request, but that my lord would now accept the thanks
of ALMEIDA for the life which he has preserved, and impute the delay,
not to ingratitude, but inadvertence: let me now take her back, as thy
gift; and let the light of thy favour be upon us.' 'Take her then,' said
HAMET; 'for I would give her only to thee.'

These words of HAMET did not escape the notice either of Abdallah or
ALMEIDA; but neither of them mentioned their conjectures to the other.
ALMEIDA, who was inclined to judge of HAMET'S situation by her own, and
who recollected many little incidents, known only to herself, which
favoured her wishes; indulged the hope, that she should again hear of
HAMET, with more confidence than her father; nor were her expectations
disappointed. HAMET reflected with pleasure, that he had prepared the
way for a more explicit declaration; and as his impatience increased
with his passion every hour, he sent for Abdallah the next morning, and
told him, that he wished to be more acquainted with his daughter, with a
view to make her his wife: 'As neither you nor your daughter are my
subjects,' says HAMET, 'I cannot command you; and if you were, upon this
occasion I would not. I do not want a slave, but a friend; not merely a
woman, but a wife. If I find ALMEIDA such as my fancy has feigned her;
if her mind corresponds with her form; and if I have reason to think,
that she can give her heart to HAMET, and not merely her hand to the
king; I shall be happy.' To this declaration, Abdallah replied with
expressions of the profoundest submission and gratitude; and HAMET
dismissed him, to prepare ALMEIDA to receive him in the afternoon of the
same day.

CHAP. VII.

As eight moons only had passed since the death of Solyman, and as the
reverence of HAMET for the memory of his father would not suffer him to
marry till the year should be completed; he determined not to mention
ALMEIDA to his brother, till the time when he could marry her was near.
The fierce and haughty deportment of ALMORAN had now left HAMET no room
to doubt of his character: and though he had no apprehension that he
would make any attempts upon ALMEIDA, after she should be his wife; yet
he did not know how much might justly be feared from his passion, if he
should see her and become enamoured of her, while she was yet a virgin
in the house of her father.

ALMEIDA had not only unsullied purity of mind, but principles of refined
and exalted virtue; and as the life