in the simplest of styles, and forbidden pastry and
sweatmeats altogether since the day of her birth, she absolutely
revelled in new sensations.

It must not be supposed that she violently broke through all restraints
on this occasion; but her mother saw that if old rules were enforced,
the child would be confused by the conflicting entreaties of her
hostesses and the denials of her mother, while the Sultana might be
offended. Mrs Langley, therefore, gave her _carte-blanche_ to eat what
she pleased.

The party all sat on embroidered cushions on the floor, round a small
low table made of silver and mother-of-pearl. On this, each dish was
placed separately; and all ate out of the same dish, after the Moorish
fashion. The spoons were made of rosewood, tipped with amber, and the
napkins were richly embroidered in gold, silver, and variously coloured
silk on a curiously-wrought linen ground. All the vessels used were of
the most elaborate and costly description, and we need scarcely add that
the viands were good. Among other things there was fish, which was
served and eaten with honey! but the chief among the dishes was
kooskoos. This was the _piece de resistance_ of the Moorish
dinner-table, the substance on which the ladies chiefly fed and
flourished. To be fat was, in those days, the most desirable attribute
of a wife in the eyes of an Algerine husband, therefore kooskoos was
eaten in quantity. It was made largely of flour, rolled, in some
mystical manner, into the form of little pellets, like small sago; this,
boiled with butter and other fatty substances, with bits of meat and
chicken, and other viands mixed through it,--the whole being slightly
seasoned and spiced,--was deemed food fit for a Sultana.

During the meal they became very chatty, and the young people paid much
attention to Agnes, who, being a sensitively good girl, felt, every time
that she experienced a new taste, as though she were breaking all the
Ten Commandments, notwithstanding the permission of her mother!

Several times Ashweesha turned the conversation on the home affairs of
her guests, and attempted to gain further information about Sidi
Hassan's doings, but found, much to her annoyance, that Mrs Langley
knew little more than she had already communicated. Her good-humour
was, however, restored by that lady's unaffected admiration of the
numerous lovely things by which she was surrounded. She specially
praised the splendid napkins and