ughed at her beard (for she had no small one), and
drew aside the curtains and took hold of a hand so small and so
delicate, that it were only fit to feed the Prophet himself near the
throne of the angel Gabriel, with the immortal pilau prepared for true
believers. Her face was covered, and the Frank desired the veil to be
removed. The old woman refused, and he turned on his heel to leave her
to the assaults of death. The old woman's love for her child conquered
her religious scruples, and she consented that her daughter should
unveil to an unbeliever. I was in ecstasy at her charms, and could have
asked her for a wife; but the Frank only asked to see her tongue. Having
looked at it, he turned away with as much indifference as if it had been
a dying dog. He desired me to bind up her arm, and took away a basin
full of her golden blood, and then put a white powder into the hands of
the old woman, saying that he would see her again. I held out my hand
for the gold, but there was none forthcoming.

"We are poor," cried the old woman, to the Hakim, "but God is great."

"I do not want your money, good woman," replied he; "I will cure your
daughter." Then he went to the bedside and spoke comfort to the sick
girl, telling her to be of good courage, and all would be well.

The girl answered in a voice sweeter than a nightingale's, that she had
but thanks to offer in return, and prayers to the Most High. "Yes," said
the old woman, raising her voice, "a scoundrel of a howling dervish
robbed me at Scutari of all I had for my subsistence, and of my
daughter's portion, seven hundred sequins, in a goat-skin bag!"--and
then she began to curse. May the dogs of the city howl at her ugliness!
How she did curse! She cursed my father and mother--she cursed their
graves--flung dirt upon my brother and sisters, and filth upon the whole
generation. She gave me up to Jehanum, and to every species of
defilement. It was a dreadful thing to hear that old woman curse. I
pulled my turban over my eyes, that she might not recognise me, and
lifted up my garment to cover my face, that I might not be defiled with
the shower of curses which were thrown at me like mud, and sat there
watching till the storm was over. Unfortunately, in lifting up my
garment, I exposed to the view of the old hag the cursed goat-skin bag,
which hung at my girdle, and contained, not only her money, but the
remainder of my own. "Mashallah--how wonderful is God!" screamed the
o