"My sorrows indeed hitherto," replied Urad, "have prevented my labour;
but to-morrow I shall again rise to my wonted employment."

"But even to-night," said Lahnar, "let my friend take some little
nourishment, that she may rise refreshed; for fasting will deject you
as well as grief; and suffer me to partake with you. And see, in this
basket I have brought my provisions, some boiled rice, and a few fish,
which my kind brother Darandu brought me this evening from the river
Tigris."

"Excuse me, kind Lahnar," answered Urad, "but I must refuse your
offer. Grief has driven away appetite to aught but itself far from me,
and I am not solicitous to take provisions which I cannot use."

"At least," replied Lahnar, "permit me to sit beside you, and eat of
what is here before us."

Upon which, without other excuses, Lahnar emptied her basket, and set
a bowl of rice and fish before Urad, and began to feed heartily on
that which she had brought for herself.

Urad was tempted by hunger and the example of Lahnar to begin, but she
was doubtful about tasting the fish of Darandu; wherefore she first
attempted the boiled rice, though her appetite was most inclined to
the fish, of which she at last ate very heartily, when she recollected
that as she had partaken with Lahnar, it was the same whatever part
she accepted.

Lahnar having finished her meal, and advised Urad to think of some
methods of social life, took her leave, and left the unsettled virgin
to meditate on her strange visitor.

Urad, though confused, could not help expressing some pleasure at this
visit; for such is the blessing of society, that it will always give
comfort to those who have been disused to its sweet effects.

But Urad, though pleased with the friendship of Lahnar, yet was
confounded when, some few minutes after, she perceived her again
returning.

"What," said Urad, "brings back Lahnar to the sorrows of this
cottage?"

"Urad," said Lahnar, "I will rest with my friend to-night, for the
shades of night cast horrors around, and I dare not disturb my
father's cottage by my late approach."

But as soon as she had admitted Lahnar, she perceived that it was
Darandu disguised in Lahnar's clothes. Urad, greatly terrified,
recollecting her lost friend Houadir, felt for a peppercorn, and let
it fall to the ground.

A violent rapping was in a moment heard at the cottage, at which Urad
uttered a loud cry, and Darandu, with shame and confusion, looked
tr