the garden of allah-第36章

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the　romantic　beauty　of　this　desert　garden。

〃It　is　like　a　garden　of　the　/Arabian　Nights/；〃　she　had　said。

He　did　not　look　enlightened；　and　she　was　moved　to　ask　him　abruptly
whether　he　had　ever　read　the　famous　book。　He　had　not。　A　doubt　came　to
her　whether　he　had　ever　even　heard　of　it。　She　mentioned　the　fact　of
Count　Anteoni's　having　made　the　garden；　and　spoke　of　him；　sketching
lightly　his　whimsicality；　his　affection　for　the　Arabs；　his　love　of
solitude；　and　of　African　life。　She　also　mentioned　that　he　was　by　birth
a　Roman。

〃But　scarcely　of　the　black　world　I　should　imagine；〃　she　added。

Androvsky　said　nothing。

〃You　should　go　and　see　the　garden；〃　she　continued。　〃Count　Anteoni
allows　visitors　to　explore　it。〃

〃I　am　sure　it　must　be　very　beautiful；　Madame；〃　he　replied；　rather
coldly；　she　thought。

He　did　not　say　that　he　would　go。

As　the　garden　won　upon　her；　as　its　enchanted　mystery；　the　airy　wonder
of　its　shadowy　places；　the　glory　of　its　trembling　golden　vistas；　the
restfulness　of　its　green　defiles；　the　strange；　almost　unearthly　peace
that　reigned　within　it　embalmed　her　spirit；　as　she　learned　not　only　to
marvel　at　it；　to　be　entranced　by　it；　but　to　feel　at　home　in　it　and
love　it；　she　was　conscious　of　a　persistent　desire　that　Androvsky
should　know　it　too。

Perhaps　his　dogged　determination　about　the　riding　had　touched　her　more
than　she　was　aware。　She　often　saw　before　her　the　bent　figure；　that
looked　tired；　riding　alone　into　the　luminous　grey；　starting　thus　early
that　his　act；　humble　and　determined；　might　not　be　known　by　her。　He　did
not　know　that　she　had　seen　him；　not　only　on　that　morning；　but　on　many
subsequent　mornings；　setting　forth　to　study　the　new　art　in　the
solitude　of　the　still　hours。　But　the　fact　that　she　had　seen；　had
watched　till　horse　and　rider　vanished　beyond　the　palms；　had　understood
why；　perhaps　moved　her　to　this　permanent　wish　that　he　could　share　her
pleasure　in　the　garden；　know　it　as　she　did。

She　did　not　argue　with　herself　about　the　matter。　She　only　knew　that
she　wished；　that　presently　she　meant　Androvsky　to　pass　through　the
white　gate　and　be　met　on　the　sand　by　Smain　with　his　rose。

One　day　Count　Anteoni　had　asked　her　whether　she　had　made　acquaintance
with　the　man　who　had　fled　from　prayer。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃You　know　it。〃

〃How？〃

〃We　have　ridden　to　Sidi…Zerzour。〃

〃I　am　not　always　by　the　wall。〃

〃No；　but　I　think　you　were　that　day。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　so？〃

〃I　am　sure　you　were。〃

He　did　not　either　acknowledge　or　deny　it。

〃He　has　never　been　to　see　my　garden；〃　he　said。

〃No。〃

〃He　ought　to　come。〃

〃I　have　told　him　so。〃

〃Ah？　Is　he　coming？〃

〃I　don't　think　so。〃

〃Persuade　him　to。　I　have　a　pride　in　my　gardenoh；　you　have　no　idea
what　a　pride！　Any　neglect　of　it；　any　indifference　about　it　rasps　me；
plays　upon　the　raw　nerve　each　one　of　us　possesses。〃

He　spoke　smilingly。　She　did　not　know　what　he　was　feeling；　whether　the
remote　thinker　or　the　imp　within　him　was　at　work　or　play。

〃I　doubt　if　he　is　a　man　to　be　easily　persuaded；〃　she　said。

〃Perhaps　notpersuade　him。〃

After　a　moment　Domini　said：

〃I　wonder　whether　you　recognise　that　there　are　obstacles　which　the
human　will　can't　negotiate？〃

〃I　could　scarcely　live　where　I　do　without　recognising　that　the　grains
of　sand　are　often　driven　by　the　wind。　But　when　there　is　no　wind！〃

〃They　lie　still？〃

〃And　are　the　desert。　I　want　to　have　a　strange　experience。〃

〃What？〃

〃A　/fete/　in　my　garden。〃

〃A　fantasia？〃

〃Something　far　more　banal。　A　lunch　party；　a　/dejeuner/。　Will　you
honour　me？〃

〃By　breakfasting　with　you？　Yes；　of　course。　Thank　you。〃

〃And　will　you　bringthe　second　sun　worshipper？〃

She　looked　into　the　Count's　small；　shining　eyes。

〃Monsieur　Androvsky？〃

〃If　that　is　his　name。　I　can　send　him　an　invitation；　of　course。　But
that's　rather　formal；　and　I　don't　think　he　is　formal。〃

〃On　what　day　do　you　ask　us？〃

〃Any　dayFriday。〃

〃And　why　do　you　ask　us？〃

〃I　wish　to　overcome　this　indifference　to　my　garden。　It　hurts　me；　not
only　in　my　pride；　but　in　my　affections。〃

The　whole　thing　had　been　like　a　sort　of　serious　game。　Domini　had　not
said　that　she　would　convey　the　odd　invitation；　but　when　she　was　alone；
and　thought　of　the　way　in　which　Count　Anteoni　had　said　〃Persuade　him；〃
she　knew　she　would；　and　she　meant　Androvsky　to　accept　it。　This　was　an
opportunity　of　seeing　him　in　company　with　another　man；　a　man　of　the
world；　who　had　read；　travelled；　thought；　and　doubtless　lived。

She　asked　him　that　evening；　and　saw　the　red；　that　came　as　it　comes　in
a　boy's　face；　mount　to　his　forehead。

〃Everybody　who　comes　to　Beni…Mora　comes　to　see　the　garden；〃　she　said
before　he　could　reply。　〃Count　Anteoni　is　half　angry　with　you　for　being
an　exception。〃

〃Butbut；　Madame；　how　can　Monsieur　the　Count　know　that　I　am　here？　I
have　not　seen　him。〃

〃He　knows　there　is　a　second　traveller；　and　he's　a　hospitable　man。
Monsieur　Androvsky；　I　want　you　to　come；　I　want　you　to　see　the　garden。〃

〃It　is　very　kind　of　you；　Madame。〃

The　reluctance　in　his　voice　was　extreme。　Yet　he　did　not　like　to　say
no。　While　he　hesitated；　Domini　continued：

〃You　remember　when　I　asked　you　to　ride？〃

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

〃That　was　new　to　you。　Well；　it　has　given　you　pleasure；　hasn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

〃So　will　the　garden。　I　want　to　put　another　pleasure　into　your　life。〃

She　had　begun　to　speak　with　the　light　persuasiveness　of　a　woman　of　the
worldwishing　to　overcome　a　man's　diffidence　or　obstinacy；　but　while
she　said　the　words　she　felt　a　sudden　earnestness　rush　over　her。　It
went　into　the　voice；　and　surely　smote　upon　him　like　a　gust　of　the　hot
wind　that　sometimes　blows　out　of　the　desert。

〃I　shall　come；　Madame；〃　he　said　quickly。

〃Friday。　I　may　be　in　the　garden　in　the　morning。　I'll　meet　you　at　the
gate　at　half…past　twelve。〃

〃Friday？〃　he　said。

Already　he　seemed　to　be　wavering　in　his　acceptance。　Domini　did　not
stay　with　him　any　longer。

〃I'm　glad；〃　she　said　in　a　finishing　tone。

And　she　went　away。

Now　Count　Anteoni　told　her　that　he　had　invited　the　priest。　She　felt
vexed；　and　her　face　showed　that　she　did。　A　cloud　came　down　and
immediately　she　looked　changed　and　disquieting。　Yet　she　liked　the
priest。　As　she　sat　in　silence　her　vexation　became　more　profound。　She
felt　certain　that　if　Androvsky　had　known　the　priest　was　coming　he
would　not　have　accepted　the　invitation。　She　wished　him　to　come；　yet
she　wished　he　had　known。　He　might　think　that　she　had　known　the　fact
and　had　concealed　it。　She　did　not　suppose　for　a　moment　that　he
disliked　Father　Roubier　personally；　but　he　certainly　avoided　him。　He
bowed　to　him　in　the　coffee…room　of　the　hotel；　but　never　spoke　to　him。
Batouch　had　told　her　about　the　episode　with　Bous…Bous。　And　she　had
seen　Bous…Bous　endeavour　to　renew　the　intimacy　and　repulsed　with
determination。　Androvsky　must　dislike　the　priesthood。　He　might　fancy
that　she；　a　believing　Catholic；　hada　number　of　disagreeable
suppositions　ran　through　her　mind。　She　had　always　been　inclined　to
hate　the　propagandist　since　the　tragedy　in　her　family。　It　was　a　pity
Count　Anteoni　had　not　indulged　his　imp　in　a　different　fashion。　The
beauty　of　the　noon　seemed　spoiled。

〃Forgive　my　malice；〃　Count　Anteoni　said。　〃It　was　really　a　thing　of
thistledown。　Can　it　be　going　to　do　harm？　I　can　scarcely　think　so。〃

〃No；　no。〃

She　roused　herself；　with　the　instinct　of　a　woman　who　has　lived　much　in
the　world；　to　conceal　the　vexation　that；　visible；　would　cause　a
depression　to　stand　in　the　natural　place　of　cheerfulness。

〃The　desert　is　making　me　abominably　natural；〃　she　thought。

At　this　moment　the　black　figure　of　Father　Roubier　came　out　of　the
shadows　of　the　trees　with　Bous…Bous　trotting　importantly　beside　it。

〃Ah；　Father；〃　said　Count　Anteoni；　going　to　meet　him；　while　Domini　got
up　from　her　chair；　〃it　is　good　of　you　to　come　out　in　the　sun　to　eat
fish　with　such　a　bad　parishioner　as　I　am。　Your　little　companion　is
welcome。〃

He　patted　Bous…Bous；　who　took　little　notice　of　him。

〃You　know　Miss　Enfilden；　I　think？〃　continued　the　Count。

〃Father　Roubier　and　I　meet　every　day；〃　said　Domini；　smiling。

〃Mademoiselle　has　been　good　enough　to　take　a　kind　interest　in　the
humble　work　of　the　Church　in　Beni…Mora；〃　said　the　priest　with　the
serious　simplicity　characteristic　of　him。

He　was　a　sincere　man；　utterly　without　pretension；　and；　as　such　men
often　are；　quietly　at　home　with　anybody　of　whatever　class　or　creed。

〃I　must　go　to　the　garden　gate；〃　Domini　said。　〃Will　you　excuse　me　for　a
moment？〃

〃To　meet　Monsieur　Androvsky？　Let　us　accompany　you　if　Father　Roubier〃

〃Please　don't　trouble。　I　won't　be　a　minute。〃

Something　in　her　voice　made　Count　Anteoni　at　once　acquiesce；　defying
his　courteous　instinct。

〃We　will　wait　for　you　here；〃　he　said。

There　was　a　whimsical　plea　for　forgiveness　in　his　eyes。　Domini's　did
not　reject　it；　they　did　not　answer　it。　She　walked　away；　and　the　two
men　looked　after　her　tall　figure　with　admiration。　As　she　went　along
the　sand　paths　between　the　little　streams；　and　came　into　the　deep
shade；　her　vexation　seemed　to　grow　darker　like　the　garden　ways。　For　a
moment　she　thought　she　understood　the　sensations　that　must　surely
sometimes　beset　a　treacherous　woman。　Yet　she　was　incapable　of
treachery。　Smain　was　standing　dreamily　on　the　great　sweep　of　sand
before　the　villa。　She　and　he　were　old　friends　now；　and　every　day　he
calmly　gave　her　a　flower　when　she　came　into　the　garden。

〃What　time　is　it；　Smain？〃

〃Nearly　half…past　twelve；　Madame。〃

〃Will　you　open　the　door　and　see　if　anyone　is　coming？〃

He　went　towards　the　great　door；　and　Domini　sat　down　on　a　bench　under
the　evergreen　roof　to　wait。　She　had　seldom　felt　more　discomposed；　and
began　to　reason　with　herself　almost　angrily。　Even　if　the　presence　of
the　priest　was　unpleasant　to　Androvsky；　why　should　she　mind？
Antagonism　to　the　priesthood　was　certainly　not　a　mental　condition　to
be　fostered；　but　a　prejudice　to　be　broken　down。　But　she　had　wished
she　still　wished　with　ardourthat　Androvsky's　first　visit　to　the
garden　should　be　a　happy　one；　should　pass　off　delightfully。　She　had　a
dawning　instinct　to　make　things　smooth　for　him。　Surely　they　had　been
rough　in　the　past；　rougher　even　than　for　herself。　And　she　wondered　for
an　instant　whether　he　had　come　to　Beni…Mora；　as　she　had　come；　vaguely
seeking　for　a　happiness　scarcely　embodied　in　a　definite　thought。

〃There　is　a　gentleman　coming；　Madame。〃

It　was　the　soft　voice　of　Smain　from　the　gate。　In　a　moment　Androvsky
stood　before　it。　Domini　saw　him　framed　in　the　white　wood；　with　a
brilliant　blue　behind　him　and　a　narrow　glimpse　of　the　watercourse。　He
was　standing　still　and　hesitating。

〃Monsieur　Androvsky！〃　she　called。

He　started；　looked　across　the　sand；　and　stepped　into　the　garden　with　a
sort　of　reluctant　caution　that　pained　her；　she　scarcely　knew　why。　She
got　up　and　went　towards　him；　and　they　met　full　in　the　sunshine。

〃I　came　to　be　your　cicerone。〃

〃Thank　you；　Madame。〃

There　was　the　click　of　wood　striking　against　wood　as　Smain　closed　the
gate。　Androvsky　turned　quickly　and　looked　behind　him。　His　demeanour
was　that　of　a　man　whose　nerves　were　tormenting　him。　Domini　began　to
dread　telling　him　of　the　presence　of　the　priest；　and；
characteristically；　did　without