them the wavering affection of their lord, and prevent alienation
and, perhaps, divorce. Yet all you can say is, "In shá Allah" (If God
will!)

When you bid them farewell it will be with a keen realization of their
narrow, cramped lives, and an appreciation of your own opportunities.
Did you but know it, they too are full of sympathy for that poor,
over-strained Nazarene woman, who is obliged to leave the shelter of
her four walls, and face the world unveiled, unprotected, unabashed.

And thus our proverb is proved true.




IX

A COUNTRY WEDDING

"Silence is at the door of consent."

_Moorish Proverb._


Thursday was chosen as auspicious for the wedding, but the ceremonies
commenced on the Sunday before. The first item on an extensive
programme was the visit of the bride with her immediate female
relatives and friends to the steam bath at the kasbah, a rarity in
country villages, in this case used only by special favour. At the
close of an afternoon of fun and frolic in the bath-house, Zóharah,