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thought to find any garden of peace that realised her dreams。
Nevertheless； she was already conscious that Smain with his rose was
showing her the way to her ideal； that her feet were set upon its
pathway； that its legendary trees were closing round her。
Behind the evergreen hedge she heard the liquid bubbling of a hidden
waterfall； and when they had left the untempered sunlight behind them
this murmur grew louder。 It seemed as if the green gloom in which they
walked acted as a sounding…board to the delicious voice。 The little
path wound on and on between two running rills of water； which slipped
incessantly away under the broad and yellow…tipped leaves of dwarf
palms； making a music so faint that it was more like a remembered
sound in the mind than one which slid upon the ear。 On either hand
towered a jungle of trees brought to this home in the desert from all
parts of the world。
There were many unknown to Domini； but she recognised several
varieties of palms； acacias； gums； fig trees； chestnuts； poplars；
false pepper trees； the huge olive trees called Jamelons； white
laurels； indiarubber and cocoanut trees； bananas； bamboos； yuccas；
many mimosas and quantities of tall eucalyptus trees。 Thickets of
scarlet geranium flamed in the twilight。 The hibiscus lifted languidly
its frail and rosy cup； and the red gold oranges gleamed amid leaves
that looked as if they had been polished by an attentive fairy。
As she went with Smain farther into the recesses of the garden the
voice of the waterfall died away。 No birds were singing。 Domini
thought that perhaps they dared not sing lest they might wake the sun
from its golden reveries； but afterwards； when she knew the garden
better； she often heard them twittering with a subdued； yet happy；
languor； as if joining in a nocturn upon the edge of sleep。 Under the
trees the sand was yellow； of a shade so voluptuously beautiful that
she longed to touch it with her bare feet like Smain。 Here and there
it rose in symmetrical little pyramids； which hinted at absent
gardeners； perhaps enjoying a siesta。
Never before had she fully understood the enchantment of green； quite
realised how happy a choice was made on that day of Creation when it
was showered prodigally over the world。 But now； as she walked
secretly over the yellow sand between the rills； following the
floating green robe of Smain； she rested her eyes； and her soul； on
countless mingling shades of the delicious colour； rough； furry green
of geranium leaves； silver green of olives； black green of distant
palms from which the sun held aloof； faded green of the eucalyptus；
rich； emerald green of fan…shaped； sunlit palms； hot； sultry green of
bamboos； dull； drowsy green of mulberry trees and brooding chestnuts。
It was a choir of colours in one colour； like a choir of boys all with
treble voices singing to the sun。
Gold flickered everywhere； weaving patterns of enchantment； quivering；
vital patterns of burning beauty。 Down the narrow； branching paths
that led to inner mysteries the light ran in and out； peeping between
the divided leaves of plants； gliding over the slippery edges of the
palm branches； trembling airily where the papyrus bent its antique
head； dancing among the big blades of sturdy grass that sprouted in
tufts here and there； resting languidly upon the glistening magnolias
that were besieged by somnolent bees。 All the greens and all the golds
of Creation were surely met together in this profound retreat to prove
the perfect harmony of earth with sun。
And now； growing accustomed to the pervading silence； Domini began to
hear the tiny sounds that broke it。 They came from the trees and
plants。 The airs were always astir； helping the soft designs of
Nature； loosening a leaf from its stem and bearing it to the sand；
striking a berry from its place and causing it to drop at Domini's
feet； giving a faded geranium petal the courage to leave its more
vivid companions and resign itself to the loss of the place it could
no longer fill with beauty。 Very delicate was the touch of the dying
upon the yellow sand。 It increased the sense of pervading mystery and
made Domini more deeply conscious of the pulsing life of the garden。
〃There is the room of the little dog；〃 said Smain。
They had come out into a small open space； over which an immense
cocoanut tree presided。 Low box hedges ran round two squares of grass
which were shadowed by date palms heavy with yellow fruit； and beneath
some leaning mulberry trees Domini saw a tiny white room with two
glass windows down to the ground。 She went up to it and peeped in；
smiling。
There； in a formal salon； with gilt chairs； oval； polished tables；
faded rugs and shining mirrors； sat a purple china dog with his tail
curled over his back sternly staring into vacancy。 His expression and
his attitude were autocratic and determined； betokening a tyrannical
nature； and Domini peeped at him with precaution； holding herself very
still lest he should become aware of her presence and resent it。
〃Monsieur the Count paid much money for the dog；〃 murmured Smain。 〃He
is very valuable。〃
〃How long has he been there？〃
〃For many years。 He was there when I was born； and I have been married
twice and divorced twice。〃
Domini turned from the window and looked at Smain with astonishment。
He was smelling his rose like a dreamy child。
〃You have been divorced twice？〃
〃Yes。 Now I will show Madame the smoking…room。〃
They followed another of the innumerable alleys of the garden。 This
one was very narrow and less densely roofed with trees than those they
had already traversed。 Tall shrubs bent forward on either side of it；
and their small leaves almost meeting； were transformed by the radiant
sunbeams into tongues of pale fire； quivering； well nigh transparent。
As she approached them Domini could not resist the fancy that they
would burn her。 A brown butterfly flitted forward between them and
vanished into the golden dream beyond。
〃Oh； Smain； how you must love this garden！〃 she said。
A sort of ecstasy was waking within her。 The pure air； the caressing
warmth； the enchanted stillness and privacy of this domain touched her
soul and body like the hands of a saint with power to bless her。
〃I could live here for ever；〃 she added； 〃without once wishing to go
out into the world。〃
Smain looked drowsily pleased。
〃We are coming to the centre of the garden；〃 he said； as they passed
over a palm…wood bridge beneath which a stream glided under the red
petals of geraniums。
The tongues of flame were left behind。 Green darkness closed in upon
them and the sand beneath their feet looked blanched。 The sense of
mystery increased； for the trees were enormous and grew densely here。
Pine needles lay upon the ground； and there was a stirring of sudden
wind far up above their heads in the tree…tops。
〃This is the part of the garden that Monsieur the Count loves；〃 said
Smain。 〃He comes here every day。〃
〃What is that？〃 said Domini； suddenly stopping on the pale sand。
A thin and remote sound stole to them down the alley； clear and frail
as the note of a night bird。
〃It is Larbi playing upon the flute。 He is in love。 That is why he
plays when he ought to be watering the flowers and raking out the
sand。〃
The distant love…song of the flute seemed to Domini the last touch of
enchantment making this indeed a wonderland。 She could not move； and
held up her hands to stay the feet of Smain； who was quite content to
wait。 Never before had she heard any music that seemed to mean and
suggest so much to her as this African tune played by an enamoured
gardener。 Queer and uncouth as it was； distorted with ornaments and
tricked out with abrupt runs； exquisitely unnecessary grace notes； and
sudden twitterings prolonged till a strange and frivolous Eternity
tripped in to banish Time； it grasped Domini's fancy and laid a spell
upon her imagination。 For it sounded as naively sincere as the song of
a bird； and as if the heart from which it flowed were like the heart
of a child； a place of revelation； not of concealment。 The sun made
men careless here。 They opened their windows to it； and one could see
into the warm and glowing rooms。 Domini looked at the gentle Arab
youth beside her； already twice married and twice divorced。 She
listened to Larbi's unending song of love。 And she said to herself；
〃These people； uncivilised or not； at least live； and I have been dead
all my life； dead in life。〃 That was horribly possible。 She knew it as
she felt the enormously powerful spell of Africa descending upon her；
enveloping her quietly but irresistibly。 The dream of this garden was
quick with a vague and yet fierce stirring of realities。 There was a
murmuring of many small and distant voices； like the voices of
innumerable tiny things following restless activities in a deep
forest。 As she stood there the last grain of European dust was lifted
from Domini's soul。 How deeply it had been buried； and for how many
years。
〃The greatest act of man is the act of renunciation。〃 She had just
heard those words。 The eyes of the priest had flamed as he spoke them；
and she had caught the spark of his enthusiasm。 But now a