the garden of allah-第20章

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to　the　other　side　of　the　tower。　As　she　moved　to　do　this　she　heard　once
more　the　shifting　of　a　foot　on　the　plaster　floor；　then　a　step。
Evidently　she　had　infected　him　with　an　intention　similar　to　her　own。
She　went　on；　still　hearing　the　step；　turned　the　corner　and　stood　face
to　face　in　the　strong　evening　light　with　the　traveller。　Their　bodies
almost　touched　in　the　narrow　space　before　they　both　stopped；　startled。
For　a　moment　they　stood　still　looking　at　each　other；　as　people　might
look　who　have　spoken　together；　who　know　something　of　each　other's
lives；　who　may　like　or　dislike；　wish　to　avoid　or　to　draw　near　to　each
other；　but　who　cannot　pretend　that　they　are　complete　strangers；　wholly
indifferent　to　each　other。　They　met　in　the　sky；　almost　as　one　bird　may
meet　another　on　the　wing。　And；　to　Domini；　at　any　rate；　it　seemed　as　if
the　depth；　height；　space；　colour；　mystery　and　calmyes；　even　the　calm
which　were　above；　around　and　beneath　them；　had　been　placed　there　by
hidden　hands　as　a　setting　for　their　encounter；　even　as　the　abrupt
pageant　of　the　previous　day；　into　which　the　train　had　emerged　from　the
blackness　of　the　tunnel；　had　surely　been　created　as　a　frame　for　the
face　which　had　looked　upon　her　as　if　out　of　the　heart　of　the　sun。　The
assumption　was　absurd；　unreasonable；　yet　vital。　She　did　not　combat　it
because　she　felt　it　too　powerful　for　common　sense　to　strive　against。
And　it　seemed　to　her　that　the　stranger　felt　it　too；　that　she　saw　her
sensation　reflected　in　his　eyes　as　he　stood　between　the　parapet　and
the　staircase　wall；　barringin　despite　of　himselfher　path。　The
moment　seemed　long　while　they　stood　motionless。　Then　the　man　took　off
his　soft　hat　awkwardly；　yet　with　real　politeness；　and　stood　quickly
sideways　against　the　parapet　to　let　her　pass。　She　could　have　passed　if
she　had　brushed　against　him；　and　made　a　movement　to　do　so。　Then　she
checked　herself　and　looked　at　him　again　as　if　she　expected　him　to
speak　to　her。　His　hat　was　still　in　his　hand；　and　the　light　desert　wind
faintly　stirred　his　short　brown　hair。　He　did　not　speak；　but　stood
there　crushing　himself　against　the　plaster　work　with　a　sort　of　fierce
timidity；　as　if　he　dreaded　the　touch　of　her　skirt　against　him；　and
longed　to　make　himself　small；　to　shrivel　up　and　let　her　go　by　in
freedom。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　in　French。

She　passed　him；　but　was　unable　to　do　so　without　touching　him。　Her　left
arm　was　hanging　down；　and　her　bare　hand　knocked　against　the　back　of
the　hand　in　which　he　held　his　hat。　She　felt　as　if　at　that　moment　she
touched　a　furnace；　and　she　saw　him　shiver　slightly；　as　over…fatigued
men　sometimes　shiver　in　daylight。　An　extraordinary；　almost　motherly；
sensation　of　pity　for　him　came　over　her。　She　did　not　know　why。　The
intense　heat　of　his　hand；　the　shiver　that　ran　over　his　body；　his
attitude　as　he　shrank　with　a　kind　of　timid；　yet　ferocious；　politeness
against　the　white　wall；　the　expression　in　his　eyes　when　their　hands
toucheda　look　she　could　not　analyse；　but　which　seemed　to　hold　a
mingling　of　wistfulness　and　repellance；　as　of　a　being　stretching　out
arms　for　succour；　and　crying　at　the　same　time；　〃Don't　draw　near　to　me！
Leave　me　to　myself！〃everything　about　him　moved　her。　She　felt　that
she　was　face　to　face　with　a　solitariness　of　soul　such　as　she　had　never
encountered　before；　a　solitariness　that　was　cruel；　that　was　weighed
down　with　agony。　And　directly　she　had　passed　the　man　and　thanked　him
formally　she　stopped　with　her　usual　decision　of　manner。　She　had
abruptly　made　up　her　mind　to　talk　to　him。　He　was　already　moving　to
turn　away。　She　spoke　quickly；　and　in　French。

〃Isn't　it　wonderful　here？〃　she　said；　and　she　made　her　voice　rather
loud；　and　almost　sharp；　to　arrest　his　attention。

He　turned　round　swiftly；　yet　somehow　reluctantly；　looked　at　her
anxiously；　and　seemed　doubtful　whether　he　would　reply。

After　a　silence　that　was　short；　but　that　seemed；　and　in　such
circumstances　was；　long；　he　answered；　in　French：

〃Very　wonderful；　Madame。〃

The　sound　of　his　own　voice　seemed　to　startle　him。　He　stood　as　if　he
had　heard　an　unusual　noise　which　had　alarmed　him；　and　looked　at　Domini
as　if　he　expected　that　she　would　share　in　his　sensation。　Very　quietly
and　deliberately　she　leaned　her　arms　again　on　the　parapet　and　spoke　to
him　once　more。

〃We　seem　to　be　the　only　travellers　here。〃

The　man's　attitude　became　slightly　calmer。　He　looked　less　momentary；
less　as　if　he　were　in　haste　to　go；　but　still　shy；　fierce　and
extraordinarily　unconventional。

〃Yes；　Madame；　there　are　not　many　here。〃

After　a　pause；　and　with　an　uncertain　accent；　he　added：

〃Pardon；　Madamefor　yesterday。〃

There　was　a　sudden　simplicity；　almost　like　that　of　a　child；　in　the
sound　of　his　voice　as　he　said　that。　Domini　knew　at　once　that　he
alluded　to　the　incident　at　the　station　of　El…Akbara；　that　he　was
trying　to　make　amends。　The　way　he　did　it　touched　her　curiously。　She
felt　inclined　to　stretch　out　her　hand　to　him　and　say；　〃Of　course！
Shake　hands　on　it！〃　almost　as　an　honest　schoolboy　might。　But　she　only
answered：

〃I　know　it　was　only　an　accident。　Don't　think　of　it　any　more。〃

She　did　not　look　at　him。

〃Where　money　is　concerned　the　Arabs　are　very　persistent；〃　she
continued。

The　man　laid　one　of　his　brown　hands　on　the　top　of　the　parapet。　She
looked　at　it；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　had　never　before　seen　the
back　of　a　hand　express　so　much　of　character；　look　so　intense；　so
ardent；　and　so　melancholy　as　his。

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

He　still　spoke　with　an　odd　timidity；　with　an　air　of　listening　to　his
own　speech　as　if　in　some　strange　way　it　were　phenomenal　to　him。　It
occurred　to　her　that　possibly　he　had　lived　much　in　lonely　places；　in
which　his　solitude　had　rarely　been　broken；　and　he　had　been　forced　to
acquire　the　habit　of　silence。

〃But　they　are　very　picturesque。　They　look　almost　like　some　religious
order　when　they　wear　their　hoods。　Don't　you　think　so？〃

She　saw　the　brown　hand　lifted　from　the　parapet；　and　heard　her
companion's　feet　shift　on　the　floor　of　the　tower。　But　this　time　he
said　nothing。　As　she　could　not　see　his　hand　now　she　looked　out　again
over　the　panorama　of　the　evening；　which　was　deepening　in　intensity
with　every　passing　moment；　and　immediately　she　was　conscious　of　two
feelings　that　filled　her　with　wonder：　a　much　stronger　and　sweeter
sense　of　the　African　magic　than　she　had　felt　till　now；　and　the
certainty　that　the　greater　force　and　sweetness　of　her　feeling　were
caused　by　the　fact　that　she　had　a　companion　in　her　contemplation。　This
was　strange。　An　intense　desire　for　loneliness　had　driven　her　out　of
Europe　to　this　desert　place；　and　a　companion；　who　was　an　utter
stranger；　emphasised　the　significance；　gave　fibre　to　the　beauty；
intensity　to　the　mystery　of　that　which　she　looked　on。　It　was　as　if　the
meaning　of　the　African　evening　were　suddenly　doubled。　She　thought　of　a
dice…thrower　who　throws　one　die　and　turns　up　six；　then　throws　two　and
turns　up　twelve。　And　she　remained　silent　in　her　surprise。　The　man
stood　silently　beside　her。　Afterwards　she　felt　as　if；　during　this
silence　in　the　tower；　some　powerful　and　unseen　being　had　arrived
mysteriously；　introduced　them　to　one　another　and　mysteriously
departed。

The　evening　drew　on　in　their　silence　and　the　dream　was　deeper　now。　All
that　Domini　had　felt　when　first　she　approached　the　parapet　she　felt
more　strangely；　and　she　grasped；　with　physical　and　mental　vision；　not
only　the　whole；　but　the　innumerable　parts　of　that　which　she　looked　on。
She　saw；　fancifully；　the　circles　widen　in　the　pool　of　peace；　but　she
saw　also　the　things　that　had　been　hidden　in　the　pool。　The　beauty　of
dimness；　the　beauty　of　clearness；　joined　hands。　The　one　and　the　other
were；　with　her；　like　sisters。　She　heard　the　voices　from　below；　and
surely　also　the　voices　of　the　stars　that　were　approaching　with　the
night；　blending　harmoniously　and　making　a　music　in　the　air。　The
glowing　sky　and　the　glowing　mountains　were　as　comrades；　each
responsive　to　the　emotions　of　the　other。　The　lights　in　the　rocky
clefts　had　messages　for　the　shadowy　moon；　and　the　palm　trees　for　the
thin；　fire…tipped　clouds　about　the　west。　Far　off　the　misty　purple　of
the　desert　drew　surely　closer；　like　a　mother　coming　to　fold　her
children　in　her　arms。

The　Jewess　still　danced　upon　the　roof　to　the　watching　Zouaves；　but　now
there　was　something　mystic　in　her　tiny　movements　which　no　longer
roused　in　Domini　any　furtive　desire　not　really　inherent　in　her　nature。
There　was　something　beautiful　in　everything　seen　from　this　altitude　in
this　wondrous　evening　light。

Presently；　without　turning　to　her　companion；　she　said：

〃Could　anything　look　ugly　in　Beni…Mora　from　here　at　this　hour；　do　you
think？〃

Again　there　was　the　silence　that　seemed　characteristic　of　this　man
before　he　spoke；　as　if　speech　were　very　difficult　to　him。

〃I　believe　not；　Madame。〃

〃Even　that　woman　down　there　on　that　roof　looks　gracefulthe　one
dancing　for　those　soldiers。〃

He　did　not　answer。　She　glanced　at　him　and　pointed。

〃Down　there；　do　you　see？〃

She　noticed　that　he　did　not　follow　her　hand　and　that　his　face　became
stern。　He　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　trees　of　the　garden　of　the
Gazelles　near　Cardinal　Lavigerie's　statue　and　replied：

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

His　manner　made　her　think　that　perhaps　he　had　seen　the　dance　at　close
quarters　and　that　it　was　outrageous。　For　a　moment　she　felt　slightly
uncomfortable；　but　determined　not　to　let　him　remain　under　a　false
impression；　she　added　carelessly：

〃I　have　never　seen　the　dances　of　Africa。　I　daresay　I　should　think　them
ugly　enough　if　I　were　near；　but　from　this　height　everything　is
transformed。〃

〃That　is　true；　Madame。〃

There　was　an　odd；　muttering　sound　in　his　voice；　which　was　deep；　and
probably　strong；　but　which　he　kept　low。　Domini　thought　it　was　the　most
male　voice　she　had　ever　heard。　It　seemed　to　be　full　of　sex；　like　his
hands。　Yet　there　was　nothing　coarse　in　either　the　one　or　the　other。
Everything　about　him　was　vital　to　a　point　that　was　so　remarkable　as　to
be　not　actually　unnatural　but　very　near　the　unnatural。

She　glanced　at　him　again。　He　was　a　big　man；　but　very　thin。　Her
experienced　eyes　of　an　athletic　woman　told　her　that　he　was　capable　of
great　and　prolonged　muscular　exertion。　He　was　big…boned　and　deep…
chested；　and　had　nervous　as　well　as　muscular　strength。　The　timidity　in
him　was　strange　in　such　a　man。　What　could　it　spring　from？　It　was　not
like　ordinary　shyness；　the　/gaucherie/　of　a　big；　awkward　lout
unaccustomed　to　woman's　society　but　able　to　be　at　his　ease　and
boisterous　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　of　men。　Domini　thought　that　he
would　be　timid　even　of　men。　Yet　it　never　struck　her　that　he　might　be　a
coward；　unmanly。　Such　a　quality　would　have　sickened　her　at　once；　and
she　knew　she　would　have　at　once　divined　it。　He　did　not　hold　himself
very　well；　but　was　inclined　to　stoop　and　to　keep　his　head　low；　as　if
he　were　in　the　habit　of　looking　much　on　the　ground。　The　idiosyncrasy
was　rather　ugly；　and　suggested　melancholy　to　her；　the　melancholy　of　a
man　given　to　over…much　meditation　and　afraid　to　face　the　radiant
wonder　of　life。

She　caught　herself　up　at　this　last　thought。　Shethinking　naturally
that　life　was　full　of　radiant　wonder！　Was　she　then　so　utterly
transformed　already　by　Beni…Mora？　Or　had　the