er into his arms. "Thou art
with child, O! my beloved. Why was I not stricken blind for this my
senseless folly? Why was I not stricken dumb for those my words of
wrath spoken to _thee_, thou tree bearing the fruit of love? Oh! glory
be to Allah in this most wonderful thing."

He picked her up, and carrying her into the first room, laid her upon
the divan and knelt beside her with her hand against his mouth whilst
she whispered to him the great, the everlastingly wonderful and new
tidings of the coming of her babe.

"Oh, dearest of men and most little understanding. Truly it is that
within me I hold thy great gift. How was it thou didst not guess when
I no longer raced thee across the sands upon my horse, or sprang to the
ground to greet thee on my return.

"And even when my moods changed even as changeth the colour of the
sands, even then, dear heart, thou didst not guess; and I in my foolish
woman's way was contrary, and could not even then be sure that my
happiness lay here in the desert. And so I left thee, to try thee and
myself, and not until I could no longer see thee, and have speech with
thee, did I------ Hahmed! Ah, beloved! Nay, 'tis nothing--it can be
nothing--because two moons have yet to rise and wane before--ah, and
yet--maybe--maybe the journey, although not tedious, has brought about
my happiness before its time. Beloved, I------"

With eyes alight, with a great pride and face aglow with tenderness,
Hahmed bent and kissed the little agonised face.

"I go one instant, Queen of Women, to bid thy body woman come, she,
praise be to Allah, being well versed in the mighty miracle of birth.

"She will tend thee with the tenderness of a mother, and the skill of
the greatest doctor in the land.

"Fret not, beloved, I am gone but for one moment."

Jill lay silent, and then smiled sweetly as out of the shadows ran a
little hunchback figure who stood without word, for a moment gazing
with love-laden eyes at the white woman, then kneeling suddenly, kissed
the cushion upon which rested the girl's dainty feet.

For half an hour Jill submitted to the adoring little woman's
ministrations, who made water to splash, and scented the air with
aromatic perfume, and spread white loose gowns and softest linens
before her mistress for her choice.

"Leave me, Ameena, now," whispered Jill, and she was alone with the
golden glory of her hair falling about her, as she pressed her hands
against her mouth, unti