"Not so, stranger. Honor the hospitality of my house, for my
dromedary is my house, and I wish you to be my guest. And, that you
may see that Butheita is sensible of the duties of a hostess, accept
this banana and refresh yourself; you will need it."
She takes two bananas from the bag that hangs at the side of the
saddle, and with delight Mohammed sees her peel the rich fruit,
which she hands him with a delicious smile.
"Eat, stranger; eat, and refresh yourself."
She has forgotten that he is bound, and that he cannot take the
fruit from her hand.
"This heavenly fruit must be administered by your fair hand alone,"
said he. "As my hands are bound, you must hold it to my lips
yourself. Oh, that they were to be refreshed with yours instead of
the banana!"
She smiles and looks down, blushingly. She then breaks the fruit and
brings it to his lips in little morsels. And each time he raises his
lips so high, that they touch not only the fruit but also her
delicate brown fingers. It was sweet play, and Mohammed forgets all
else. This night, minutes have been as hours to him, and now he
would have them become eternities. Lovely is this child of the
desert that bends down over him; a whole world of maidenly purity
and sweetness permitted to wander freely through the desert, and not
cooped up in the second apartment of the tent, and not compelled to
cover my face with a veil.
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