JOHN BEAL

But it can’t be.  She doesn’t ride.  She can never have been able to afford a horse.

ARCHIE BEAL

She’s on a camel.  She’ll be here in a moment. [He goes to door.] Hurry up with that hair; she’s dismounted.

JOHN BEAL

O, Lord!  What’s the chaperon like?

ARCHIE BEAL

O, she’s attending to that herself.

JOHN BEAL

Attending to it herself?  What do you mean?

ARCHIE BEAL

I expect she’ll attend to most things.

[Enter Hafiz el Alcolahn in doorway of tent, pulling back flap a little.]

JOHN BEAL

Who are you?

HAFIZ

I show the gracious lady to your tent.

[Enter Miralda Clement, throwing a smile to Hafiz.]

MIRALDA

Hullo, Mr. Beal.

JOHN BEAL

Er—­er—­how do you do?

[She looks at Archie.]

O, this is my brother—­Miss Clement.

Miranda and Archie Beal

How do you do?

MIRALDA

I like this country.

JOHN BEAL

I’m afraid I hardly expected you.

MIRALDA

Didn’t you?

JOHN BEAL

No.  You see er—­it’s such a long way. 
And wasn’t it very expensive?

MIRALDA

Well, the captain of the ship was very kind to me.

JOHN BEAL

O!  But what did you do when you landed?

MIRALDA

O, there were some Arabs coming this way in a caravan.  They were really very good to me too.

JOHN BEAL

But the camel?

MIRALDA

O, there were some people the other side of the mountains.  Everybody has been very kind about it.  And then there was the man who showed me here.  He’s called Hafiz el Alcolahn.  It’s a nice name, don’t you think?

JOHN BEAL

But, you know, this country, Miss Clement, I’m half afraid it’s hardly—­isn’t it, Archie?  Er—­how long did you think of staying?