Page:A child of the Orient (IA childoforient00vakarich).pdf/211

 house; I will leave the attendants there, tell my mother where I am going, and come with you. In this way we shall have the whole afternoon together. My attendants can call for me in the evening."

That is how it happened that on reaching the island I drove in a closed carriage with three veiled ladies to the haremlik of Djamal Pasha, and afterwards, with only one, arrived at my cousin's house.

To my cousin I explained my plight and introduced Chakendé Hanoum. There was no one at home except my cousin and her children. After luncheon Chakendé and I went into the guestroom, where we made ourselves comfortable in loose garments. She braided her long, thick hair in two braids, and put a string of pearls, like a ribbon, over her head. She had clad her slim, young figure in a loose, white pembezar, made quite in French fashion. Cut a little low at the neck, it displayed, besides another string of pearls, a throat full and white, beautiful in shape and in its youthful freshness. She was so good to look upon that I again bethought me of the man for whom she had been destined.

"Now tell me why you are not married," I said.

She laughed, and sighed again.

"Because he will not have me."

"He, who?" I queried.