until, when he felt that her spirit had given way and her nerves had gone limp, he carried her to a couch that stood nearby...

A month later Ghada felt that she was with child, and when she told him of it he disowned her, displaying before her the chastity with which he was adorned and the gallantry in whose virtues he took such pride.

Poor Ghada — she wept the tears of her deed. Ghada gave birth to her daughter Ghufran, and when Jamil learned of the matter, the feeling of fatherhood stirred in his soul, and he hastened to Ghada to claim the fruit of his passion. Ghada did not stand in the way of his wish, but handed over her little girl Ghufran with full peace of mind and ease; and he in turn placed her in trust with one of the poor families, to care for her, for fear of the great scandal.

A thought — thoughts and teeming fancies passed through Ghada's mind and cast the ghosts of the past across her head, until her senses awoke suddenly to find her still sitting withdrawn in one of the corners of the celebration, amid the rumba and the enchant-ing music. After a short while, Ghada drew near to Jamil with stumbling steps and whispered in his ear muted phrases... Congratulations... Jamil... con-gratulations on your joy... congratulations on your happi-ness... But... but how will you sleep at your bride's side with a contented eye... a tranquil mind... an easy conscience?... Where is your daughter Ghufran? Where is the flower you plucked and flung among the thorns — lost to her kin, straying far from her compan-ions, carrying within the recesses of her heart the mark of shame?...

At this Jamil was thrown into confusion by the horror of her words, and the signs of agitation showed upon his face; then he answered her question in a distressing tone that would shake stone itself: the family with whom he had placed Ghufran had

left the city for another, and he

did not know what had become of her now.

Upon this violent shock, which was like a thunderbolt, Ghada sank to the ground in a faint. The people were moved at the sight of her and rushed

to give her what aid was needed; and when she came to, she returned to her house broken-hearted, her heart in wreckage.