ng him to
a sort of manly shame at the thought of his present life of repose. But
he was doing it with an apparent carelessness that was deceptive and
very subtle; he was doing it by talking about himself, and his own
energy, and his own success, not conceitedly, but simply, and in
connection with Nigel's plans and schemes and desires.

Why was he doing this? Did he want to send Nigel to spend the winter in
the Fayyum? And did he know that Nigel intended to "rig up something" in
the Fayyum for her?

[Illustration]

She began to wonder, to wonder intensely, why Baroudi was stirring up
Nigel's enthusiasm for work. It seemed as if, for the moment, the two
men had entirely forgotten that she was there, had forgotten that in the
world there was such a phenomenon as woman. She had a pleasant sensation
of listening securely at a key-hole. Usually she desired to attract to
herself the attention of every man who was near her. To-day she wished
that the conversation between her husband and Baroudi might be
indefinitely prolonged; for a strange sense of well-being, of calmness,
indeed of panacea, was beginning to steal at last upon her, after the
excitement, the bitter anger that had upset her spirit. It seemed to her
as if in that moment of utter repose in the darkness of the chamber near
the fountain a hypnotic hand had been laid upon her, as if it had not
yet been removed. Really she was already captured by the dahabeeyah
spell, although she did not know it. A dahabeeyah is the home of dreams,
and of a deeply quiet physical well-being. Mrs. Armine was a very
sensuous woman, and sensitive to all sensuous impressions; so now, while
her husband talked eagerly, enthusiastically, of the life of activity
and work, she received from the Nile its curious gift of bodily
indolence and stillness. Her body never moved, never wished to move, in
the deep and cushioned chair, was almost like a body morphia-stricken;
but her mind was alert, and judging the capacities of these two men. And
still it was seeking secretly the answer to a "Why?" when Nigel at
length exclaimed:

"Anyhow, I meant to get off by the train to-morrow night. And you? When
are you starting up the river?"

"I have a tug. I go away to-night."

"To Armant?"

"To Armant for some days. Then I go farther up the river. I have
interests near Kom Ombos. I shall be away some time, and then drop down
to Assiout. I have nothing more to do here."

"Interests in Assiout, too?