They continued their laundry, not looking up, but their chatter dribbled away.
"She must drop the veil," the man continued clearly, "and give up the haik and wear the new clothes. But she will be well paid, and taught to read and be kept in the best of comfort and health."
There was a low gasp from several of the younger women, but one of the eldest looked up in distaste. "Wear the clothes of the Rouma!" she said indignantly. "Shameless ones!"
The man's voice was testy. He himself was dressed in the clothing worn always by the Rouma, when the Rouma had controlled the Niger bend. He said, "These are not the clothes of the Rouma, but the clothes of civilized people everywhere."
The women's attention went back to their washing. Two or three of them giggled.
The elderly woman said, "There are none here who will go with you, for whatever shameless purpose you have in your mind."
But Izubahil, the strange girl come out of the desert from the north, spoke suddenly. "I will," she said.
There was a gasp, and all looked at her in wide-eyed alarm. She began making her way to the shore, her unfinished washing still in hand.
The stranger said clearly, "And drop the veil, discard the haik for the new clothing, and attend the schools?"
There was another gasp as Izubahil said definitely, "Yes, all these things." She looked back at the women. "So that I may learn all these new ways."