"You do not deserve him. He was deceived by your beauty, but he does not know what heart sleeps in that beautiful body, or what mind that small head contains. And besides, had you not shown him love, he would never have loved you."

I know quite well now how strange my stand was; but that day I could not stifle my feeling after hearing from her those words which — even if she did not mean them to wound me — drove me out of my reason, and I imagined she meant only to belittle me, and so I answered her as I answered. As long as I live I shall remember her piercing, cold look, which froze the blood in my heart, and her saying with cruel coldness, "I am sorry — I did not know you loved him so much." Her tone inflamed me and I said to her, "Insolent! Vile creature! I have never been in the habit of usurp-ing anyone's love... whatever love it might be." Then I left her quickly and did not speak to her.

The next day Amal came to me and asked what had happened the day before, so I told her everything, and then told her I was sorry for what had occurred, but I had not been able to curb myself. She said to me, "You are extremely sensitive, and I understand your nature, and I do not blame you for what happened; but if I were in your place I would not have done it, for you cannot imagine how the girls will gloat if they see us at odds. And do not forget that the friendship we have built over long years — it does not become us to demolish it in a moment of stubbornness and pride."

And though I promised her fair, my heart kept defying me: the closer it drew to Issam... the farther it drew from Siham. There is nothing harder than quieting an unruly heart: it acknowledges no bounds and cares nothing for duties; it goes

on without stopping and without asking counsel. Then too, Siham did not encourage me by her con-duct, for she seemed like one who did not wish to forget what had happened, even after long effort — and I was in no condition to make

any effort. So I left her entirely, and took to spending part of my time alone and part with Amal, who divided her hours between the two of us. But even Amal did not last me

long, for a week after that incident

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