The harem into which the dumb Circassian girl was conducted by the
woman to whom the old Turk delivered his message, was a place of
such luxuriant splendor as to puzzle her, and she stood like one
amazed for some moments.--The costly and grateful lounges, the heavy
and downy carpets, the rich velvet and silken hangings about the
walls, the picturesque and lovely groups of female slaves that
laughed and toyed with each other, mingling in pleasant games, the
rich though scanty dress of these favorites of the Sultan, all were
confusing and dazzling to her untutored eye, and when, after a few
moments' minutes, a dozen of these lovely girls crowded about her
with curious eyes to know who was the new comer that was to be their
companion, the poor girl shrunk back half abashed, for she could not
speak to them.

They too were puzzled that she made no reply to them, and stood
there in wonder.

It was only for a moment, however, when the beautiful stranger
pointed to her mouth and ears significantly, and gently shook her
head with a sadness of expression that was electrical, for each one
instantly understood her meaning, and pitied her. Some little
feeling of envy might have been ready to burst forth in the breasts
of those about her, but gentle pity loves to linger by beauty's
side, and so they all loved and condoled with the fair stranger. One
took her hand and led her to a cushion in the centre of the little
circle that had just been formed, another unloosed the wealth of