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178 the Greek burial-ground; the women followed afar off, singing and crying wildly. And again for many days there was mourning in the house of Sekhali.

But the widower did not reject consolation. About a year afterward he sent messengers to Nazareth to seek for a wife for him, and when all was rightly arranged he went there to be affianced. But a monetary difficulty arose, and the contract was annulled. Another bride was sought and quickly chosen, for Khalîl said that he was determined not to be disappointed, nor to be a laughing-stock in Hâifa. He was after all actually betrothed on the very day first fixed for the ceremony, and the marriage took place soon after.

The bridegroom was about seventy and the bride seventeen! I called to welcome the young wife to Hâifa. She was very good-looking, but quite of the peasant class. She had a bright face; the forehead and chin were tattooed; her eyebrows were naturally black and well arched, and her eyelashes were long, so that no kohl was necessary. This peculiarity is expressed, in Arabic, in one word, "Khālā." Her countenance was ruddy, and the women said of her, "The wife of Khalîl is fair; roses grow upon her cheeks; she does not buy her roses in the bazar." This is also said of the women of Shefa 'Amer, who are generally bright and healthy in appearance, and use rouge but rarely. Khalîl was comforted. His three sons and their wives, with their little ones, dwelt with him under the same roof, and there was rejoicing in the house when a son was born to him in his old age.

Elias Sekhali, the eldest son of Khalîl, was studious, thoughtful, clear-headed, and logical, and universally liked by Christians and Moslems. He was employed in the French Consulate. He came very often to see us, and was eager to obtain information about the English Constitution, and the progress of civilization generally. He always had some amusing story or impressive parable to tell me when he found me alone. Many of them were original. I care-