French and Oriental Love in a Harem

"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into my arms, "what do

you mean? Am I free, and my own mistress, and not yours for ever?"

"You are mine, because I love you," I said to her very quickly, seeing

her agitation; "and so long as you do not want to leave me--"

"Leave you! But what would become of me, then, without you?"

And her eyes filled with tears.

"What a foolish girl you are!" I replied, quite touched at her evident

pain; "you are exaggerating the significance of my words: your liberty

will make no difference in our relations."

"Why did you tell me this cruel truth, then? I was so happy in the

belief that I was your slave, and in obeying and loving you at the same

time."

"Still it was necessary for me to tell you, as you wish to learn our

ideas and customs. Your ignorance was a source of danger, for even your

questions might lead to the betrayal of relations which must remain a

mystery for the rest of the world, and, above all, in the 'pension,'

where you are about to live with companions."

I had some difficulty in consoling her for this terrible discovery that

our laws do not recognise slavery. Nevertheless, her desire for further

instruction remained very keen.

Finally, two days afterwards, Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul entered Madame

Montier's institution, having been presented by her guardian, the worthy

Omer-Rashid-Effendi, who made all the necessary arrangements with the

majestic dignity which he displays on every occasion.

Although I have kept myself carefully in the background in all this

matter, I watch its progress just the same, and superintend everything.

Every evening Kondjé-Gul writes to her guardian, and I get her letters

at once: I can assure you they constitute quite an interesting romance.

For a whole week Kondjé-Gul, who had been rather overawed at first and

astonished at all her new surroundings, seemed to live like one dazed.

She would not trust herself to speak, fearing to appear uncultivated;

but she observed, and the results of her observations were most curious.

After that I perceived that she was gradually trying her wings; for when

she had been initiated a few days into her new life, she soon abandoned

her reserve, and has by this time passed the first step in her

emancipation. Her simplicity of character, and her quaint Oriental

manners, have secured her some very cordial friendships; and nothing can

be more charming than the accounts she gives me of her devotion for her

friends, Maud and Suzannah Montague, who are the realisation of

perfection in her eyes.