here, though no one
would have guessed at her momentary weakness as she flung open the
cupboard doors to their widest, and taking an armful of soft feminine
attire, held them out for the inspection of the grave Arab, whilst her
voice rang through the room, giving exactly the same impression of
trouble as does the wind which, springing from nowhere, usually
precedes the storm.

"You said no woman save an old peasant had ever placed foot within this
house. If so, what do these Eastern things mean?" holding out as she
spoke a feminine something which seemed to be composed of sea-form, and
pearls.

"For myself I only see a few bedroom wraps, and--and a garment in--in
the bathroom."

And her heart suddenly stopped a beat, and then made the blank up by
multiplying the next, for she had seen the man's face as he had taken
the offending garment, and tearing it across and again across, dropped
it at his feet, before he moved slowly towards her across the dividing
space to take her two hands in his, holding them against his breast in
a clasp that hurt.

"Listen," he said. "I shall speak this once and never again! Listen!"
For a moment the quiet voice stopped, so that the gentle cracking of
the burning logs could alone be heard above the heavy thud of the
girl's heart, which to her ears sounded like thunder of the surf at
dawn. "You are _mine, mine_, do you understand? You are no silly
child, you knew what you were doing when you came with me, neither am I
a man, for man or woman to play with. And now I have you, as Allah is
above us, I will never let you go, for although the oasis and the
camels and horses are yours, you will find no soul to lead the beast
across the sands so covered with the bleaching bones of those who have
gone astray. Oh! be not afraid," for the little face beneath his was
white. "You are mistress here. You need but draw the curtain and no
one will enter, no one until you clap your hands and _call them by
name_. You will forgive the lowly room which entours you, and the
unseemly garments which in haste I ordered, guessing at what you might
require. Tomorrow you shall order what you will, and your slaves shall
bring all from the great cities at the greatest speed, for as I have
said, a dwelling worthy of your beauty shall be erected before many
moons have sped. I will leave you, for doubtless you would remove your
dust-laden raiment. I will send your slave, who even now is returning
thanks