When Estelle reappeared, dressed once more like a little French lady (at least in the eyes of those who were not particular about fit), she found a little feast being prepared for her out of the provisions sent by the consuls; but she could not sit down to it till Arthur, escorted by several of the Marabout’s suite, had carried a share both of the food and the garments to Lanty and Victorine.

They, however, were not to be found.  The whole adowara seemed to be deserted except by a few frightened women and children, and Victorine and her Irish swain had no doubt been driven off into the woods by Eyoub—­no Achilles certainly, but equally unwilling with the great Pelides to resign Briseis as a substitute for Chryseis.

It was too late to attempt anything more that night; indeed, at sundown it became very cold.  A fire was lighted in the larger room, in the centre, where there was a hole for the exit of the smoke.

The Marabouts seemed to be praying or reciting the Koran on one side of it, for there was a continuous chant or hum going on there; but they seemed to have no objection to the Christians sitting together on the other side conversing and exchanging accounts of their adventures.  Maitre Hebert could not sufficiently dilate on the spirit, cheerfulness, and patience that Mademoiselle had displayed through all.  He only had to lament her imprudence in trying to talk of the Christian faith to the children, telling them stories of the saints, and doing what, if all the tribe had not been so ignorant, would have brought destruction on them all.  ’I would not have Monseigneur there know of it for worlds,’ said he, glancing at the Grand Marabout.

‘Selim loves to hear such things,’ said Estelle composedly.  ’I have taught him to say the Paternoster, and the meaning of it, and Zuleika can nearly say them.’

‘Misericorde!’ cried M. Hubert.  ’What may not the child have brought on herself!’

‘Selim will be a chief,’ returned Estelle.  ’He will make his people do as he pleases, or he would do so; but now there will be no one to tell him about the true God and the blessed Saviour,’ she added sadly.

‘Mademoiselle!’ cried Hebert in indignant anger—­’Mademoiselle would not be ungrateful for our safety from these horrors.’

‘Oh no!’ exclaimed the child.  ’I am very happy to return to my poor papa, and my brothers, and my grandmamma.  But I am sorry for Selim!  Perhaps some good mission fathers would go out to them like those we heard of in Arcadia; and by and by, when I am grown up, I can come back with some sisters to teach the women to wash their children and not scold and fight.’

The maitre d’hotel sighed, and was relieved when Estelle retired to the deserted women’s apartments for the night.  He seemed to think her dangerous language might be understood and reported.