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〃You are speaking from personal experience； are you？〃 I inquired； smiling to indicate that it was just one of my little jokes。
I got an answering smile； and a quick kiss on the cheek。 〃Not at all； Mother。 Will you excuse Nefret and me if we go on ahead？〃
Risha was aching to run； and so was Moonlight； the slow pace of Cyrus's amiable mare was irksome for steeds of such mettle。 So I nodded； and the two young people went off at a brisk trot。
〃They sure are a fine…looking young pair；〃 Cyrus said admiringly。 Nefret had taken the remaining pins from her hair； it streamed out like a bright banner as Risha broke into a run and Moonlight； not to be outdone； stretched out to match his pace。 〃I'm not as jealous as I used to be； though；〃 he went on。 〃Bertie is like a son to me。 I'm gonna make him my heir； Amelia。 After Cat； of course。〃
〃Excellent； Cyrus；〃 I said approvingly。 〃He has earned your approbation。 I wouldn't mention it to anyone else； though； or the lad will be courted by every female fortune…hunter in Egypt。 And if he knows of it； he will suspect the motives of every young lady who indicates interest。〃
〃That's good advice； I reckon；〃 Cyrus agreed。
Emerson's glazed stare indicated that he had stopped listening。 He considers me far too prone to offer advice； and talk of courting bores him。 〃A stick；〃 he said suddenly。 〃Get the boy a good stout stick； let him do whatever he likes。〃
〃Don't be ridiculous； Emerson；〃 I said。
At Cyrus's suggestion we dined informally at the Castle。 Bertie was pleased to see us； and even more pleased when he was offered the chance to return to work。 I examined his ankle； it was better； the swelling had gone down and there was only a little bruising。 Everyone attributed this to Kadija's miraculous ointment； and such may well have been the case； though I had begun to wonder whether its greatest effectiveness came from the mind of the patient。
After dinner the young man hobbled off to the library with the others。 I remained with Katherine to offer additional reassurances。
〃I have set up a nice little shelter where Bertie will be perfectly fortable； and if it proves necessary for him to work elsewhere on the site； we will make certain he does not exert himself。 Jumana has taken it upon herself to look after him。〃
This last was not； perhaps； what Katherine wanted to hear。 In my opinion her worries about a serious attachment were groundless as well as prejudiced。 Bertie had not got over his interest in the girl； but she had given no evidence of reciprocating； she treated him rather like a slow…witted child。 I gave Katherine a little lecture on the subject； adding； 〃After all； Katherine； there is nothing so destructive of romance than continued proximity。〃
Katherine pursed up her mouth。 〃It didn't work that way for Ramses and Nefret。〃
〃That is a special case。 Mark my words； working together will soon make Bertie and Jumana detest one another。〃
I had exaggerated a trifle； but over the next few days Bertie showed increasing evidence of impatience with Jumana。 Being a man； he wanted to impress her with his strength and professional skill； being Jumana； she took advantage of his enforced helplessness to fuss over him。 By moving his chair and table from one part of the site to another； we made it possible for him to assist with the surveying； at which task he was skilled； but he spent a good deal of the time sitting still。 Watching Jumana bustle about； climbing nimbly up the hillside and dashing back down to readjust his sunshade； strained his temper considerably。 Only his equable nature and inherent good manners prevented an explosion。
One mildly disquieting incident marred the productive happiness of the next few days。 It had nothing to do with Jamil； though as the Reader may well believe； I had not forgotten him。 I did not suppose Jumana had heard from him； since I kept a close eye on her； but his very avoidance of her began to worry me。 He needed money； if only for bare subsistence。 Where was he getting it？
If it was from his friends and family in Gurneh； none of them would admit it。 A wall of silence blocked Selim's inquiries。
〃Some are speaking the truth； I think；〃 he had said。 〃But with certain others； something has frozen their tongues。 It is like the old days when the Master controlled the illegal antiquities business and all men went in fear of his wrath。〃
〃Could it be？〃 Emerson asked me； after Selim had gone on his way。
〃Impossible； Emerson。〃
〃Why？ We haven't heard from the 。 。 。 from him for weeks。 We don't know where the devil he's got to。〃
〃He would never interfere with our work； or tolerate a contemptible boy like Jamil。〃
We were seldom interrupted by visitors。 However； one morning when I was investigating a ruined chapel up on the hillside … helping Cyrus with his plan of the tombs； as I had explained to Emerson … I saw a pair of horsemen approaching。 Both were wearing the drab olive of military uniform。 I made haste to scramble down the slope in the hope of heading them off before they ventured to approach Emerson。
I was too slow； or Emerson was too quick。 When I reached them the two men had dismounted and were endeavoring to carry on a polite conversation with my husband。 They were finding it heavy going。
〃Allow me to repeat that there is nothing to see here；〃 Emerson declared； hands on hips； feet apart； and brows thunderous。 〃This is an archaeological dig； and you are interrupting my work。〃
〃But； sir 。 。 。〃 One of the officers … for so their insignia proclaimed them … turned with visible relief to me。 He was of something over medium height； his frame heavyset and his face square； particularly around the jaw。 The hair exposed when he whipped off his pith helmet； which he did immediately upon seeing me； was a nondescript shade of brown； slightly darker than his carefully trimmed mustache。
〃Mrs。 Emerson！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I dare not hope that you remember me … I had the good fortune to be introduced to you last year in Cairo； by my colleague Woolley； of the Arab Bureau。〃
〃Certainly I do； Major Cartright；〃 I replied； before Emerson could say something rude about the Arab Bureau。 〃Mr。 Woolley is an old friend。 I was very sorry to hear he had been taken prisoner by the Ottomans。〃
〃The fortunes of war； ma'am； the fortunes of war。〃
〃Stupidity and ineptitude；〃 Emerson declared。 〃Sailing up and down the coast in that distinctive yacht； trying to put agents ashore under the very noses of the Turks。 He was bound to be caught sooner or later。〃
Cartright flushed angrily； but kept his temper。 〃Yes； sir。 May I have the honor of introducing another admirer of yours … Lieutenant Algernon Chetwode。〃
I have never seen a countenance so prototypically English。 Like his hair； the brave mustache was flaxen…fair； the lashes framing his blue eyes were so pale they were almost invisible； and his cheeks were as smooth as a girl's。 They turned pink as he stuttered out a series of incoherent pliments。
〃Can't express my pleasure 。 。 。 such an honor 。 。 。〃
〃Yes； how nice；〃 I said； and since they showed no intention of going away； I added； 〃I would offer to show you around； gentlemen； but as my husband mentioned； there is nothing