--Buhaism. But why
not spread it in Arabia as in America? She will talk to Ebbas Effendi
about Khalid. He is young, eloquent, rising to power. And with her
love, and influence superadded, what might he not do? what might he
not accomplish? These ideas flashed through her mind, while Khalid was
pacing up and down the room, which was already filled with smoke. She
is absorbed in thought. Khalid comes near her bed, bends over her, and
buries his face in her wealth of black hair.

Mrs. Gotfry is startled as from a dream.

"I can not see all that you see."

"Then you do not love me."

"Why do you say that? Here, now go sit down. Oh, I am suffocating. The
smoke is so thick in the room I can scarcely see you. And it is so
late.--No, no. Give me time to think on the subject. Now, come."

And Mrs. Gotfry opens the door and the window to let out Khalid and
his smoke.

"Go, Khalid, and try to sleep. And if you can not sleep, try to write.
And if you can not write, read. And if you can neither read nor write
nor sleep, why, then, put on your shoes and go out for a walk. Good
night. There. Good night. But don't forget, we must visit Sheikh Taleb
to-morrow."

The astute Mrs. Gotfry might have added, And if you do not feel like
walking, take a dip in the River Barada. But in her words, to be
sure, were a douche cold enough for Khalid. Now, to be just and
comprehensive in our History we must record here that she, too, did
not, and could not sleep that night. The thought that Khalid would
make a good apostle of Buhaism and incidentally a good companion,
insinuated itself between the lines on every page of the book she was
trying to read.

On the following day they visit Sheikh Taleb, who is introduced to us
by Shakib in these words:

"A Muslem, like Socrates, who educates not by lesson, but by going
about his business. He seldom deigns to write; and yet, his words are
quoted by every writer of the day, and on every subject sacred and
profane. His good is truly magnetic. He is a man who lives after his
own mind and in his own robes; an Arab who prays after no Imam, but
directly to Allah and his Apostle; a scholar who has more dryasdust
knowledge on his finger ends than all the ulema of Cairo and Damascus;
a philosopher who would not give an orange peel for the opinion of the
world; an ascetic who flees celebrity as he would the plague; a sage
who does not disdain to be a pedagogue; an eccentric withal to amuse
even a Diogene