for each other would be crowned。 Beautiful and intense as it was it
still lacked something。 It needed to be encircled by the protecting
love of a God in whom they both believed in the same way； and to whom
they both were equally near。 While she felt close to this love and he
far from it they were not quite together。
There were moments in which she was troubled； even sad； but they
passed。 For she had a great courage； a great confidence。 The hope that
dwells like a flame in the purity of prayer comforted her。
〃I love the solitudes；〃 he said。 〃I love to have you to myself。〃
〃If we lived always in the greatest city of the world it would make no
difference；〃 she said quietly。 〃You know that； Boris。〃
He bent over from his saddle and clasped her hand in his； and they
rode thus up the great slope of the sands； with their horses close
together。
The minarets of the city grew more distinct。 They dominated the waste
as the thought of Allah dominates the Mohammedan world。 Presently； far
away on the left； Domini and Androvsky saw hills of sand； clearly
defined like small mountains delicately shaped。 On the summits of
these hills were Arab villages of the hue of bronze gleaming in the
sun。 No trees stood near them。 But beyond them； much farther off； was
the long green line of the palms of a large oasis。 Between them and
the riders moved slowly towards the minarets dark things that looked
like serpents writhing through the sands。 These were caravans coming
into the city from long journeys。 Here and there； dotted about in the
immensity； were solitary horsemen； camels in twos and threes； small
troops of donkeys。 And all the things that moved went towards the
minarets as if irresistibly drawn onwards by some strong influence
that sucked them in from the solitudes of the whirlpool of human life。
Again Domini thought of the approach to London； and of the dominion of
great cities； those octopus monsters created by men； whose tentacles
are strong to seize and stronger still to keep。 She was infected by
Androvsky's dread of a changed life； and through her excitement； that
pulsed with interest and curiosity； she felt a faint thrill of
something that was like fear。
〃Boris；〃 she said； 〃I feel as if your thoughts were being conveyed to
me by your touch。 Perhaps the solitudes are best。〃
By a simultaneous impulse they pulled in their horses and listened。
Sounds came to them over the sands； thin and remote。 They could not
tell what they were； but they knew that they heard something which
suggested the distant presence of life。
〃What is it？〃 said Domini。
〃I don't know； but I hear something。 It travels to us from the
minarets。〃
They both leaned forward on their horses' necks； holding each other's
hand。
〃I feel the tumult of men；〃 Androvsky said presently。
〃And I。 But it seems as if no men could have elected to build a city
here。〃
〃Here in the 'Belly of the desert；'〃 he said； quoting the Arabs' name
for Amara。
〃Boris〃she spoke in a more eager voice； clasping his hand
strongly〃you remember the /fumoir/ in Count Anteoni's garden。 The
place where it stood was the very heart of the garden。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We understood each other there。〃
He pressed her hand without speaking。
〃Amara seems to me the heart of the Garden of Allah。 Perhapsperhaps
we shall〃
She paused。 Her eyes were fixed upon his face。
〃What； Domini？〃 he asked。
He looked expectant； but anxious； and watched her； but with eyes that
seemed ready to look away from her at a word。
〃Perhaps we shall understand each other even better there。〃
He looked down at the white sand。
〃Better！〃 he repeated。 〃Could we do that？〃
She did not answer。 The far…off villages gleamed mysteriously on their
little mountains； like unreal things that might fade away as castles
fade in the fire。 The sky above the minarets was changing in colour
slowly。 Its blue was being invaded by a green that was a sister
colour。 A curious light； that seemed to rise from below rather than to
descend from above； was transmuting the whiteness of the sands。 A
lemon yellow crept through them； but they still looked cold and
strange； and immeasurably vast。 Domini fancied that the silence of the
desert deepened so that； in it； they might hear the voices of Amara
more distinctly。
〃You know；〃 she said； 〃when one looks out over the desert from a
height； as we did from the tower of Beni…Mora； it seems to call one。
There's a voice in the blue distance that seems to say； 'Come to me！ I
am herehidden in my retreat； beyond the blue； and beyond the mirage；
and beyond the farthest verge！'〃
〃Yes； I know。〃
〃I have always felt； when we travelled in the desert； that the calling
thing； the soul of the desert； retreated as I advanced； and still
summoned me onward but always from an infinite distance。〃
〃And I too； Domini。〃
〃Now I don't feel that。 I feel as if now we were coming near to the
voice； as if we should reach it at Amara； as if there it would tell us
its secret。〃
〃Imagination！〃 he said。
But he spoke seriously； almost mystically。 His voice was at odds with
the word it said。 She noticed that and was sure that he was secretly
sharing her sensation。 She even suspected that he had perhaps felt it
first。
〃Let us ride on；〃 he said。 〃Do you see the change in the light？ Do you
see the green in the sky？ It is cooler； too。 This is the wind of
evening。〃
Their hands fell apart and they rode slowly on； up the long slope of
the sands。
Presently they saw that they had come out of the trackless waste and
that though still a long way from the city they were riding on a
desert road which had been trodden by multitudes of feet。 There were
many footprints here。 On either side were low banks of sand； beaten
into a rough symmetry by implements of men； and shallow trenches
through which no water ran。 In front of them they saw the numerous
caravans； now more distinct； converging from left and right slowly to
this great isle of the desert which stretched in a straight line to
the minarets。
〃We are on a highway；〃 Domini said。
Androvsky sighed。
〃I feel already as if we were in the midst of a crowd；〃 he answered。
〃Our love for peace oughtn't to make us hate our fellowmen！〃 she said。
〃Come； Boris； let us chase away our selfish mood！〃
She spoke in a more cheerful voice and drew her rein a little tighter。
Her horse quickened its pace。
〃And think how our stay at Amara will make us love the solitudes when
we return to them again。 Contrast is the salt of life。〃
〃You speak as if you didn't believe what you are saying。〃
She laughed。
〃If I were ever inclined to tell you a lie；〃 she said； 〃I should not
dare to。 Your mind penetrates mine too deeply。〃
〃You could not tell me a lie。〃
〃Do you hear the dogs barking？〃 she said； after a moment。 〃They are
among those tents that are like flies on the sands around the city。
That is the tribe of the Ouled Nails I suppose。 Batouch says they camp
here。 What multitudes of tents！ Those are the suburbs of Amara。 I
would rather live in them than in the suburbs of London。 Oh； how far
away we are； as if we were at the end of the world！〃
Either her last words； or her previous change of manner to a lighter
cheerfulness； almost a briskness； seemed to rouse Androvsky to a
greater confidence； even to anticipation of possible pleasure。
〃Yes。 After all it is only the desert men who are here。 Amara is their
Metropolis； and in it we shall only see their life。〃
His horse plunged。 He had touched it sharply with his heel。
〃I believe you hate the thought of civilisation；〃 she exclaimed。
〃And you？〃
〃I never think of it。 I feel almost as if I had never known it； and
could never know it。〃
〃Why should you？ You love the wilds。〃
〃They make my whole nature leap。 Even when I was a child it was so。 I
remember once reading /Maud/。 In it I came upon a passageI can't
remember it well； but it was about the red man〃
She thought for a moment； looking towards the city。
〃I don't know how it is quite；〃 she murmured。 〃'When the red man
laughs by his cedar tree； and the red man's babe leaps beyond the sea'
something like that。 But I know that it made my heart beat； and that
I felt as if I had wings and were spreading them to fly away to the
most remote places of the earth。 And now I have spread my wings； and
it's glorious。 Come； Boris！〃
They put their horses to a canter； and soon drew near to the caravans。
They had sent Batouch and Ali； who generally accompanied them； on with
the rest of the camp。 Both had many friends in Amara； and were eager
to be there。 It was obvious that they and all the attendants； servants
and camel…men； thought of it as the provincial Frenchman thinks of
Paris； as a place of all worldly wonders and delights。 Batouch was to
meet them at the entrance to the city； and when they had seen the
marvels of its market…place was to conduct them to the tents which
would be pitched on the sand…hills outside。
Their horses pulled as if they； too； longed for a spell of city life
after the life of the wastes； and Domini's excitement grew。 She felt
vivid animal spirits boiling up within her； the sane and healthy sense
that welcomes a big man