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the praises of the whole world。〃
〃We can't stop it。〃
Something in his voice made her say abruptly：
〃Do you wish to stop it？〃
He did not answer。 The old man struck at the mosque and shrieked。
Domini shuddered。
〃I can't stay here；〃 she said。
At this moment Mustapha appeared； followed by the guardian of the
mosque； who carried two pairs of tattered slippers。
〃Monsieur and Madame must take off their boots。 Then I will show the
mosque。〃
Domini put on the slippers hastily； and went into the mosque without
waiting to see whether Androvsky was following。 And the old man's
furious cry pursued her through the doorway。
Within there was space and darkness。 The darkness seemed to be
praying。 Vistas of yellowish…white arches stretched away in front； to
right and left。 On the floor； covered with matting； quantities of
shrouded figures knelt and swayed； stood up suddenly； knelt again；
bowed down their foreheads。 Preceded by Mustapha and the guide； who
walked on their stockinged feet； Domini slowly threaded her way among
them； following a winding path whose borders were praying men。 To
prevent her slippers from falling off she had to shuffle along without
lifting her feet from the ground。 With the regularity of a beating
pulse the old man's shriek； fainter now； came to her from without。 But
presently； as she penetrated farther into the mosque； it was swallowed
up by the sound of prayer。 No one seemed to see her or to know that
she was there。 She brushed against the white garments of worshippers；
and when she did so she felt as if she touched the hem of the garments
of mystery； and she held her habit together with her hands lest she
should recall even one of these hearts that were surely very far off。
Mustapha and the guardian stood still and looked round at Domini。
Their faces were solemn。 The expression of greedy anxiety had gone out
of Mustapha's eyes。 For the moment the thought of money had been
driven out of his mind by some graver pre…occupation。 She saw in the
semi…darkness two wooden doors set between pillars。 They were painted
green and red； and fastened with clamps and bolts of hammered copper
that looked enormously old。 Against them were nailed two pictures of
winged horses with human heads； and two more pictures representing a
fantastical town of Eastern houses and minarets in gold on a red
background。 Balls of purple and yellow glass； and crystal chandeliers；
hung from the high ceiling above these doors； with many ancient lamps；
and two tattered and dusty banners of pale pink and white silk；
fringed with gold and powdered with a gold pattern of flowers； were
tied to the pillars with thin cords of camel's hair。
〃This is the tomb of Sidi…Zerzour；〃 whispered Mustapha。 〃It is opened
once a year。〃
The guardian of the mosque fell on his knees before the tomb。
〃That is Mecca。〃
Mustapha pointed to the pictures of the city。 Then he； too； dropped
down and pressed his forehead against the matting。 Domini glanced
round for Androvsky。 He was not there。 She stood alone before the tomb
of Zerzour； the only human being in the great； dim building who was
not worshipping。 And she felt a terrible isolation； as if she were
excommunicated； as if she dared not pray； for a moment almost as if
the God to whom this torrent of worship flowed were hostile to her
alone。
Had her father ever felt such a sensation of unutterable solitude？
It passed quickly； and； standing under the votive lamps before the
painted doors； she prayed too； silently。 She shut her eyes and
imagined a church of her religionthe little church of Beni…Mora。 She
tried to imagine the voice of prayer all about her； the voice of the
great Catholic Church。 But that was not possible。 Even when she saw
nothing； and turned her soul inward upon itself； and strove to set
this new world into which she had come far off； she heard in the long
murmur that filled it a sound that surely rose from the sand； from the
heart and the spirit of the sand； from the heart and the spirit of
desert places； and that went up in the darkness of the mosque and
floated under the arches through the doorway； above the palms and the
flat…roofed houses； and that winged its fierce way； like a desert
eagle； towards the sun。
Mustapha's hand was on her arm。 The guardian； too； had risen from his
knees and drawn from his robe and lit a candle。 She came to a tiny
doorway； passed through it and began to mount a winding stair。 The
sound of prayer mounted with her from the mosque； and when she came
out upon the platform enclosed in the summit of the minaret she heard
it still and it was multiplied。 For all the voices from the outside
courts joined it； and many voices from the roofs of the houses round
about。
Men were praying there too； praying in the glare of the sun upon their
housetops。 She saw them from the minaret； and she saw the town that
had sprung up round the tomb of the saint； and all the palms of the
oasis； and beyond them immeasurable spaces of desert。
〃Allah…Akbar！ Allah…Akbar！〃
She was above the eternal cry now。 She had mounted like a prayer
towards the sun； like a living； pulsing prayer； like the soul of
prayer。 She gazed at the far…off desert and saw prayer travelling； the
soul of prayer travellingwhither？ Where was the end？ Where was the
halting…place； with at last the pitched tent； the camp fires； and the
long； the long repose？
* * * * * *
When she came down and reached the court she found the old man still
striking at the mosque and shrieking out his trembling imprecation。
And she found Androvsky still standing by him with fascinated eyes。
She had mounted with the voice of prayer into the sunshine； surely a
little way towards God。
Androvsky had remained in the dark shadow with a curse。
It was foolish； perhapsa woman's vagrant fancybut she wished he
had mounted with her。
BOOK III。 THE GARDEN
CHAPTER X
It was noon in the desert。
The voice of the Mueddin died away on the minaret； and the golden
silence that comes out of the heart of the sun sank down once more
softly over everything。 Nature seemed unnaturally still in the heat。
The slight winds were not at play； and the palms of Beni…Mora stood
motionless as palm trees in a dream。 The day was like a dream； intense
and passionate； yet touched with something unearthly； something almost
spiritual。 In the cloudless blue of the sky there seemed a magical
depth； regions of colour infinitely prolonged。 In the vision of the
distances； where desert blent with sky； earth surely curving up to
meet the downward curving heaven； the dimness was like a voice
whispering strange petitions。 The ranges of mountains slept in the
burning sand； and the light slept in their clefts like the languid in
cool places。 For there was a glorious languor even in the light； as if
the sun were faintly oppressed by the marvel of his power。 The
clearness of the atmosphere in the remote desert was not obscured； but
was impregnated with the mystery that is the wonder child of shadows。
The far…off gold that kept it seemed to contain a secret darkness。 In
the oasis of Beni…Mora men； who had slowly roused themselves to p