He let go her hands in despair and rose from his place, walking away from her, from the wall of ice with which she had surrounded her heart, and from the ring of harshness she had mixed into her words! And shame came over her again, and sweat beaded on her brow, and she whispered to herself, trembling:
“Guide me, my God, onto the straight path, for I have become blind, seeing neither the evil nor the good that other people see ...”
*
Why had a certain dimness begun to show against the brightness of the little white phantom? Why did the phantom now stand far from the window, no longer trying to cross? And its voice — why had it grown faint and contented, no longer complaining of pain? Had “Khulud” begun to forget her night visits, turning little by little toward her unknown world on high? ..
She gripped the window to steady herself as she saw a white figure walking. It was approaching the door, not the window! She could not stand, for a violent shudder ran through her body; her call to her husband failed her, and she waited!.
The door was knocked a second time, and still she did not stir!
Her husband came out of his room, astonishment at her stillness speaking in his face! She did not turn toward the door, and she did not see the little girl standing there; but she heard a soft voice ask, weeping:
— May I come in for a moment?
She wanted to leap up and run at this intruder, screaming: “No, no — you are a lying phantom
that deceives the eye!...” But she rose quietly and walked to the door, studying the questioner from behind her husband, who made way for the little one; and she asked her to explain herself:
“You two do not know me, but perhaps you remember my mother, ‘Umm Saber,’ who used to wash clothes for the people of this quarter ... She .. left the house days ago on a long journey, to join my brother, and ...”
And she wept; and the sobbing rose through the house where death had laughed before, and had insisted on keeping the echo!.
The child took hold of herself and murmured:
“I could not stay in the house alone — the fear almost kills me ...”
Then she turned her wide, dark eyes about and asked eagerly:
“I remember that in this house there is a little girl who promised me a new dress. I want no dress after today — but will you let me stay with you a few days, until the fear leaves me?
She lifted pleading eyes to Najwa and said:
“I shall be the best of helpers to you, Madam, in the housework, and I shall ask no coin for my work; I want nothing but company, for I am alone!..”
And it seemed to Najwa that the whole world was watching for her answer, that humanity in all its greatness was staring at her lips, and that her husband, with all his feelings and his heart, awaited her reply. So she lifted her head high and said with a smile, wiping the eyes of the little orphan:
— I shall be very happy to have you with us, and you will not be alone after today. As for the little girl you asked about, she too has gone on a journey — and whoever goes does not come back; is it not so, my little one?...
The child understood, and bent over Najwa's hand, kissing it and making a mighty effort to hold back her streaming tears ...
— Then you are afraid, like me?
— Afraid? Yes — if bereavement at its cruelest thrust can be called fear! We shall not be afraid after today. Look: the night is pitch black, but our night, from this day on, has no darkness! Is it not so, Rashid?.
And the husband answered the question with an embrace that enclosed the two of them, and it grew stronger and more tender when his wife added:
— Do you like the name “Khulud”? ... We shall call you by it, for we ... love it.
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