enly pupil!" said he, kissing and taking her in his arms, "your
virtue is tried; I have found you worthy of the lessons which I gave
you. I foresaw evils might befall you, and therefore I took pity on
your innocence, and lived with Nouri your mother, that I might train
up my beloved Urad in the paths of virtue; and now your trial is past,
Urad shall enjoy the happiness of a genius."

Urad, though somewhat confounded at Houadir's embrace under the
appearance of a man, yet with great humility thanked her benefactor;
and the son of Houadir, turning to the left, led Urad into a little
by-path, so concealed that few, if any, might ever find its beginning.
After a long walk through various turnings and intricate windings,
they came to a small mean cottage, where, the son of Houadir leading
the way, Urad followed.

The son of Houadir striking fire with his stick, a bright flame arose
from the centre of the floor, into which he cast divers herbs, and
repeating some enchantments, the back part of the cottage opened and
presented to the view of Urad a beautiful dome, where she saw sitting
round a table a numerous assembly of gay persons of both sexes.

The son of Houadir, leading in Urad, said, "This, my dear pupil, is
the assembly of the Genii of the Forest." And, presenting her to the
company, "Behold," said he, "the beautiful and well-tried Urad. But
here you may cast off your reserve, fair maid, and indulge in the
innocent pleasures of the Genii of the Forest."

The son of Houadir then led her to the table, and seated her on the
same sofa with himself. The remainder of the day was spent in mirth
and pleasure.

Urad, having never beheld anything splendid or magnificent, was
greatly delighted at the gay company and beautiful saloon, nor did she
receive the caresses of the son of Houadir reluctantly.

At night, Urad was shown a glorious apartment to rest in, and the son
of Houadir attended her.

"My dear Houadir," said Urad, "when shall I behold your proper shape?
When shall I see you as my tutelary genius?"

"That," answered the son of Houadir, "I shall be in every shape; but
call neither one nor the other my _proper_ shape; for to a genius all
shapes are assumed: neither is this my proper shape, nor the wrinkles
of an old woman. But, to confess the truth, O beautiful Urad, from the
first moment of your birth I resolved to make you my bride, and
therefore did I so patiently watch your growing years, and instruct
you i