Nevertheless, she put the powder-puff down.
"You don't trust your own beauty, Ruby," he said.
She sat back and looked at him very gravely, as if his remark had made a strong impression upon her. Then she looked into the mirror, then she looked again at him.
"You think I should be wise to trust it as much as that?"
"Of course you would."
He laid his hand on hers.
"You are blossoming here in Egypt, but you hardly let one know it when you put things on your face."
She gazed again into the glass in silence.
"Any letters for me?" she said, at last.
"I haven't looked yet. I walked with Baroudi on the bank. He's joined his dahabeeyah, and is going up to Armant to see to his affairs in the sugar business up there."