cage. Fair-sized and square, it was made of fine white bars of ivory.
The underside was also ivory, square and unblemished, and would have
made an ideal hairpin-tray; it stood upon ebony feet inlaid with
infinitesimal precious stones.

"It has but just arrived, Miss Hethencourt," said the maître d'hôtel,
who had been fluttering around upon the tiptoe of a most unusual
curiosity. "There is no name, no message."

"Please send it to my room," she replied indifferently, whilst, for
some unaccountable reason, her heart throbbed as she responded to the
birthday greetings which came from every corner of the room.




CHAPTER VI

"_A mother is a mother still,
The holiest thing alive_."

COLERIDGE.


"May the blessing of Allah who is God be upon thee, O woman!"

The sonorous words, of the benediction rang through the room as Hugh
Carden Ali stood with the silken curtain drawn back in one hand and the
right raised in blessing upon his mother, who stood with arms
outstretched in the centre of the room.