waiting.

"He came in like a fury," the old nurse was panting, as they
scurried up the walk together, "and asked for you ... and your room
empty, your bed not touched!... Oh, Allah's ruth upon me, I went
trotting through the house, mad with fear.... Up to the roofs then
down to the garden ... sending him word that you were dressing that
he should not know the only child of his house was a shameless one,
devoid of sense."

"But there is no harm in a garden," breathed the girl, her face hot
with shame. "To-night was so hot--"

"Is there no coolth upon the roof?"

"But the roses--"

"Can roses not be brought you? Have you no maids to attend you?"

"I am tired of being attended! Can I never be alone--"

"Alone in the garden!... A pretty talk! Eh, I will tell thy father,
I will have a stop put to this--_hush_, would you have him hear?"
she admonished, in a sudden whisper, as they opened the little door
at the foot of the dark well of spiral steps.

Like conspirators they fled up the staircase, and then with fumbling
haste the old nurse dragged off the girl's mantle and veil,
muttering at the pins that secured it. She shook out the
pale-flowered chiffon of her rumpled frock and gathered back a