CHAPTER LIII

A very ecstasy of love radiated upon the Arab's face as he stood behind
Jill, who in amazement stopped dead on the threshold.

Beautiful her many rooms had been, but none to compare with the
snow-white beauty of this. Great white Persian rugs with faint
tracings worked in gold and silver lay upon the white marble of the
floor; white cushions, with little corner gold and silver tassels, lay
piled upon a great divan raised a foot on ivory feet above the floor,
and half hidden behind white damask curtains hanging from a finely
wrought arch carved out of creamy stretches of ivory held together with
gold and silver clasps of rare workmanship.

Stools of ivory, and one great perfect chair, made of innumerable tusks
with each tip blunted by a ball of crystal, shone in the dim light cast
by the hanging lamps, which drew countless rays from the four fountains
playing in the four corners. Bibelots, jewelled boxes, rare books in
rare age-dulled covers, things of use and things of luxury lay in every
corner, and yet so big was the room that it gave Jill an infinitely
refreshing feeling of space as she walked slowly through to another
one, leading out from the far side, where crystal and ivory gleamed
from low tables, and full length mirrors reflected the water in the
Roman bath over which hung flowering plants scenting the air from the
great gold and white cups, whilst two snow-white doves cooed to each
other in a silver cage at the approach of the coming dawn.

"So would I have it for my--ah----!" Hahmed stopped suddenly, as with a
little cry the girl falling forward clutched frantically at his fine
white clothing, tearing it in many places under her weight.

"Woman--wife, art thou stricken with fear of him who loves thee--Allah!
That I should have lived to see thy face distorted in anguish in my
presence. I spoke in anger, O! my heart, but my wrath waxeth faint
within me in thy beloved presence," and speaking soft words of love he
raised her in his arms, causing the voluminous mantle which she held so
closely about her to slip from her shoulders to the ground.

Speechless she stood before him with her hands before her face, and
speechless stood Hahmed, as, holding her at arm's length, he gazed upon
his woman, gazed until a great tremor suddenly shook him.

For behold he saw that the glory of womanhood had descended upon her,
and that her hour was nigh.

"Allah!" he whispered, as he gently drew h