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the dry and thin air as in a clear； cool bath； did not suffer from the
burning rays of the sun； but felt radiant yet half lazy too。 They went
on and on in silence as intimate friends might ride together； isolated
from the world and content in each other's company； content enough to
have no need of talking。 Not once did it strike Domini as strange that
she should go far out into the desert with a man of whom she knew
nothing； but in whom she had noticed disquieting peculiarities。 She
was naturally fearless； but that had little to do with her conduct。
Without saying so to herself she felt she could trust this man。
The dark green line showed clearer through the sunshine across the
gleaming flats。 It was possible now to see slight irregularities in
it； as in a blurred dash of paint flung across a canvas by an
uncertain hand； but impossible to distinguish palm trees。 The air
sparkled as if full of a tiny dust of intensely brilliant jewels； and
near the ground there seemed to quiver a maze of dancing specks of
light。 Everywhere there was solitude； yet everywhere there was surely
a ceaseless movement of minute and vital things； scarce visible sun
fairies eternally at play。
And Domini's careless feeling grew。 She had never before experienced
so delicious a recklessness。 Head and heart were light； reckless of
thought or love。 Sad things had no meaning here and grave things no
place。 For the blood was full of sunbeams dancing to a lilt of Apollo。
Nothing mattered here。 Even Death wore a robe of gold and went with an
airy step。 Ah； yes； from this region of quivering light and heat the
Arabs drew their easy and lustrous resignation。 Out here one was in
the hands of a God who surely sang as He created and had not created
fear。
Many minutes passed； but Domini was careless of time as of all else。
The green line broke into feathery tufts； broadened into a still far…
off dimness of palms。
〃Water！〃
Androvsky's voice spoke as if startled。 Domini pulled up。 Their horses
stood side by side； and at once； with the cessation of motion； the
mysticism of the desert came upon them and the marvel of its silence；
and they seemed to be set there in a wonderful dream； themselves and
their horses dreamlike。
〃Water！〃 he said again。
He pointed； and along the right…hand edge of the oasis Domini saw
grey； calm waters。 The palms ran out into them and were bathed by them
softly。 And on their bosom here and there rose small； dim islets。 Yes；
there was water； and yet The mystery of it was a mystery she had
never known to brood even over a white northern sea in a twilight hour
of winter； was deeper than the mystery of the Venetian /laguna morta/；
when the Angelus bell chimes at sunset； and each distant boat； each
bending rower and patient fisherman； becomes a marvel； an eerie thing
in the gold。
〃Is it mirage？〃 she said to him almost in a whisper。
And suddenly she shivered。
〃Yes； it is； it must be。〃
He did not answer。 His left hand； holding the rein； dropped down on
the saddle peak； and he stared across the waste； leaning forward and
moving his lips。 She looked at him and forgot even the mirage in a
sudden longing to understand exactly what he was feeling。 His mystery
the mystery of that which is human and is forever stretching out its
armswas as the fluid mystery of the mirage； and seemed to blend at
that moment with the mystery she knew lay in herself。 The mirage was
within them as it was far off before them in the desert； still； grey；
full surely of indistinct movement； and even perhaps of sound they
could not hear。
At last he turned and looked at her。
〃Yes； it must be mirage；〃 he said。 〃The nothing that seems to be so
much。 A man comes out into the desert and he finds there mirage。 He
travels right out and that's what he reachesor at least he can't
reach it； but just sees it far away。 And that's all。 And is that what
a man finds when he comes out into the world？〃
It was the first time he had spoken without any trace of reserve to
her； for even on the tower； though there had been tumult in his voice
and a fierceness of some strange passion in his words； there had been
struggle in his manner； as if the pressure of feeling forced him to
speak in despite of something which bade him keep silence。 Now he
spoke as if to someone whom he knew and with whom he had talked of
many things。
〃But you ought to know better than I do；〃 she answered。
〃I！〃
〃Yes。 You are a man； and have been in the world； and must know what it
has to givewhether there's only mirage； or something that can be
grasped and felt and lived in； and〃
〃Yes； I'm a man and I ought to know；〃 he replied。 〃Well； I don't know；
but I mean to know。〃
There was a savage sound in his voice。
〃I should like to know； too；〃 Domini said quietly。 〃And I feel as if
it was the desert that was going to teach me。〃
〃The deserthow？〃
〃I don't know。〃
He pointed again to the mirage。
〃But that's what there is in the desert。〃
〃Thatand what else？〃
〃Is there anything else？〃
〃Perhaps everything；〃 she answered。 〃I am like you。 I want to know。〃
He looked straight into her eyes and there was something dominating in
his expression。
〃You think it is the desert that could teach you whether the world
holds anything but a mirage；〃 he said slowly。 〃Well； I don't think it
would be the desert that could teach me。〃
She said nothing more； but let her horse go and rode off。 He followed；
and as he rode awkwardly； yet bravely； pressing his strong legs
against his animal's flanks and holding his thin body bent forward； he
looked at Domini's upright figure and brilliant； elastic gracethat
gave in to her horse as wave gives to windwith a passion of envy in
his eyes。
They did not speak again till the great palm gardens of the oasis they
had seen far off were close upon them。 From the desert they looked
both shabby and superb； as if some millionaire had poured forth money
to create a Paradise out here； and； when it was nearly finished； had
suddenly repented of his whim and refused to spend another farthing。
The thousands upon thousands of mighty trees were bounded by long；
irregular walls of hard earth； at the top of which were stuck
distraught thorn bushes。 These walls gave the rough； penurious aspect
which was in such sharp contrast to the exotic mystery they guarded。
Yet in the fierce blaze of the sun their meanness was not
disagreeable。 Domini even liked it。 It seemed to her as if the desert
had thrown up waves to protect this daring oasis which ventured to
fling its green glory like a defiance in the face of the Sahara。 A
wide track of earth； sprinkled with stones and covered with deep ruts；
holes and hummocks； wound in from the desert between the earthen walls
and vanished into the heart of the oasis。 They followed it。
Domini was filled with a sort of romantic curiosity。 This luxury of
palms far out in the midst of desolation； untended apparently by human
handsfor no figures moved among them； there was no one on the road
suggested some hidden purpose and activity； some concealed personage；
perhaps an Eastern Anteoni； whose lair lay surely somewhere beyond
them。 As she had felt the call of the desert she now felt the call of
the oasis。 In this land thrilled eternally a summons to go onward； to
seek； to penetrate； to be a passionate pilgrim。 She wondered whether
her companion's heart could hear it。
〃I don't know why it is；〃 she said； 〃but out here I always feel
expectant。 I always feel as if some marvellous thing might be going to
happen to me。〃
She did not add 〃Do you？〃 but looked at him as if for a reply。
〃Yes； Madame；〃 he said。
〃I suppose it is because I am new to Africa。 This is my first visit
here。 I am not like you。 I can't speak Arabic。〃
She suddenly wondered whether the desert was new to him as to her。 She
had assumed that it was。 Yet as he spoke Arabic it was almost certain
that he had been much in Africa。
〃I do not speak it well；〃 he answered。
And he looked away towards the dense thickets of the palms。 The track
narrowed till the trees on either side cast patterns of moving shade
across it and the silent mystery was deepened。 As far as the eye could
see the feathery； tufted foliage swayed in the little wind。 The desert
had vanished； but sent in after them the message of its soul； the
marvellous breath which Domini had drunk into her lungs so long before
she saw it。 That breath was like a presence。 It dwells in all oases。
The high earth walls concealed the gardens。 Domini longed to look over
and see what they contained； whether there were any dwellings in these
dim and silent recesses； any pools of water； flowers or grassy lawns。
Her horse neighed。
〃Something is coming；〃 she said。
They turned a corner and were suddenly in a village。 A mob of half…
naked children scattered from their horses' feet。 Rows of seated men
in white and earth…coloured robes stared upon them from beneath the
shadow of tall； windowless earth houses。 White dogs rushed to and fro
upon the flat roofs； thrusting forward venomous heads； showing their
teeth and barking furiously。 Hens fluttered in agitation from one side
to the other。 A grey mule； tethered to