The Bride of the Nile | Page 4

is blind
and foolish enough still in all that concerns his former pupil--and even
he thinks this is a dangerous rock ahead. If he does not change in this
respect he will wander further and further from the law of the Lord, and
imperil his soul, for dangers surround him on all sides like roaring lions.
The noble gifts of a handsome and engaging person will lead him to his
ruin; and though I do not desire it, I suspect. . . ."
"You look on the dark side and judge hardly," replied the old man.
"The young. . . ."
"Even the young, or at least the Christian young, ought to control
themselves, though I, if any one, am inclined to make the utmost
allowance for the handsome lad--nay, and I may confess: when he
smiles at me I feel at once as if I had met with some good-luck; and
there are a thousand other men in Memphis who feel the same, and still
more the women you may be sure--but many a one has shed bitter tears
on his account for all that.--But, by all the saints!--Talk of the wolf and
you see his tail! Look, there he is!--Halt! Stop a minute, you men; it is
worth while, Sir, to tarry a moment."
"Is that his fine quadriga in front of the high garden gate yonder?"
"Those are the Pannonian horses he brought with him, as swift as
lightning and as. . . . But look! Ah, now they have disappeared behind
the hedge; but you, high up on your dromedary, must be able to see
them. The little maid by his side is the widow Susannah's daughter.
This garden and the beautiful mansion behind the trees belong to her."
"A very handsome property!" said the Arab.

"I should think so indeed!" replied the Memphite. "The garden goes
down to the Nile, and then, what care is taken of it!"
"Was it not here that Philommon the corn-merchant lived formerly?"
asked the old man, as though some memories were coming back to
him.
"To be sure. He was Susannah's husband and must have been a man of
fifty when he first wooed her. The little girl is their only child and the
richest heiress in the whole province; but she is not altogether grown up
though she is sixteen years old--an old man's child, you understand, but
a pretty, merry creature, a laughing dove in human form, and so quick
and lively. Her own people call her the little water-wagtail."
"Good!--Good and very appropriate," said the merchant well pleased.
"She is small too, a child rather than a maiden; but the graceful,
gladsome creature takes my fancy. And the governor's son--what is his
name?"
"Orion, Sir," replied the guide.
"And by my beard," said the old man smiling. "You have not
over-praised him, man! Such a youth as this Orion is not to be seen
every day. What a tall fellow, and how becoming are those brown curls.
Such as he are spoilt to begin with by their mothers, and then all the
other women follow suit. And he has a frank, shrewd face with
something behind it. If only he had left his purple coat and gold
frippery in Constantinople! Such finery is out of place in this dismal
ruinous city."
While he was yet speaking the Memphite urged his ass forward, but the
Arab held him back, for his attention was riveted by what was taking
place within the enclosure. He saw handsome Orion place a small white
dog, a silky creature of great beauty that evidently belonged to him--in
the little maiden's arms saw her kiss it and then put a blade of grass
round its neck as if to measure its size. The old man watched them as,
both laughing gaily, they looked into each other's eyes and presently
bid each other farewell. The girl stood on tiptoe in front of some rare

shrub to reach two exquisite purple flowers that blossomed at the top,
hastily plucked them and offered them to him with a deep blush; she
pushed away the hand he had put out to support her as she stretched up
for the flowers with a saucy slap; and a bright glance of happiness
lighted up her sweet face as the young man kissed the place her fingers
had hit, and then pressed the flowers to his lips. The old man looked on
with sympathetic pleasure, as though it roused the sweetest memories
in his mind; and his kind eyes shone as Orion, no less mischievously
happy than the young girl, whispered something in her ear; she drew
the long stem of grass out of her waist-belt to administer immediate and
condign punishment withal, struck it across his face, and then fled over