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She could not think any longer of her father as an outcast because he
had abandoned a religion。 For all religions were surely here； marching
side by side； and behind them； background to them； there was something
far greater than any religion。 Was it snow or fire？ Was it the
lawlessness of that which has made laws； or the calm of that which has
brought passion into being？ Greater love than is in any creed； or
greater freedom than is in any human liberty？ Domini only felt that if
she had ever been a slave at this moment she would have died of joy；
realising the boundless freedom that circles this little earth。
〃Thank God for it！〃 she murmured aloud。
Her own words woke her to a consciousness of ordinary thingsor made
her sleep to the eternal。
She closed the window and sat down。
A little later the sun came out again； and the various shades of
yellow and of orange that played over the wrinkled earth deepened and
glowed。 Domini had sunk into a lethargy so complete that； though not
asleep； she was scarcely aware of the sun。 She was dreaming of
liberty。
Presently the train slackened and stopped。 She heard a loud chattering
of many voices and looked out。 The sun was now shining brilliantly；
and she saw a station crowded with Arabs in white burnouses； who were
vociferously greeting friends in the train； were offering enormous
oranges for sale to the passengers； or were walking up and down gazing
curiously into the carriages； with the unblinking determination and
indifference to a return of scrutiny which she had already noticed and
thought animal。 A guard came up； told her the place was El…Akbara； and
that the train would stay there ten minutes to wait for the train from
Beni…Mora。 She decided to get out and stretch her cramped limbs。 On
the platform she found Suzanne； looking like a person who had just
been slapped。 One side of the maid's face was flushed and covered with
a faint tracery of tiny lines。 The other was greyish white。 Sleep hung
in her eyes； over which the lids drooped as if they were partially
paralysed。 Her fingers were yellow from peeling an orange； and her
smart little hat was cocked on one side。 There were grains of sand on
her black gown； and when she saw her mistress she at once began to
compress her lips； and to assume the expression of obstinate patience
characteristic of properly…brought…up servants who find themselves
travelling far from home in outlandish places。
〃Have you been asleep； Suzanne？〃
〃No； Mam'zelle。〃
〃You've had an orange？〃
〃I couldn't get it down； Mam'zelle。〃
〃Would you like to see if you can get a cup of coffee here？〃
〃No； thank you； Mam'zelle。 I couldn't touch this Arab stuff。〃
〃We shall soon be there now。〃
Suzanne made all her naturally small features look much smaller；
glanced down at her skirt； and suddenly began to shake the grains of
sand from it in an outraged manner； at the same time extending her
left foot。 Two or three young Arabs came up and stood； staring； round
her。 Their eyes were magnificent； and gravely observant。 Suzanne went
on shaking and patting her skirt； and Domini walked away down the
platform； wondering what a French maid's mind was like。 Suzanne's
certainly had its limitations。 It was evident that she was horrified
by the sight of bare legs。 Why？
As Domini walked along the platform among the fruit…sellers； the
guides； the turbaned porters with their badges； the staring children
and the ragged wanderers who thronged about the train； she thought of
the desert to which she was now so near。 It lay； she knew； beyond the
terrific wall of rock that faced her。 But she could see no opening。
The towering summits of the cliffs； jagged as the teeth of a wolf；
broke crudely upon the serene purity of the sky。 Somewhere； concealed
in the darkness of the gorge at their feet； was the mouth from which
had poured forth that wonderful breath； quivering with freedom and
with unearthly things。 The sun was already declining； and the light it
cast becoming softened and romantic。 Soon there would be evening in
the desert。 Then there would be night。 And she would be there in the
night with all things that the desert holds。
A train of camels was passing on the white road that descended into
the shadow of the gorge。 Some savage…looking men accompanied them；
crying continually； 〃Oosh！ Oosh！〃 They disappeared； desert…men with
their desert…beasts； bound no doubt on some tremendous journey through
the regions of the sun。 Where would they at last unlade the groaning
camels？ Domini saw them in the midst of dunes red with the dying fires
of the west。 And their shadows lay along the sands like weary things
reposing。
She started when a low voice spoke to her in French； and； turning
round； saw a tall Arab boy； magnificently dressed in pale blue cloth
trousers； a Zouave jacket braided with gold； and a fez； standing near
her。 She was struck by the colour of his skin； which was faint as the
colour of /cafe au lait/； and by the contrast between his huge bulk
and his languid； almost effeminate； demeanour。 As she turned he smiled
at her calmly； and lifted one hand toward the wall of rock。
〃Madame has seen the desert？〃 he asked。
〃Never；〃 answered Domini。
〃It is the garden of oblivion；〃 he said； still in a low voice； and
speaking with a delicate refinement that was almost mincing。 〃In the
desert one forgets everything； even the little heart one loves； and
the desire of one's own soul。〃
〃How can that be？〃 asked Domini。
〃Shal…lah。 It is the will of God。 One remembers nothing any more。〃
His eyes were fixed upon the gigantic pinnacles of the rocks。 There
was something fanatical and highly imaginative in their gaze。
〃What is your name？〃 Domini asked。
〃Batouch； Madame。 You are going to Beni…Mora？〃
〃Yes； Batouch。〃
〃I too。 To…night； under the mimosa trees； I shall compose a poem。 It
will be addressed to Irena； the dancing…girl。 She is like the little
moon when it first comes up above the palm trees。〃
Just then the train from Beni…Mora ran into the station； and Domini
turned to seek her carriage。 As she was coming to it she noticed； with
the pang of the selfish traveller who wishes to be undisturbed； that a
tall man； attended by an Arab porter holding a green bag； was at the
door of it and was evidently about to get in。 He glanced round as
Domini came up； half drew back rather awkwardly as if to allow her to
precede him； then suddenly sprang in before her。 The Arab lifted in
the bag； and the man； endeavouring hastily to thrust some money into
his hand； dropped the coin； which fell down between the step of the
carriage and the platform。 The Arab immediately made a greedy dive
after it； interposing his body between Domini and the train； and she
was obliged to stand waiting while he looked for it； grubbing
frantically in the earth with his brown fingers； and uttering muffled
exclamations； apparently of rage。 Meanwhile； the tall man had put the
green bag up on the rack； gone quickly to the far side of the
carriage； and sat down looking out of the window。
Domini was struck by the mixture of indecision and blundering haste
which he had shown； and by his impoliteness。 E