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Thou at least art as foolish as any babe! Ameera tucked Tota out of harm's way in the hollow of her neck, and was carried downstairs laughing in Holden's arms, while Tota opened his eyes and smiled after the manner of the lesser angels.
And there was going to be added to this kingdom a third person whose arrival Holden felt inclined to resent. It interfered with his perfect happiness. It disarranged the orderly peace of the house that was his own. But Ameera was wild with delight at the thought of it, and her mother not less so.
Ameera's mother sat spinning in the lower verandah, and the wooden gate was shut and barred. The music of a marriage-procession came to the roof above the gentle hum of the city, and a string of flying-foxes crossed the face of the low moon. 'I have prayed, said Ameera after a long pause, 'I have prayed for two things.
Put thy hand on his head, but carefully, for he is very young, and men are unskilled in such matters. Very cautiously Holden touched with the tips of his fingers the downy head. 'He is of the faith, said Ameera; 'for lying here in the night-watches I whispered the call to prayer and the profession of faith into his ears. And it is most marvellous that he was born upon a Friday, as I was born.
The jealousy of God was upon us, said Ameera. 'I have hung up a large black jar before our window to turn the evil eye from us, and we must make no protestations of delight, but go softly underneath the stars, lest God find us out. Is that not good talk, worthless one? She had shifted the accent on the word that means 'beloved, in proof of the sincerity of her purpose.
The love of a man, and particularly a white man, was at the best an inconstant affair, but it might, both women argued, be held fast by a baby's hands. 'And then, Ameera would always say, 'then he will never care for the white mem-log. I hate them all I hate them all. 'He will go back to his own people in time, said the mother; 'but by the blessing of God that time is yet afar off.
Every hour of the day he dreaded the arrival of the telegram, and every hour of the night he pictured to himself the death of Ameera. In consequence his work for the State was not of first-rate quality, nor was his temper towards his colleagues of the most amiable.
On the threshold of the room Holden stepped on a naked dagger, that was laid there to avert ill-luck, and it broke at the hilt under his impatient heel. 'God is great! cooed Ameera in the half-light. 'Thou hast taken his misfortunes on thy head. 'Ay, but how is it with thee, life of my life? Old woman, how is it with her? 'She has forgotten her sufferings for joy that the child is born.
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