按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Having been in the transparent region of magic it seemed to her as if
her secret； the great secret of the absolutely true； the naked
personality hidden in every human being； were set blazing in her eyes
like some torch borne in a procession； just for that moment。 The
moment past； she could look anyone fearlessly in the face； but not
now； not yet。
While she stood there； half turning round； she heard the sound again
and knew what caused it。 A foot had shifted on the plaster floor。
There was someone else then looking out over the desert。 A sudden idea
struck her。 Probably it was Count Anteoni。 He knew she was coming and
might have decided to act once more as her cicerone。 He had not heard
her climbing the stairs； and； having gone to the far side of the
tower； was no doubt watching the sunset； lost in a dream as she had
been。
She resolved not to disturb himif it was he。 When he had dreamed
enough he must inevitably come round to where she was standing in
order to gain the staircase。 She would let him find her there。 Less
troubled now； but in an utterly changed mood； she turned； leaned once
more on the parapet and looked over； this time observantly； prepared
to note the details that； combined and veiled in the evening light of
Africa； made the magic which had so instantly entranced her。
She looked down into the village and could see its extent； precisely
how it was placed in the Sahara； in what relation exactly it stood to
the mountain ranges； to the palm groves and the arid； sunburnt tracts；
where its life centred and where it tailed away into suburban edges
not unlike the ragged edges of worn garments； where it was idle and
frivolous； where busy and sedulous。 She realised for the first time
that there were two distinct layers of life in Beni…Morathe life of
the streets； courts； gardens and market…place； and above it the life
of the roofs。 Both were now spread out before her； and the latter； in
its domestic intimacy； interested and charmed her。 She saw upon the
roofs the children playing with little dogs； goats； fowls； mothers in
rags of gaudy colours stirring the barley for cous…cous； shredding
vegetables； pounding coffee； stewing meat； plucking chickens； bending
over bowls from which rose the steam of soup； small girls； seated in
dusty corners； solemnly winding wool on sticks； and pausing； now and
then； to squeak to distant members of the home circle； or to smell at
flowers laid beside them as solace to their industry。 An old
grandmother rocked and kissed a naked baby with a pot belly。 A big
grey rat stole from a rubbish heap close by her； flitted across the
sunlit space； and disappeared into a cranny。 Pigeons circled above the
home activities； delicate lovers of the air； wandered among the palm
tops； returned and fearlessly alighted on the brown earth parapets；
strutting hither and thither and making their perpetual；
characteristic motion of the head； half nod； half genuflection。 Veiled
girls promenaded to take the evening cool； folding their arms beneath
their flowing draperies； and chattering to one another in voices that
Domini could not hear。 More close at hand certain roofs in the
dancers' street revealed luxurious sofas on which painted houris were
lolling in sinuous attitudes； or were posed with a stiffness of idols；
little tables set with coffee cups； others round which were gathered
Zouaves intent on card games； but ever ready to pause for a caress or
for some jesting absurdity with the women who squatted beside them。
Some men； dressed like girls； went to and fro； serving the dancers
with sweetmeats and with cigarettes； their beards flowing down with a
grotesque effect over their dresses of embroidered muslin； their hairy
arms emerging from hanging sleeves of silk。 A negro boy sat holding a
tomtom between his bare knees and beating it with supple hands； and a
Jewess performed the stomach dance； waving two handkerchiefs stained
red and purple； and singing in a loud and barbarous contralto voice
which Domini could hear but very faintly。 The card…players stopped
their game and watched her； and Domini watched too。 For the first
time； and from this immense height； she saw this universal dance of
the east； the doll…like figure； fantastically dwarfed； waving its tiny
hands； wriggling its minute body； turning about like a little top；
strutting and bending； while the soldierssmall almost from here as
toys taken out of a boxassumed attitudes of deep attention as they
leaned upon the card…table； stretching out their legs enveloped in
balloon…like trousers。
Domini thought of the recruits； now； no doubt； undergoing elsewhere
their initiation。 For a moment she seemed to see their coarse peasant
faces rigid with surprise； their hanging jaws； their childish； and yet
sensual； round eyes。 Notre Dame de la Garde must seem very far away
from them now。
With that thought she looked quickly away from the Jewess and the
soldiers。 She felt a sudden need of something more nearly in relation
with her inner self。 She was almost angry as she realised how deep had
been her momentary interest in a scene suggestive of a license which
was surely unattractive to her。 Yet was it unattractive？ She scarcely
knew。 But she knew that it had kindled in her a sudden and very strong
curiosity； even a vague； momentary desire that she had been born in
some tent of the Ouled Nailsno； that was impossible。 She had not
felt such a desire even for an instant。 She looked towards the
thickets of the palms； towards the mountains full of changing；
exquisite colours； towards the desert。 And at once the dream began to
return； and she felt as if hands slipped under her heart and uplifted
it。
What depths and heights were within her； what deep； dark valleys； and
what mountain peaks！ And how she travelled within herself； with
swiftness of light； with speed of the wind。 What terrors of activity
she knew。 Did every human being know similar terrors？
The colours everywhere deepened as day failed。 The desert spirits were
at work。 She thought of Count Anteoni again； and resolved to go round
to the other side of the tower。 As she moved to do this she heard once
more the shifting of a foot on the plaster floor； then a step。
Evidently she had infected him with an intention similar to her own。
She went on； still hearing the step； turned the corner and stood face
to face in the strong evening light with the traveller。 Their bodies
almost touched in the narrow space before they both stopped； startled。
For a moment they stood still looking at each other； as people might
look who have spoken together； who know something of each other's
lives； who may like or dislike； wish to avoid or to draw near to each
other； but who cannot pretend that they are complete strangers； wholly
indifferent to each other。 They met in the sky； almost as one bird may
meet another on the wing。 And； to Domini； at any rate； it seemed as if
the depth； height； space； colour； mystery and calmyes； even the calm
which were above； around and beneath them； had been placed there by
hidden hands as a setting for their encounter； even as the abrupt
pageant of the previous day； into which the train had emerged fr