“Yes,” he answered, in a hoarse voice, for he was more affected than he dared to show, “I will stay till I can find an opportunity of going home; and oh! Mea, do not suppose that I think the worse of you. I honour you, Mea; next to my wife and mother, you are the dearest to me of any in the world. While I live, I will remain your friend. See, this is the token of it;” and leaning forward, he searched for her hand and found it, then lifted it to his forehead and touched it with his lips. Next instant he heard the rustle of her robes as she left the room.
Thus did Rupert keep the oath that he had sworn to his mother years before and come out safely from the fires of a very fierce dilemma, and thus did a star arise upon the twilight of Mea’s soul—a far, cold star, that yet was destined to lead her on to wondrous heights, whence the way of the flesh seemed very distant, and that of the spirit very near.
CHAPTER XV.
RUPERT MAKES OBEISANCE
For three days after the passionate scene that has been described, Rupert saw no more of Mea. When he asked about her, not without anxiety, Bakhita, who had taken her place as his nurse, informed him that she had gone to a distant part of the oasis to inquire about her crops, and to settle a dispute between two families as to some land. For some reasons he wished that she would come back again, since during those days Bakhita was very short with him; indeed, the word “harsh” would scarcely have exaggerated her attitude.
“I know you are angry with me,” he said at last, “but you who are wise and acquainted with our law, will understand.”
“I understand that you are a fool, Rupert Bey, like many of you white men who think yourselves so good and clever. I wish you had never come to Tama, for now my niece will go unmarried, and the ancient race must die.”
“It is not my fault,” he answered humbly, “it is yours, Bakhita, who would accompany me somewhat against my will, and thus have brought ruin upon everybody.”
“Nay,” she answered crossly, “it was yours, who spied upon us in the sanctuary at Abu-Simbel, and thus caused the libation to be poured amiss. From that moment Tama became your slave, and the god grew jealous and brought evil upon us all, especially upon you, Rupert Bey.”
He laughed a little and said:
“You don’t really believe all that, do you, Bakhita? Those old gods have been dead for many an age.”