按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The villa was most delicately simple； but in this riot of blue and
gold its ivory cleanliness； set there upon the shining sand which was
warm to the foot； made it look magical to Domini。 She thought she had
never known before what spotless purity was like。
〃Those are the bedrooms；〃 murmured the Arab at her side。
〃There are only bedrooms？〃 she asked in surprise。
〃The other rooms； the drawing…room of Monsieur the Count； the dining…
room； the smoking…room； the Moorish bath； the room of the little dog；
the kitchen and the rooms for the servants are in different parts of
the garden。 There is the dining…room。〃
He pointed with his rose to a large white building； whose dazzling
walls showed here and there through the masses of trees to the left；
where a little raised sand…path with flattened； sloping sides wound
away into a maze of shadows diapered with gold。
〃Let us go down that path；〃 Domini said almost in a whisper。
The spell of the place was descending upon her。 This was surely a home
of dreams； a haven where the sun came to lie down beneath the trees
and sleep。
〃What is your name？〃 she added。
〃Smain；〃 replied the Arab。 〃I was born in this garden。 My father；
Mohammed； was with Monsieur the Count。〃
He led the way over the sand； moving silently on his long； brown feet；
straight as a reed in a windless place。 Domini followed； holding her
breath。 Only sometimes she let her strong imagination play utterly at
its will。 She let it go now as she and Smain turned into the golden
diapered shadows of the little path and came into the swaying mystery
of the trees。 The longing for secrecy； for remoteness； for the beauty
of far away had sometimes haunted her； especially in the troubled
moments of her life。 Her heart； oppressed； had overleaped the horizon
line in answer to a calling from hidden things beyond。 Her emotions
had wandered； seeking the great distances in which the dim purple
twilight holds surely comfort for those who suffer。 But she had never
thought to find any garden of peace that realised her dreams。
Nevertheless； she was already conscious that Smain with his rose was
showing her the way to her ideal； that her feet were set upon its
pathway； that its legendary trees were closing round her。
Behind the evergreen hedge she heard the liquid bubbling of a hidden
waterfall； and when they had left the untempered sunlight behind them
this murmur grew louder。 It seemed as if the green gloom in which they
walked acted as a sounding…board to the delicious voice。 The little
path wound on and on between two running rills of water； which slipped
incessantly away under the broad and yellow…tipped leaves of dwarf
palms； making a music so faint that it was more like a remembered
sound in the mind than one which slid upon the ear。 On either hand
towered a jungle of trees brought to this home in the desert from all
parts of the world。
There were many unknown to Domini； but she recognised several
varieties of palms； acacias； gums； fig trees； chestnuts； poplars；
false pepper trees； the huge olive trees called Jamelons； white
laurels； indiarubber and cocoanut trees； bananas； bamboos； yuccas；
many mimosas and quantities of tall eucalyptus trees。 Thickets of
scarlet geranium flamed in the twilight。 The hibiscus lifted languidly
its frail and rosy cup； and the red gold oranges gleamed amid leaves
that looked as if they had been polished by an attentive fairy。
As she went with Smain farther into the recesses of the garden the
voice of the waterfall died away。 No birds were singing。 Domini
thought that perhaps they dared not sing lest they might wake the sun
from its golden reveries； but afterwards； when she knew the garden
better； she often heard them twittering with a subdued； yet happy；
languor； as if joining in a nocturn upon the edge of sleep。 Under the
trees the sand was yellow； of a shade so voluptuously beautiful that
she longed to touch it with her bare feet like Smain。 Here and there
it rose in symmetrical little pyramids； which hinted at absent
gardeners； perhaps enjoying a siesta。
Never before had she fully understood the enchantment of green； quite
realised how happy a choice was made on that day of Creation when it
was showered prodigally over the world。 But now； as she walked
secretly over the yellow sand between the rills； following the
floating green robe of Smain； she rested her eyes； and her soul； on
countless mingling shades of the delicious colour； rough； furry green
of geranium leaves； silver green of olives； black green of distant
palms from which the sun held aloof； faded green of the eucalyptus；
rich； emerald green of fan…shaped； sunlit palms； hot； sultry green of
bamboos； dull； drowsy green of mulberry trees and brooding chestnuts。
It was a choir of colours in one colour； like a choir of boys all with
treble voices singing to the sun。
Gold flickered everywhere； weaving patterns of enchantment； quivering；
vital patterns of burning beauty。 Down the narrow； branching paths
that led to inner mysteries the light ran in and out； peeping between
the divided leaves of plants； gliding over the slippery edges of the
palm branches； trembling airily where the papyrus bent its antique
head； dancing among the big blades of sturdy grass that sprouted in
tufts here and there； resting languidly upon the glistening magnolias
that were besieged by somnolent bees。 All the greens and all the golds
of Creation were surely met together in this profound retreat to prove
the perfect harmony of earth with sun。
And now； growing accustomed to the pervading silence； Domini began to
hear the tiny sounds that broke it。 They came from the trees and
plants。 The airs were always astir； helping the soft designs of
Nature； loosening a leaf from its stem and bearing it to the sand；
striking a berry from its place and causing it to drop at Domini's
feet； giving a faded geranium petal the courage to leave its more
vivid companions and resign itself to the loss of the place it could
no longer fill with beauty。 Very delicate was the touch of the dying
upon the yellow sand。 It increased the sense of pervading mystery and
made Domini more deeply conscious of the pulsing life of the garden。
〃There is the room of the little dog；〃 said Smain。
They had come out into a small open space； over which an immense
cocoanut tree presided。 Low box hedges ran round two squares of grass
which were shadowed by date palms heavy with yellow fruit； and beneath
some leaning mulberry trees Domini saw a tiny white room with two
glass windows down to the ground。 She went up to it and peeped in；
smiling。
There； in a formal salon； with gilt chairs； oval； polished tables；
faded rugs and shining mirrors； sat a purple china dog with his tail
curled over his back sternly staring into vacancy。 His expression and
his attitude were autocratic and determined； betokening a tyrannical
nature； and Domini peeped at him with precaution； holding herself very
still lest he should become aware of her presence and resent it。
〃Monsieur the Count paid much money for the dog；〃 murmured Smain。 〃He
is very valuable。〃
〃How long has he been there？〃
〃For many years。 He was t