ndstill before Madame la Guillotine, who bothered not herself with
those two minute extremities.

So that on waking after sweet slumber, Jill kissed the misshapen slave
upon the cheek and told her the news, whereupon the dusky little woman
raised her eyes and hands heavenwards, gibbering like a monkey, albeit
she had just left an excited coterie of serving folk who, in the
mysterious native way, had become acquainted with the news of the
impending function without the uttering of one word from those most
interested in an event which would mean fulfilment of dreams to more
than one of those who had, for months past, pondered and commented on
the strangeness of their master's love-affair.

And Jill in the softest pink raiment sat like the perfect heart of a
perfect rose in the scented coolness of the pink chamber, and passed
the days designing garments of which it is useless to give a
description, seeing that the womenfolk in Northern climes have only two
notes on which to ring the changes of their wardrobe; the long,
shroud-looking thing in silk or crepe de Chine or good honest nainsook,
picked out in different coloured ribbons, or the romance killing,
stove-pipe giving effect of the masculine pyjama.

From camel back Jill had watched the departure of the first caravan of
swiftest camels, laden with gifts on their way to Cairo. The jangling
of bells, the musical cries of the drivers, and the roaring and
grumbling of the beasts, causing her to laugh aloud from sheer
happiness; whilst the natives, many of whom had not seen the mystery
woman their master was about to take to wife, fumbled with the packs so
as to get a good look at the little figure, who, Allah! had intercourse
with the man before the wedding.

"And may the blessings of Allah fall upon her, for it is not for us to
inquire into the strange ways of our master upon whom may the sun
shine, and beside whose path may a stream of purest water for ever run
for long years has he lived alone, knowing no woman; may she whom he
hath chosen be fruitful, bearing many sons, so that our children may
live in the blessed shadow of our master's children for generation
after generation."

That was the outlook of the happy oasis upon the most untoward
proceedings, for in the East the betrothed child passes her life in the
seclusion of her family until the very moment of the wedding, the man
depending absolutely upon the words of his mother or female relatives
as to the ap