memory of the day
in the garden when she heard the church bell chime and the sound of
Larbi's flute went from her。 She remembered nothing any more。 The past
was lost or laid in sleep by the spell of sensation。 Her nature
galloped like an Arab horse across the sands towards the sun； towards
the fire that sheds warmth afar but that devours all that draws near
to it。 At that moment she connected Androvsky with the tremendous
fires eternally blazing in the sun。 She had a desire that he should
hurt her in the passionate intensity of his love for her。 Her nature；
which till now had been ever ready to spring into hostility at an
accidental touch； which had shrunk instinctively from physical contact
with other human beings； melted； was utterly transformed。 She felt
that she was now the opposite of all that she had beenmore woman
than any other woman who had ever lived。 What had been an almost cold
strength in her went to increase the completeness of this yielding to
one stronger than herself。 What had seemed boyish and almost hard in
her died away utterly under the embrace of this fierce manhood。
〃Domini；〃 he spoke； whispering while he kissed her； 〃Domini； the
fire's gone out。 It's dark。〃
He lifted her a little in his arms； still kissing her。
〃Domini； it's dark； it's dark。〃
He lifted her more。 She stood up； with his arms about her； looking
towards where the fire had been。 She put her hands against his face
and softly pressed it back from hers； but with a touch that was a
caress。 He yielded to her at once。
〃Look！〃 he said。 〃Do you love the darkness？ Tell metell me that you
love it。〃
She let her hand glide over his cheek in answer。
〃Look at it。 Love it。 All the desert is in it； and our love in the
desert。 Let us stay in the desert； let us stay in it for everfor
ever。 It is your gardenyours。 It has brought us everything； Domini。〃
He took her hand and pressed it again and again over his cheek
lingeringly。 Then； abruptly； he dropped it。
〃Come！〃 he said。 〃Domini。〃
And he drew her in through the tent door almost violently。
A stronger gust of the night wind followed them。 Androvsky took his
arms slowly from Domini and turned to let down the flap of the tent。
While he was doing this she stood quite still。 The flame of the lamp
flickered； throwing its light now here； now there； uneasily。 She saw
the crucifix lit up for an instant and the white bed beneath it。 The
wind stirred her dark hair and was cold about her neck。 But the warmth
there met and defied it。 In that brief moment； while Androvsky was
fastening the tent； she seemed to live through centuries of intense
and complicated emotion。 When the light flickered over the crucifix
she felt as if she could spend her life in passionate adoration at its
foot； but when she did not see it； and the wind； coming in from the
desert through the tent door； where she heard the movement of
Androvsky； stirred in her hair； she felt reckless； wayward； savage
and something more。 A cry rose in her that was like the cry of a
stranger； who yet was of her and in her； and from whom she would not
part。
Again the lamp flame flickered upon the crucifix。 Quickly； while she
saw the crucifix plainly； she went forward to the bed and fell on her
knees by it； bending down her face upon its whiteness。
When Androvsky had fastened the tent door he turned round and saw her
kneeling。 He stood quite still as if petrified； staring at her。 Then；
as the flame； now sheltered from the wind； burned steadily； he saw the
crucifix。 He started as if someone had struck him； hesitated； then；
with a look of fierce and concentrated re