had given him the goods at a cheaper price, and that he could not
have paid for them at their real value. By this I perceived that the
sale was only a pretended one, and have hoped you would take back
the goods. But the money I will not receive."

"To whom shall I give it, then?" asked the astonished merchant. "I
dare not offer it to Mohammed; I believe it would make him so angry
that he would raise his hand against me. You must not tell him,
Sitta Khadra, that you have brought me back the goods."

"You are right, sir; I should not like to cause him this
unhappiness. I shall tell him I have taken the goods to the tailor
to have it made into a dress by the next Bairam's festival. But when
the festival comes, I shall no longer be here, and he will not see
that I have not put on the costly dress."

"You will not be here, Sitta Khadra? Then where will you be?" asked
the merchant.

She slowly raised her arm, and pointed upward.

"Up there, sir, with my beloved master, Ibrahim Aga; I shall see the
glory of Allah, and shall see the prophet, the great prophet to whom
my heart-felt prayers so often ascend."

"What is it you are saying, good Sitta? At the next Bairam's
festival, you will surely still be with us on earth."

She slowly shook her head.