Page:The red book of animal stories.djvu/88

 by the gentle tones of her formidable acquaintance, and surprised that this strange and splendid lion should know her name.

'Who can have told you what I am called, my lord?' she inquired.

'The breeze which loves you, and which, after playing through your hair, carries its perfume to the roses as it sighs "Aïssa!" The stream which loves you, and which, after bathing your fair feet, waters the moss in my cave as it murmurs "Aïssa!" The bird which, since it heard your voice, has been jealous of you, and died of pique as it cried "Aïssa!"'

The girl blushed with pleasure, and began to arrange her veil, taking great care, however, to do it in such a way that the lion could see her all the better; for whether the flatterer is a lion or a fox, and the one flattered an Arab maiden or a crow, you see the result of flattery is always much the same everywhere, and with every one.

The lion, who had hitherto remained at a little distance, now ventured to draw nearer to the girl, but seeing her begin to tremble again, he asked, in his tenderest and most anxious voice: What is the matter, Aïssa?'

She longed to answer, 'I am afraid of you, my lord,' but did not dare; so said, 'The Touareg tribe is not far off, and I am so afraid of the Touaregs.'

The lion smiled, after the fashion of lions. 'When you are with me,' he said, 'you need fear nothing.'

'But,' replied Aïssa, 'I shall not always have the honour of your company. It is getting late, and my father's tent is some way from here.'

'I will escort you home,' said the lion.

Refusal was impossible, and Aïssa had no choice but to accept. The lion came up close, and held out his head as a support, much as a gentleman might offer a lady his arm; the girl laid her hand on his mane, and, side by side, they set out for the tent of Aïssa's father.

On their way they met gazelles, who started away