the garden of allah-第58章

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But　the　nervous　behaviour　of　the　child　deepened　strangely　his　own
sense　of　apprehension。　When　he　had　robed　he　waited　for　the　arrival　of
the　bride　and　bridegroom。　There　was　to　be　no　mass；　and　no　music　except
the　Wedding　March；　which　the　harmonium　player；　a　Marseillais　employed
in　the　date…packing　trade；　insisted　on　performing　to　do　honour　to
Mademoiselle　Enfilden；　who　had　taken　such　an　interest　in　the　music　of
the　church。　Androvsky；　as　the　priest　had　ascertained；　had　been　brought
up　in　the　Catholic　religion；　but；　when　questioned；　he　had　said　quietly
that　he　was　no　longer　a　practising　Catholic　and　that　he　never　went　to
confession。　Under　these　circumstances　it　was　not　possible　to　have　a
nuptial　mass。　The　service　would　be　short　and　plain；　and　the　priest　was
glad　that　this　was　so。　Presently　the　harmonium　player　came　in。

〃I　may　play　my　loudest　to…day；　Father；〃　he　said；　〃but　no　one　will　hear
me。〃

He　laughed；　settled　the　pinJoan　of　Arc's　face　in　metalin　his　azure
blue　necktie；　and　added：

〃Nom　d'un　chien；　the　wind's　a　cruel　wedding　guest！〃

The　priest　nodded　without　speaking。

〃Would　you　believe；　Father；〃　the　man　continued；　〃that　Mademoiselle　and
her　husband　are　going　to　start　for　Arba　from　the　church　door　in　all
this　storm！　Batouch　is　getting　the　palanquin　on　to　the　camel。　How　they
will　ever〃

〃Hush！〃　said　the　priest；　holding　up　a　warning　finger。

This　idle　chatter　displeased　him　in　the　church；　but　he　had　another
reason　for　wishing　to　stop　the　conversation。　It　renewed　his　dread　to
hear　of　the　projected　journey；　and　made　him　see；　as　in　a　shadowy
vision；　Domini　Enfilden's　figure　disappearing　into　the　windy
desolation　of　the　desert　protected　by　the　living　mystery　he　hated。
Yes；　at　this　moment；　he　no　longer　denied　it　to　himself。　There　was
something　in　Androvsky　that　he　actually　hated　with　his　whole　soul；
hated　even　in　his　church；　at　the　very　threshold　of　the　altar　where
stood　the　tabernacle　containing　the　sacred　Host。　As　he　thoroughly
realised　this　for　a　moment　he　was　shocked　at　himself；　recoiled
mentally　from　his　own　feeling。　But　then　something　within　him　seemed　to
rise　up　and　say；　〃Perhaps　it　is　because　you　are　near　to　the　Host　that
you　hate　this　man。　Perhaps　you　are　right　to　hate　him　when　he　draws
nigh　to　the　body　of　Christ。〃

Nevertheless　when；　some　minutes　later；　he　stood　within　the　altar　rails
and　saw　the　face　of　Domini；　he　was　conscious　of　another　thought；　that
came　through　his　mind；　dark　with　doubt；　like　a　ray　of　gold：　〃Can　I　be
right　in　hating　what　this　good　womanthis　woman　whose　confession　I
have　received；　whose　heart　I　knowcan　I　be　right　in　hating　what　she
loves；　in　fearing　what　she　trusts；　in　secretly　condemning　what　she
openly　enthrones？〃　And　almost　in　despite　of　himself　he　felt　reassured
for　an　instant；　even　happy　in　the　thought　of　what　he　was　about　to　do。

Domini's　face　at　all　times　suggested　strength。　The　mental　and
emotional　power　of　her　were　forcibly　expressed；　too；　through　her　tall
and　athletic　body；　which　was　full　of　easy　grace；　but　full；　too；　of
well…knit　firmness。　To…day　she　looked　not　unlike　a　splendid　Amazon　who
could　have　been　a　splendid　nun　had　she　entered　into　religion。　As　she
stood　there　by　Androvsky；　simply　dressed　for　the　wild　journey　that　was
before　her；　the　slight　hint　in　her　personality　of　a　Spartan　youth；
that　stamped　her　with　a　very　definite　originality；　was　blended　with；
even　transfigured　by；　a　womanliness　so　intense　as　to　be　almost　fierce；
a　womanliness　that　had　the　fervour；　the　glowing　vigour　of　a　glory　that
had　suddenly　become　fully　aware　of　itself；　and　of　all　the　deeds　that
it　could　not　only　conceive；　but　do。　She　was　triumph　embodied　in　the
flesh；　not　the　triumph　that　is　a　school…bully；　but　that　spreads　wings；
conscious　at　last　that　the　human　being　has　kinship　with　the　angels；
and　need　not；　should　not；　wait　for　death　to　seek　bravely　their
comradeship。　She　was　love　triumphant；　woman　utterly　fearless　because
instinctively　aware　that　she　was　fulflling　her　divine　mission。

As　he　gazed　at　her　the　priest　had　a　strange　thoughtof　how　Christ's
face　must　have　looked　when　he　said；　〃Lazarus；　come　forth！〃

Androvsky　stood　by　her；　but　the　priest　did　not　look　at　him。

The　wind　roared　round　the　church；　the　narrow　windows　rattled；　and　the
clouds　of　sand　driven　against　them　made　a　pattering　as　of　fingers
tapping　frantically　upon　the　glass。　The　buff…coloured　curtains
trembled；　and　the　dusty　pink　ribands　tied　round　the　ropes　of　the
chandeliers　shook　incessantly　to　and　fro；　as　if　striving　to　escape　and
to　join　the　multitudes　of　torn　and　disfigured　things　that　were　swept
through　space　by　the　breath　of　the　storm。　Beyond　the　windows；　vaguely
seen　at　moments　through　the　clouds　of　sand；　the　outlines　of　the　palm
leaves　wavered；　descended；　rose；　darted　from　side　to　side；　like　hands
of　the　demented。

Suzanne；　who　was　one　of　the　witnesses；　trembled；　and　moved　her　full
lips　nervously。　She　disapproved　utterly　of　her　mistress'　wedding；　and
still　more　of　a　honeymoon　in　the　desert。　For　herself　she　did　not　care；
very　shortly　she　was　going　to　marry　Monsieur　Helmuth；　the　important
person　in　livery　who　accompanied　the　hotel　omnibus　to　the　station；　and
meanwhile　she　was　to　remain　at　Beni…Mora　under　the　chaperonage　of
Madame　Armande；　the　proprietor　of　the　hotel。　But　it　shocked　her　that　a
mistress　of　hers；　and　a　member　of　the　English　aristocracy；　should　be
married　in　a　costume　suitable　for　a　camel　ride；　and　should　start　off
to　go　to　/le　Bon　Dieu/　alone　knew　where；　shut　up　in　a　palanquin　like
any　black　woman　covered　with　lumps　of　coral　and　bracelets　like
handcuffs。

The　other　witnesses　were　the　mayor　of　Beni…Mora；　a　middle…aged　doctor；
who　wore　the　conventional　evening…dress　of　French　ceremony；　and　looked
as　if　the　wind　had　made　him　as　sleepy　as　a　bear　on　the　point　of
hibernating；　and　the　son　of　Madame　Armande；　a　lively　young　man；　with　a
bullet　head　and　eager；　black　eyes。　The　latter　took　a　keen　interest　in
the　ceremony；　but　the　mayor　blinked　pathetically；　and　occasionally
rubbed　his　large　hooked　nose　as　if　imploring　it　to　keep　his　whole
person　from　drooping　down　into　a　heavy　doze。

The　priest；　speaking　in　a　conventional　voice　that　was　strangely
inexpressive　of　his　inward　emotion；　asked　Androvsky　and　Domini　whether
they　would　take　each　other　for　wife　and　husband；　and　listened　to　their
replies。　Androvsky's　voice　sounded　to　him　hard　and　cold　as　ice　when　it
replied；　and　suddenly　he　thought　of　the　storm　as　raging　in　some
northern　land　over　snowbound　wastes　whose　scanty　trees　were　leafless。
But　Domini's　voice　was　clear；　and　warm　as　the　sun　that　would　shine
again　over　the　desert　when　the　storm　was　past。　The　mayor；　constraining
himself　to　keep　awake　a　little　longer；　gave　Domini　away；　while　Suzanne
dropped　tears　into　a　pocket…handkerchief　edged　with　rose…coloured
frilling；　the　gift　of　Monsieur　Helmuth。　Then；　when　the　troth　had　been
plighted　in　the　midst　of　a　more　passionate　roaring　of　the　wind；　the
priest；　conquering　a　terrible　inward　reluctance　that　beset　him　despite
his　endeavour　to　feel　detached　and　formal；　merely　a　priest　engaged　in
a　ceremony　that　it　was　his　office　to　carry　out；　but　in　which　he　had　no
personal　interest；　spoke　the　fateful　words：

〃/Ego　conjungo　vos　in　matrimonium　in　nomine　Patris　et　Filii　et
Spiritus　Sancti。　Amen/。〃

He　said　this　without　looking　at　the　man　and　woman　who　stood　before
him；　the　man　on　the　right　hand　and　the　woman　on　the　left；　but　when　he
lifted　his　hand　to　sprinkle　them　with　holy　water　he　could　not　forbear
glancing　at　them；　and　he　saw　Domini　as　a　shining　radiance；　but
Androvsky　as　a　thing　of　stone。　With　a　movement　that　seemed　to　the
priest　sinister　in　its　oppressed　deliberation；　Androvsky　placed　gold
and　silver　upon　the　book　and　the　marriage　ring。

The　priest　spoke　again；　slowly；　in　the　uproar　of　the　wind；　after
blessing　the　ring：

〃/Adjutorium　nostrum　in　nomine　Domini/。〃

After　the　reply　the　〃/Domine；　exaudi　orationem　meam/；〃　the　〃/Et
clamor/；〃　the　〃/Dominus　vobiscum/；〃　and　the　〃/Et　cum　spiritu　tuo/；〃
the　〃/Oremus/；〃　and　the　prayer　following；　he　sprinkled　the　ring　with
holy　water　in　the　form　of　a　cross　and　gave　it　to　Androvsky　to　give
with　gold　and　silver　to　Domini。　Androvsky　took　the　ring；　repeated　the
formula；　〃With　this　ring；〃　etc。；　then　still；　as　it　seemed　to　the
priest；　with　the　same　sinister　deliberation；　placed　it　on　the　thumb　of
the　bride's　uncovered　hand；　saying；　〃/In　the　name　of　the　Father/；〃
then　on　her　second　finger；　saying；　〃/Of　the　Son/；〃　then　on　her　third
finger；　saying；　〃/Of　the　Holy　Ghost/；〃　then　on　her　fourth　finger。　But
at　this　moment；　when　he　should　have　said　〃/Amen/；〃　there　was　a　long
pause　of　silence。　During　itwhy　he　did　not　knowthe　priest　found
himself　thinking　of　the　saying　of　St。　Isidore　of　Seville　that　the　ring
of　marriage　is　left　on　the　fourth　finger　of　the　bride's　hand　because
that　finger　contains　a　vein　directly　connected　with　the　heart。

〃/Amen/。〃

Androvsky　had　spoken。　The　priest　started；　and　went　on　with　the
〃/Confirma；　hoc；　Deus/。〃　And　from　this　point　until　the　〃/Per　Christum
Dominum　nostrum；　Amen/；〃　which；　since　there　was　no　Mass；　closed　the
ceremony；　he　felt　more　master　of　himself　and　his　emotions　than　at　any
time　previously　during　this　day。　A　sensation　of　finality；　of　the
irrevocable；　came　to　him。　He　said　within　himself；　〃This　matter　has
passed　out　of　my　hands　into　the　hands　of　God。〃　And　in　the　midst　of　the
violence　of　the　storm　a　calm　stole　upon　his　spirit。　〃God　knows　best！〃
he　said　within　himself。　〃God　knows　best！〃

Those　words　and　the　state　of　feeling　that　was　linked　with　them　were
and　had　always　been　to　him　as　mighty　protecting　arms　that　uplifted　him
above　the　beating　waves　of　the　sea　of　life。　The　Wedding　March　sounded
when　the　priest　bade　good…bye　to　the　husband　and　wife　whom　he　had　made
one。　He　was　able　to　do　it　tranquilly。　He　even　pressed　Androvsky's
hand。

〃Be　good　to　her；〃　he　said。　〃She　isshe　is　a　good　woman。〃

To　his　surprise　Androvsky　suddenly　wrung　his　hand　almost　passionately；
and　the　priest　saw　that　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes。

That　night　the　priest　prayed　long　and　earnestly　for　all　wanderers　in
the　desert。

When　Domini　and　Androvsky　came　out　from　the　church　they　saw　vaguely　a
camel　lying　down　before　the　door；　bending　its　head　and　snarling
fiercely。　Upon　its　back　was　a　palanquin　of　dark…red　stuff；　with　a　roof
of　stuff　stretched　upon　strong；　curved　sticks；　and　curtains　which
could　be　drawn　or　undrawn　at　pleasure。　The　desert　men　crowded　about　it
like　eager　phantoms　in　the　wind；　half　seen　in　the　driving　mist　of
sand。　Clinging　to　Androvsky's　arm；　Domini　struggled　forward　to　the
camel。　As　she　did　so；　Smain；　unfolding　for　an　instant　his　burnous；
pressed　into　her　hands　his　mass　of　roses。　She　thanked　him　with　a　smile
he　scarcely　saw　and　a　word　that　was　borne　away　upon　the　wind。　At
Larbi's　lips　she　saw　the　little　flute　and　his　thick　fingers　fluttering
upon　the　holes。　She　knew　that　he　was　playing　his　love…song　for　her；
but　she　could　not　hear　it　except　in　her　heart。　The　perfume…seller
sprinkled　her　gravely　with　essence；　and　for　a　moment　she　felt　as　if
she　were　again　in　his　dark　bazaar；　and　seemed　to　catch　among　the
voices　of　the　storm　the　sound　of　men　muttering　prayers　to　Allah　as　in
the　mos