“And why didst thou hesitate, little one, to ask—­knowing as thou dost that thy wish is law absolute to me?  Business affairs, what are they?  Let them wait—­let the world wait as long as thou art happy.  Verily thou art pale and thin------” Upon which unfortunate remark Jill turned like the spitfire she had lately become.

“Seeing that you are allowed four wives, Hahmed, there is no reason to bemoan your fate; this is not Europe, where once married you are for ever tied to the one girl, who, a bud in her youth, may as time passes turn to one of those dreadful cabbage-roses, which go purple and fat with age.  I’m sorry,” she continued, as she held out both her hands, “you simply must not notice me these days.  I think I am bewitched—­I have even sent my darling old Ameena away because her deformity suddenly irritated me, and I told Mustapha I would have him thrown as breakfast to the cheetahs if he dared to make himself seen, and he believed it, and no shampoo will ever get the sand out of his hair.”

“But he shall be thrown to the cheetahs if it would please thee, beloved!”

And the uncalculating cruelty in the man’s voice sent the red to the girl’s white face, and moving over to him made her lean down and kiss him upon the mouth.

And then she seated herself upon the ground and made tea, laughing like a child when to please her the Arab drank it protestingly.

“By Allah! it is a poison which you drink in Europe, and yet you would go and drink it in a crowded city.”

“Are we going, Hahmed, oh Hahmed, are we?” whispered Jill, half afraid to break the spell by the raising of her voice.

“But of course, beloved—­hast thou not expressed the wish—­though surely it were better to go to thine own dwelling, for it will go hard with thee to keep thy face covered and remain undiscovered to thy many friends, who doubtless will be seeking the solace of Egypt’s winter sun; for the time is not yet at hand when I will permit thee to make thyself known to them.”

But Jill was ready to accept anything as long as her craving could be satisfied, and Hahmed, longing to satisfy her craving, looked with eyes of love upon the sweetness of her face aglow with anticipation, so that both were well content.

And an hour passed in which they ate and drank, and Jill balanced pieces of sweet bread upon the noses of two great hounds, who, scenting their master from afar, had broken bounds and raced to him, leaping the breakfast table to Jill’s infinite delight, whilst their groom lay upon the ground out of sight anticipating the thrashing his carelessness merited him, but from which he was spared by reason of his mistress’ sweetness.

“And so, Light of Heaven, I must leave thee, for there is much to prepare if we would start at once, for it is difficult to secure the strict privacy due to my wife in these times when the world is overrun by the tourist ants who should by right be underground.