ng.

"And you shall use it whenever you like. And now for the bedrooms!"

"More incongruities," he said. "But never mind. They looked delightfully
clean and cosy."

"Clean and cosy!" she repeated, with a sort of light irony in her
beautiful voice. "Is that all?"

"Well, I mean--"

"I know. Come along."

They opened the doors and looked into each gay and luxurious little
room. And as Mrs. Armine went from one to another, she was aware of the
soft and warm sensation that steals over a woman returning to the
atmosphere which thoroughly suits her, and from which she has long been
exiled. Here she could be in her element, for here money had been
lavishly spent to create something unique. She felt certain that no
dahabeeyah on the Nile was so perfect as the _Loulia_. Every traveller
upon the river would be obliged to envy her. For a moment she secretly
revelled in that thought; then she remembered something; her face
clouded, her lips tightened, and she strove to chase from her mind that
desire to be envied by other women.

Nigel and she must avoid the crowds that gather on the Nile in the
spring. They must tie up in the unfrequented places. Had she not
reiterated to him her wish to "get away from people," to see only the
native life on the river? Those "other women" must wait to be envious,
and she, too, must wait. She stifled an impatient sigh, and opened
another door. After one swift glance within, she said:

"I will have this cabin, Nigel."

"All right, darling. Anything you like. But let's have a look."

For a moment she did not move.

"Don't be selfish, Ruby!"

She felt fingers touching her waist at the back, gripping her with a
sort of tender strongness; and she closed her eyes, and tried to force
herself to believe they were Baroudi's fingers of iron.

"Or I shall pick you up and lift you out of the way."

When Nigel spoke again, she opened her eyes. It was no use. She was not
to have that illusion. She set her teeth and put her hands behind her,
feeling for his fingers. Their hands met, clasped. She fell back, and
let him look in.

"Why, this must be Baroudi's cabin!" he said.

"I dare say. But what I want it for is the size. Don't you see, it's
double the size of the others," she said, carelessly.

"So it is. But they are ever so much gayer. This is quite Oriental, and
the bed's awfully low."

He bent down and felt it.

"It's a good one, though. Trust Baroudi for that. Well, dear, take it;