"Do you know that I love you?"
A slight tremor possessed itself of all her being, and she bowed her
head in confusion.
"Yes, Mohammed, I know that you love me."
He suddenly raised the white veil from her countenance, and softly
and gently kissed her lips, as softly and gently as the bee touches
with its wings the crimson rose in search of its sweetness. He then
quickly let fall her veil again. "Swear, Masa, that no other man's
hand shall ever raise this veil!"
"O Mohammed, how can I?' said she, in soft, pleading tones. "Am I
not my father's slave, is not his daughter's life in his hands, must
I not do what he commands? But this I can swear: that I will love
you, Mohammed, that I will pray to Allah to bless our love. And now
let me tell you, I not only know that you love me, but I also know
that Masa's heart is yours, for it beats so loudly, so stormily, and
I feel so happy. This I can swear, too, Mohammed, that my heart will
remain true to you, and that I will rather die, than of my own free
will allow another man to raise my veil."
"And this I can swear, Masa, that you shall not die," said, he, and
his voice sounded almost harsh and threatening. "No, you shall not
die, Masa! You shall live, and live for me, the husband of your
future. And now, come, I will conduct you to the rocky stairway.
This you will permit me to do."
She gently shook her head, raised her hand, and pointed to the
landscape that lay spread out below in the bright sunshine.
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