Part 122 (1/2)
”But I do.”
Again she noticed the amazing expressiveness of his face.
”Yes,” she said, ”I know. You are different.”
She opened the door and pa.s.sed into the room. Directly she was in it she heard the Nubian sailors on the _Loulia_ beginning their serenade. (She chose to call it that to herself to-night.) Their music tore at her heart, at her whole nature. She wanted to rush to it, now, at once, without one moment of waiting. Hardly could she force her body to move quietly across the room to the terrace. Nigel came up and stood close to her.
”Oh, I must have a wrap,” she said.
”I'll fetch it.”
”No, no! You mustn't go upstairs. You'll tire yourself.”
”Not to-night,” he said.
And he turned away. Directly the door shut behind him Mrs. Armine darted into the garden.
”Ibrahim! Ibrahim! Are you there?”
”Yes, my lady.”
He came up from the water's edge and stood beside her.
”I can't come yet, but I'll be as quick as I can.”
”Yes.”
He looked at her. Then he said:
”I dunno what Mahmoud Baroudi say to us. He got one girl on the board.”
”On the board!”
”On the board of the _Loulia_.”
”Ruby! Ruby! where are you?”
”Go back! Wait for me--wait!”
”Ruby!”
”I'm here! I'm coming, Nigel!”
XLIV
She met him in the garden, a little beyond the terrace. He had on an overcoat and a soft hat, and was carrying a cloak for her.
”You shouldn't walk out in the night air with bare arms and shoulders,”