Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/115

 know, or even see, his daughter? Is not that against the law of Mohammedan etiquette?"

"Yes. It happened strangely enough. Zuleika, you must know, spoke English, and was, among her people, a marvel of learning. It happened in this wise. The Bedouin who fell in love with the English lady, a brother of Abdul's, finally left his tribe, gave up his wives, and married Lady Margaret Hopeston, an eccentric woman with a large fortune. They lived in Damascus, this strangely matched couple, and led, it is said, an extremely happy life. One morning Lady Margaret was roused at an early hour by the sound of a cavalcade tramping in her courtyard. On descending to ascertain the reason for the commotion, her eyes were greeted by a strange sight. A whole band of Bedouins, several hundred in number, were crowded into the courtyard and lower story of the house. They were the tribe of her husband, who, having been worsted in battle and