Salwa woke from sleep, open-ing her eyes heavily. When she saw the sun shining into the middle of the room and touching the edge of the wardrobe, she started up suddenly and sat up in her bed: it must be about nine o'clock now — she was very late for school. There they do not pamper her and obey her orders as they do at home, nor do they care that she is an only daughter! Instead they punish her without mercy. So she hurried to put on her stockings and her shoes with trembling hands, her heart pounding. But after a moment she suddenly let go of her shoe, which fell to the floor, and lay back on the bed, laughing at herself and stretching: today was the first day of the holiday vacation — how had she forgotten that? A heavy burden had lifted from her now! She would be happy all through this vacation and do just as she pleased, because everyone in the house, her family and the servants, pam-pered her; and if her mother refused her something, she would ask it of her father, who never refused her a request.

And tonight her uncle would arrive from a long journey. There would be an evening party to welcome him. Her parents had invited the family and their friends. Whenever he came back from a journey he stayed with them, bringing each of them a wonderful present. Her heart filled with joy; she put on her clothes and went to the kitchen, where Farida the cook was making the sambousek dough. Farida said to her, smiling:

— Good day to you, apple of my eye — bless that sweet face! I've set out milk with coffee for you in the dining room.

— I don't want milk with coffee.

— What do you want, then?

— I want... a labneh 'bride.'

She finished what pleased her of her bread and threw away the rest, then went back to the kitchen:

— I want to help you.

Farida said to her:

— Bless those two little hands! I have no work for you just now. Go out to the garden, and when I begin the kaak I'll call you.

Salwa went out to the garden, sulking, and near the kitchen door she saw a big

crate made of boards set apart from one another. She put her head in at the kitchen door and asked Farida what was in the crate. She answered:

— I don't know. The porter set it down here, and your mother charged me that no one is to touch it.

Salwa paid no heed to Farida's words. What did it matter if she opened the crate just a little?

So she untied the thick cord that bound the lid and lifted it — and there in the crate were several rabbits, little ones and big ones. How lovely they were! Lifting their ears, working their mouths, looking at her with their round red eyes. Suddenly a big rabbit leapt out of the crate, and another rabbit leapt out too. Salwa hurried to put the lid back and fastened the crate, then set off running through the garden after the