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CHAPTER XVI
RETRIBUTION.
Night has come. The Bedouin chief, Arnhyn, has retired to rest. He
is to start early in the morning with others of his tribe for
Tantah, to take to market the wool of their black sheep, the cloth
they have woven out of it, the goat-skins; and cheese.
Butheita, also, must rise early in the morning, for she is to
accompany her father, and has many little preparations to make. On
the evening before, she had already done up her hair in a hundred
small plaits, securing them with gold-headed pins, on some of which
precious stones sparkled. The pink silk dress, the white veil, and
the shoes, all lie ready for use: She has colored her finger-nails
and the palms of her hands with henna; but Butheita scorns to color
her face; moreover, no one is to see her face. Hitherto she had
cordially detested her veil, but now she hides her countenance
closely in the presence of all men.
Surprised at this, the sheik has often asked her how it happened
that such a change had come over her, and that she showed herself to
no one unveiled since the strangler had sojourned in their tent, as
though his eyes had hurt her, and made her afraid of the gaze of
men.
Butheita had only smiled mysteriously in response to his questions;
she well knows, however, why she does so: she knows it is to keep
sacred from the gaze of other men the countenance consecrated by his
glance.
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