stars.  That comet was Orion.  All she had enjoyed with him and suffered through him she consigned to the period of her craziness; she had taught herself to regard it all as part of the madness to which she had been a victim.  Her nature was not capable of cherishing hatred and she could feel no animosity towards the Mukaukas’ son.  She thought of him as of one who, without evil intent, had done her great wrong; one whom she might not even remember without running into peril.

“Then you mean to say,” the Masdakite began once more, “that you would really miss me if Haschim sent for me?”

“Yes indeed, Rustem; I should be very sorry.”

“Oh!” said the other, passing his hand over his big head, on which the dense mane of hair which had been shaved off was beginning to grow again.  “Well then, Mandane, in that case—­I wanted to say it yesterday, but I could not get it out.—­Tell me:  why would you be sorry if I were to leave you?”

“Because—­well, no one can have all their reasons ready; because you have always been kind to me; and because you came from my country, and talk Persian with me as my mother used.”

“Is that all?” said the man slowly, and he rubbed his forehead.

“No, no.  Because—­if once you go away, you will not be here.”

“Aye that is it; that is just the thing.  And if you would be sorry for that, then you must have liked being here—­with me.”

“And why not?  It has been very nice,” said the girl blushing and trying not to meet his eyes.

“That it has—­and that it is!” cried Rustem, striking his palm with the other huge fist.  “And that is why I must have it out; that is why, if we have any sense, we two need never part.”

“But your master is sure to want you,” said she with growing confusion, “and we cannot always remain a burthen on the kind folks here.  I shall not work at the loom again; but as I am now free, and have the scroll that proves it, I must soon look about for some employment.  And a strong, healthy fellow like you cannot always be nursing yourself.”

“Nursing myself!” and he laughed gaily.  “I will earn money, and enough for three!”

“By your camels always, up and down the country?”

“I have done with that,” said he with a grin.  “We will go back to our own country; there I will buy a good piece of pasture land, for my eldest brother has our little estate, and you may ask Haschim whether I understand camel-breeding.”

“But Rustem, consider.”

“Consider!  Think this, and think that!  Where there’s a will there’s a way.  That is the upshot of it all.  And if you mean to say that before you buy you must have money, and that the best may come to grief, all I can tell you is. . . .  Can you read?  No? nor I; but here in my pocket I have my accounts in the master’s own hand.  Eleven thousand, three hundred and sixty drachmae were due to me for wages the last time we reckoned:  all the profit the master had set down to my credit since I led his caravan.  He has kept almost all of it for me; for food was allowed, and there was almost always a bit of stuff for a garment to be found among the bales, and I never was a sot.  Eleven thousand, three hundred and sixty drachmae!  Hey, little one, that is the figure.  And now what do you say?  Can we buy something with that?  Yes or no?”