第1章

byAnthonyTrollope

Inthehappydayswhenwewereyoung，nodescriptionconveyedtoussocompleteanideaofmysteriousrealityasthatofanOrientalcity。Weknewitwasactuallythere，buthadsuchvaguenotionsofitswaysandlooks！LetanyonerememberhisearlyimpressionsastoBagdadorGrandCairo，andthensayifthiswasnotso。Itwasprobablytakenfromthe"ArabianNights，"andthepictureproducedwasoneofstrange，fantastic，luxurioushouses；ofwomenwhowereeitherveryyoungandverybeautiful，orelseveryoldandverycunning；butineitherstateexercisingmuchmoreinfluenceinlifethanwomenintheEastdonow；

ofgood—natured，capricious，thoughsometimestyrannicalmonarchs；andoflifefullofquaintmysteries，quiteunintelligibleineveryphasis，andonthataccountthemorepicturesque。

AndperhapsGrandCairohasthusfilleduswithmorewondereventhanBagdad。WehavebeeninacertainmannerathomeatBagdad，buthaveonlyvisitedGrandCairooccasionally。Iknownoplacewhichwastome，inearlyyears，sodelightfullymysteriousasGrandCairo。

ButtheroutetoIndiaandAustraliahaschangedallthis。MenfromallcountriesgoingtotheEast，nowpassthroughCairo，anditsstreetsandcostumesarenolongerstrangetous。Ithasbecomealsoaresortforinvalids，orratherforthosewhofearthattheymaybecomeinvalidsiftheyremaininacoldclimateduringthewintermonths。

AndthusatCairothereisalwaystobefoundaconsiderablepopulationofFrench，Americans，andofEnglish。Orientallifeisbroughthometous，dreadfullydilutedbywesterncustoms，andthedelightsofthe"ArabianNights"areshornofhalftheirvalue。Whenwehaveseenathingitisneversomagnificenttousaswhenitwashalfunknown。

ItisnotmuchthatwedeigntolearnfromtheseOrientals，——wewhogloryinourcivilisation。Wedonotcopytheirsilenceortheirabstemiousness，northatinvariablemindfulnessofhisownpersonaldignitywhichalwaysadherestoaTurkortoanArab。WechatterasmuchatCairoaselsewhere，andeatasmuchanddrinkasmuch，anddressourselvesgenerallyinthesameolduglycostume。Butwedousuallytakeuponourselvestowearredcaps，andwedorideondonkeys。

NorarethevisitorsfromtheWesttoCairobyanymeansconfinedtothemalesex。LadiesaretobeseeninthestreetsquiteregardlessoftheMahommedancustomwhichpresumesaveiltobenecessaryforanappearanceinpublic；and，totellthetruth，theMahommedansingeneraldonotappeartobemuchshockedbytheireffrontery。

Aquarterofthetownhasinthiswaybecomeinhabitedbymenwearingcoatsandwaistcoats，andbywomenwhoarewithoutveils；buttheEnglishtongueinEgyptfindsitscentreatShepheard’sHotel。ItisherethatpeoplecongregatewhoarelookingoutforpartiestovisitwiththemtheUpperNile，andwhoaregenerallyallsmilesandcourtesy；andherealsoaretobefoundtheywhohavejustreturnedfromthisjourney，andwhoareofteninaframeofmindtowardstheircompanionsthatismuchlessamiable。Fromhence，duringthewinter，acortegeproceedsalmostdailytothepyramids，ortoMemphis，ortothepetrifiedforest，ortotheCityoftheSun。Andthen，again，fourorfivetimesamonththehouseisfilledwithyoungaspirantsgoingouttoIndia，maleandfemale，fullofvalourandbloom；orwithotherscominghome，nolongeryoung，nolongeraspiring，butladenwithchildrenandgrievances。

ThepartywithwhomweareatpresentconcernedisnotabouttoproceedfurtherthanthePyramids，andweshallbeabletogowiththemandreturninoneandthesameday。

ItconsistedchieflyofanEnglishfamily，Mr。andMrs。Damer，theirdaughter，andtwoyoungsons；——ofthesechiefly，becausetheywerethenucleustowhichtheothershadattachedthemselvesasadherents；theyhadoriginatedthejourney，andinthewholemanagementofitMr。Damerretardedhimselfasthemaster。

Theadherentswere，firstly，M。Delabordeau，aFrenchman，nowresidentinCairo，whohadgivenoutthathewasinsomewayconcernedinthecanalabouttobemadebetweentheMediterraneanandtheRedSea。IndiscussiononthissubjecthehadbecomeacquaintedwithMr。Damer；andalthoughthelattergentleman，truetoEnglishinterests，perpetuallydeclaredthatthecanalwouldneverbemade，andthusirritatedM。

Delabordeaunotalittle——nevertheless，somemeasureoffriendshiphadgrownupbetweenthem。

TherewasalsoanAmericangentleman，Mr。JeffersonIngram，whowascomprisingallcountriesandallnationsinonegrandtour，asAmericangentlemensooftendo。Hewasyoungandgood—looking，andhadmadehimselfespeciallyagreeabletoMr。Damer，whohaddeclared，morethanonce，thatMr。IngramwasbyfarthemostrationalAmericanhehadevermet。Mr。IngramwouldlistentoMr。Damerbythehalf—hourastothevirtueoftheBritishConstitution，andhadevensatbyalmostwithpatiencewhenMr。DamerhadexpressedadoubtastothegoodworkingoftheUnitedStates’schemeofpolicy，——which，inanAmerican，wasmostwonderful。ButsomeofthesojournersatShepheard’shadobservedthatMr。IngramwasinthehabitoftalkingwithMissDameralmostasmuchaswithherfather，andarguedfromthat，thatfondastheyoungmanwasofpolitics，hedidsometimesturnhismindtootherthingsalso。

AndthentherewasMissDawkins。NowMissDawkinswasanimportantperson，bothastoherselfandastoherlineoflife，andshemustbedescribed。Shewas，inthefirstplace，anunprotectedfemaleofaboutthirtyyearsofage。Asthisisbecominganestablishedprofession，settingitselfupasitwereinoppositiontotheoldworldideathatwomen，likegreenpeas，cannotcometoperfectionwithoutsupporting—

sticks，itwillbeunderstoodatoncewhatwereMissDawkins’ssentiments。Sheconsidered——oratanyratesoexpressedherself——thatpeascouldgrowverywellwithoutsticks，andcouldnotonlygrowthusunsupported，butcouldalsomaketheirwayabouttheworldwithoutanyincumbranceofstickswhatsoever。Shedidnotintend，shesaid，torivalIdaPfeiffer，seeingthatshewasattachedinamoderatewaytobedandboard，andwasattachedtosocietyinamanneralmostmorethanmoderate；butshehadnoideaofbeingpreventedfromseeinganythingshewishedtoseebecauseshehadneitherfather，norhusband，norbrotheravailableforthepurposeofescort。Shewasahumancreature，witharmsandlegs，shesaid；andsheintendedtousethem。Andthiswasallverywell；butneverthelessshehadastronginclinationtousethearmsandlegsofotherpeoplewhenshecouldmakethemserviceable。

InpersonMissDawkinswasnotwithoutattraction。IshouldexaggerateifIweretosaythatshewasbeautifulandelegant；butshewasgoodlooking，andnotusuallyillmannered。Shewastall，andgiftedwithfeaturesrathersharpandwitheyesverybright。Herhairwasofthedarkestshadeofbrown，andwasalwaysworninbandeaux，veryneatly。

Sheappearedgenerallyinblack，thoughothercircumstancesdidnotleadonetosupposethatshewasinmourning；andthen，noothertravellingcostumeissoconvenient！Shealwaysworeadarkbroad—

brimmedstrawhat，astotheribbonsonwhichshewasratherparticular。Shewasveryneataboutherglovesandboots；andthoughitcannotbesaidthatherdresswasgotupwithoutreferencetoexpense，therecanbenodoubtthatitwasnoteffectedwithoutconsiderableoutlay，——andmoreconsiderablethought。

MissDawkins——SabrinaDawkinswashername，butsheseldomhadfriendsaboutherintimateenoughtousethewordSabrina——wascertainlyacleveryoungwoman。Shecouldtalkonmostsubjects，ifnotwell，atleastwellenoughtoamuse。Ifshehadnotreadmuch，shenevershowedanylamentabledeficiency；shewasgood—humoured，asarule，andcouldonoccasionsbeverysoftandwinning。Peoplewhohadknownherlongwouldsometimessaythatshewasselfish；butwithnewacquaintanceshewasforbearingandself—denying。

WithwhatincomeMissDawkinswasblessednooneseemedtoknow。Shelivedlikeagentlewoman，asfarasoutwardappearancewent，andneverseemedtobeinwant；butsomepeoplewouldsaythatsheknewverywellhowmanysidesthereweretoashilling，andsomeenemyhadoncedeclaredthatshewasan"oldsoldier。"SuchwasMissDawkins。

Shealso，aswellasMr。IngramandM。Delabordeau，hadlaidherselfouttofindtheweaksideofMr。Damer。Mr。Damer，withallhisfamily，wasgoinguptheNile，anditwasknownthathehadroomfortwoinhisboatoverandabovehisownfamily。MissDawkinshadtoldhimthatshehadnotquitemadeuphermindtoundergosogreatafatigue，butthat，nevertheless，shehadalongingofthesoultoseesomethingofNubia。TothisMr。Damerhadanswerednothingbut"Oh！"

whichMissDawkinshadnotfoundtobeencouraging。

Butshehadnotonthataccountdespaired。Toamarriedmantherearealwaystwosides，andinthisinstancetherewasMrs。DameraswellasMr。Damer。WhenMr。Damersaid"Oh！"MissDawkinssighed，andsaid，"Yes，indeed！"thensmiled，andbetookherselftoMrs。Damer。

NowMrs。Damerwassoft—hearted，andalsosomewhatold—fashioned。ShedidnotconceiveanyviolentaffectionforMissDawkins，butshetoldherdaughterthat"thesingleladybyherselfwasaveryniceyoungwoman，andthatitwasathousandpitiessheshouldhavetogoaboutsomuchalonelike。"

MissDamerhadturnedupherprettynose，thinking，perhaps，howsmallwasthechancethatitevershouldbeherownlottobeanunprotectedfemale。ButMissDawkinscarriedherpointatanyrateasregardedtheexpeditiontothePyramids。

MissDamer，Ihavesaid，hadaprettynose。Imayalsosaythatshehadprettyeyes，mouth，andchin，withothernecessaryappendages，allpretty。AstothetwoMasterDamers，whowererespectivelyoftheagesoffifteenandsixteen，itmaybesufficienttosaythattheywereconspicuousforredcapsandfortheconstancywithwhichtheyracedtheirdonkeys。

Andnowthedonkeys，andthedonkeyboys，andthedragomanswereallstandingatthestepsofShepheard’sHotel。Toeachdonkeytherewasadonkey—boy，andtoeachgentlemantherewasadragoman，sothatagoodlycortegewasassembled，andagoodlynoisewasmade。Itmayhereberemarked，perhapswithsomelittlepride，thatnothalfthenoiseisgiveninEgypttopersonsspeakinganyotherlanguagethatisbestowedonthosewhosevocabularyisEnglish。

Thislastedforhalfanhour。HadthepartybeenFrenchthedonkeyswouldhavearrivedonlyfifteenminutesbeforetheappointedtime。AndthenoutcameDamerpereandDamermere，Damerfille，andDamerfils。

Damermerewasleaningonherhusband，aswasherwont。Shewasnotanunprotectedfemale，andhadnodesiretomakeanyattemptsinthatline。DamerfillewasattendedsedulouslybyMr。Ingram，forwhosedemolishment，however，Mr。Damerstillbroughtup，inaloudvoice，thefagendsofcertainpoliticalargumentswhichhewouldfainhavepoureddirectintotheearsofhisopponent，hadnothiswifebeensopersistentinclaimingherprivileges。M。DelabordeaushouldhavefollowedwithMissDawkins，buthisFrenchpoliteness，orelsehisfearoftheunprotectedfemale，taughthimtowalkontheothersideofthemistressoftheparty。

MissDawkinsleftthehousewithaneageryoungDameryellingoneachsideofher；butnevertheless，thoughthusneglectedbythegentlemenoftheparty，shewasallsmilesandprettiness，andlookedsosweetlyonMr。Ingramwhenthatgentlemanstayedamomenttohelpherontoherdonkey，thathisheartalmostmisgavehimforleavingherassoonasshewasinherseat。

Andthentheywereoff。IngoingfromthehoteltothePyramidsourpartyhadnottopassthroughanyofthequeeroldnarrowstreetsofthetrueCairo——CairotheOriental。Theyalllaybehindthemastheywentdownbythebackofthehotel，bythebarracksofthePashaandtheCollegeoftheDervishes，tothevillageofoldCairoandthebanksoftheNile。

Heretheywerekepthalfanhourwhiletheirdragomansmadeabargainwiththeferryman，astatelyreis，orcaptainofaboat，whodeclaredwithmuchdignitythathecouldnotcarrythemoverforasumlessthansixtimestheamounttowhichhewasjustlyentitled；whilethedragomans，withgreatenergyonbehalfoftheirmasters，offeredhimonlyfivetimesthatsum。

Asfarasthereiswasconcerned，thecontestmightsoonhavebeenatanend，forthemanwasnotwithoutaconscience；andwouldhavebeencontentwithfivetimesandahalf；butthenthethreedragomansquarrelledamongthemselvesastowhichshouldhavethepayingofthemoney，andtheaffairbecameverytedious。

"Whathorrid，odiousmen！"saidMissDawkins，appealingtoMr。Damer。

"Doyouthinktheywillletusgooveratall？"

"Well，Isupposetheywill；peopledogetovergenerally，Ibelieve。

Abdallah！Abdallah！whydon’tyoupaytheman？Thatfellowisalwaysstrivingtosavehalfapiastreforme。"

"Iwishhewasn’tquitesoparticular，"saidMrs。Damer，whowasalreadybecomingrathertired；"butI’msurehe’saveryhonestmanintryingtoprotectusfrombeingrobbed。"

"Thatheis，"saidMissDawkins。"Whatadelightfultraitofnationalcharacteritistoseethesemensofaithfultotheiremployers。"Andthenatlasttheygotovertheferry，Mr。Ingramhavingdescendedamongthecombatants，andsettledthematterindisputebythreatsandshouts，andanupliftedstick。

TheycrossedthebroadNileexactlyatthespotwherethenilometer，orriverguage，measuresfromdaytoday，andfromyeartoyear，theincreasingordecreasingtreasuresofthestream，andlandedatavillagewherethousandsofeggsaremadeintochickensbytheprocessofartificialincubation。

Mrs。Damerthoughtthatitwasveryharduponthematernalhens——thehenswhichshouldhavebeenmaternal——thattheyshouldbethusrobbedofthedelightsofmotherhood。

"Sounnatural，youknow，"saidMissDawkins；"soopposedtothefosteringprinciplesofcreation。Don’tyouthinkso，Mr。Ingram？"

Mr。Ingramsaidhedidn’tknow。HewasagainseatingMissDameronherdonkey，anditmustbepresumedthatheperformedthisfeatclumsily；

forFannyDamercouldjumponandofftheanimalwithhardlyafingertohelpher，whenherbrotherorherfatherwasherescort；butnow，underthehandsofMr。Ingram，thisworkofmountingwasonewhichrequiredconsiderabletimeandcare。AllwhichMissDawkinsobservedwithprecision。

"It’sallverywelltalking，"saidMr。Damer，bringinguphisdonkeynearlyalongsidethatofMr。Ingram，andignoringhisdaughter’spresence，justashewouldhavedonethatofhisdog；"butyoumustadmitthatpoliticalpowerismoreequallydistributedinEnglandthanitisinAmerica。"

"Perhapsitis，"saidMr。Ingram；"equallydistributedamong，wewillsay，threedozenfamilies，"andhemadeafeintasthoughtoholdinhisimpetuousdonkey，usingthespur，however，atthesametimeonthesidethatwasunseenbyMr。Damer。Ashedidso，Fanny’sdonkeybecameequallyimpetuous，andthetwocanteredoninadvanceofthewholeparty。ItwasquiteinvainthatMr。Damer，atthetopofhisvoice，shoutedoutsomethingabout"threedozencorruptibledemagogues。"Mr。

Ingramfounditquiteimpossibletorestrainhisdonkeysoastolistentothesarcasm。

"Idobelievepapawouldtalkpolitics，"saidFanny，"ifhewereatthetopofMontBlanc，orundertheFallsofNiagara。Idohatepolitics，Mr。Ingram。"

"Iamsorryforthat，very，"saidMr。Ingram，almostsadly。

"Sorry，why？Youdon’twantmetotalkpolitics，doyou？"

"InAmericaweareallpoliticians，moreorless；and，therefore，I

supposeyouwillhateusall。"

"Well，IratherthinkIshould，"saidFanny；"youwouldbesuchbores。"

Buttherewassomethinginhereye，asshespoke，whichatonedfortheharshnessofherwords。

"AveryniceyoungmanisMr。Ingram；don’tyouthinkso？"saidMissDawkinstoMrs。Damer。Mrs。Damerwasgoingalonguponherdonkey，notaltogethercomfortably。Shemuchwishedtohaveherlordandlegitimateprotectorbyherside，buthehadlefthertothecareofadragomanwhoseEnglishwasnotintelligibletoher，andshewasrathercross。

"Indeed，MissDawkins，Idon’tknowwhoareniceandwhoarenot。Thisnastydonkeystumblesateverstep。There！IknowIshallbedowndirectly。"

"Youneednotbeatallafraidofthat；theyareperfectlysafe，I

believe，always，"saidMissDawkins，risinginherstirrup，andhandlingherreinsquitetriumphantly。"Averylittlepracticewillmakeyouquiteathome。"

"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbyaverylittlepractice。Ihavebeenheresixweeks。Whydidyouputmeonsuchabaddonkeyasthis？"andsheturnedtoAbdallah，thedragoman。

"Himberrygooddonkey，mylady；berrygood，——bestofall。CallhimJackinCairo。HimgotoPyramidandback，andmindnoting。"

"Whatdoeshesay，MissDawkins？"

"HesaysthatthatdonkeyisonecalledJack。IfsoI’vehadhimmyselfmanytimes，andJackisaverygooddonkey。"

"Iwishyouhadhimnowwithallmyheart，"saidMrs。Damer。UponwhichMissDawkinsofferedtochange；butthoseperilsofmountinganddismountingweretoMrs。Dameragreatdealtooseveretoadmitofthis。

"Sevenmilesofcanaltobecarriedoutintothesea，ataminimumdepthoftwenty—threefeet，andthestonetobefetchedfromHeavenknowswhere！AllthemoneyinFrancewouldn’tdoit。"ThiswasaddressedbyMr。DamertoM。Delabordeau，whomhehadcaughtaftertheabruptflightofMr。Ingram。

"DenwewillborrowaleetlefromEngland，"saidM。Delabordeau。

"Preciouslittle，Icantellyou。Suchstockwouldnotholditspriceinourmarketsfortwenty—fourhours。Ifitweremade，thefreightswouldbetooheavytoallowofmerchandisepassingthrough。Theheavygoodswouldallgoround；andasforpassengersandmails，youdon’texpecttogetthem，Isuppose，whilethereisarailroadreadymadetotheirhand？"

"Yevillcarryallyourshipsthroughvidoutanytransportation。Thinkofthat，myfriend。"

"Pshaw！YouareworsethanIngram。OfalltheplansIeverheardofitisthemostmonstrous，themostimpracticable，themost——"Butherehewasinterruptedbytheentreatiesofhiswife，whohad，inabsolutedeedandfact，slippedfromherdonkey，andwasnowcallinglustilyforherhusband’said。WhereuponMissDawkinsalliedherselftotheFrenchman，andlistenedwithanairofstrongconvictiontothoseargumentswhichweresoweakintheearsofMr。Damer。M。DelabordeauwasabouttorideacrosstheGreatDeserttoJerusalem，anditmightperhapsbequiteaswelltodothatwithhim，astogouptheNileasfarasthesecondcataractwiththeDamers。

"Andso，M。Delabordeau，youintendreallytostartforMountSinai？"

"Yes，mees；veintendtomakeonestartonMondayweek。"

"AndsoontoJerusalem。Youarequiteright。Itwouldbeathousandpitiestobeinthesecountries，andtoreturnwithoutgoingoversuchgroundasthat。IshallcertainlygotoJerusalemmyselfbythatroute。"

"Vot，mees！you？Wouldyounotfindittoomuchfatigante？"

"Icarenothingforfatigue，ifIlikethepartyIamwith，——nothingatall，literally。Youwillhardlyunderstandme，perhaps，M。

Delabordeau；butIdonotseeanyreasonwhyI，asayoungwoman，shouldnotmakeanyjourneythatispracticableforayoungman。"

"Ah！datisgreatresolutionforyou，mees。"

"Imeanasfarasfatigueisconcerned。YouareaFrenchman，andbelongtothenationthatisattheheadofallhumancivilisation——"

M。Delabordeautookoffhishatandbowedlow，tothepeakofhisdonkeysaddle。Hedearlylovedtohearhiscountrypraised，asMissDawkinswasaware。

"AndIamsureyoumustagreewithme，"continuedMissDawkins，"thatthetimeisgonebyforwomentoconsiderthemselveshelplessanimals，ortobesoconsideredbyothers。"

"MeesDawkinsvouldneverbeconsidered，notinanytimesatall，tobeonehelplessanimal，"saidM。Delabordeaucivilly。

"Idonot，atanyrate，intendtobesoregarded，"saidshe。"Itsuitsmetotravelalone；notthatIamaversetosociety；quitethecontrary；ifImeetpleasantpeopleIamalwaysreadytojointhem。

Butitsuitsmetotravelwithoutanypermanentparty，andIdonotseewhyfalseshameshouldpreventmyseeingtheworldasthoroughlyasthoughIbelongedtotheothersex。Whyshouldit，M。Delabordeau？"

M。Delabordeaudeclaredthathedidnotseeanyreasonwhyitshould。

"IampassionatelyanxioustostanduponMountSinai，"continuedMissDawkins；"topresswithmyfeettheearliestspotinsacredhistory，oftheidentityofwhichwearecertain；tofeelwithinmetheawe—

inspiringthrillofthatthricesacredhour！"

TheFrenchmanlookedasthoughhedidnotquiteunderstandher，buthesaidthatitwouldbemagnifique。

"YouhavealreadymadeupyourpartyIsuppose，M。Delabordeau？"

M。DelabordeaugavethenamesoftwoFrenchmenandoneEnglishmanwhoweregoingwithhim。

"Uponmyworditisagreattemptationtojoinyou，"saidMissDawkins，"onlyforthathorridEnglishman。"

"Vat，Mr。Stanley？"

"Oh，Idon’tmeananydisrespecttoMr。Stanley。ThehorridnessI

speakofdoesnotattachtohimpersonally，buttohisstiff，respectable，ungainly，well—behaved，irrational，anduncivilisedcountry。YouseeIamnotverypatriotic。"

"Notquitesomuchasmyfriend，Mr。Damer。"

"Ha！ha！ha！anexcellentcreature，isn’the？Andsotheyallare，dearcreatures。Butthentheyaresobackward。TheyaremostanxiousthatIshouldjointhemuptheNile，but——，"andthenMissDawkinsshruggedhershouldersgracefully，and，assheflatteredherself，likeaFrenchwoman。Afterthattheyrodeoninsilenceforafewmoments。

"Yes，ImustseeMountSinai，"saidMissDawkins，andthensigheddeeply。M。Delabordeau，notwithstandingthathiscountrydoesstandattheheadofallhumancivilisation，wasnotcourteousenoughtodeclarethatifMissDawkinswouldjoinhispartyacrossthedesert，nothingwouldbewantingtomakehisbeatitudeinthisworldperfect。

Theirroadfromthevillageofthechicken—batchingovenslayupalongtheleftbankoftheNile，throughanimmensegroveofloftypalm—

trees，lookingoutfromamongwhichourvisitorscouldeverandanonseetheheadsofthetwogreatPyramids；——thatis，suchofthemcouldseeitasfeltanysolicitudeinthematter。

Itisastonishinghowsuchthingslosetheirgreatcharmasmenfindthemselvesintheircloseneighbourhood。ToonelivinginNewYorkorLondon，howecstaticistheinterestinspiredbythesehugestructures。

Onefeelsthatnopricewouldbetoohightopayforseeingthemaslongastimeanddistance，andtheworld’sinexorabletask—work，forbidsuchavisit。Howintensewouldbethedelightofclimbingoverthewondroushandiworkofthosewondrousarchitectssolongsincedead；howthrillingtheawewithwhichonewouldpenetratedownintotheirinteriorcaves——thosecavesinwhichlayburiedthebonesofancientkings，whoseverynamesseemtohavecometousalmostfromanotherworld！

Butallthesefeelingsbecomestrangelydim，theiracuteedgeswonderfullyworn，asthesubjectswhichinspiredthemarebroughtneartous。"Ah！sothosearethePyramids，arethey？"saysthetraveller，whenthefirstglimpseofthemisshowntohimfromthewindowofarailwaycarriage。"Dearme；theydon’tlooksoveryhigh，dothey？

ForHeaven’ssakeputtheblinddown，orweshallbedestroyedbythedust。"AndthentheecstasyandkeendelightofthePyramidshasvanishedforever。

Ourfriends，therefore，whoforweekspasthadseenfromadistance，thoughtheyhadnotyetvisitedthem，didnotseemtohaveanystrongfeelingonthesubjectastheytrottedthroughthegroveofpalm—trees。

Mr。Damerhadnotyetescapedfromhiswife，whowasstillfretfulfromtheresultofherlittleaccident。

"ItwasallthechatteringofthatMissDawkins，"saidMrs。Damer。

"ShewouldnotletmeattendtowhatIwasdoing。"

"MissDawkinsisanass，"saidherhusband。

"Itisapityshehasnoonetolookafterher，"saidMrs。Damer。M。

DelabordeauwasstilllisteningtoMissDawkins’srapturesaboutMountSinai。"Iwonderwhethershehasgotanymoney，"saidM。Delabordeautohimself。"Itcan’tbemuch，"hewentonthinking，"orshewouldnotbeleftinthiswaybyherself。"AndtheresultofhisthoughtswasthatMissDawkins，ifundertaken，mightprobablybecomemoreplaguethanprofit。AstoMissDawkinsherself，thoughshewasecstaticaboutMountSinai——whichwasnotpresent——sheseemedtohaveforgottenthepoorPyramids，whichwerethenbeforehernose。

Thetwoladswereridingracesalongthedustypath，muchtothedisgustoftheirdonkey—boys。Theirtimeforenjoymentwastocome。

Therewerehamperstobeopened；andthentheabsoluteclimbingofthePyramidswouldactuallybeadelighttothem。

AsforMissDamerandMr。Ingram，itwasclearthattheyhadforgottenpalm—trees，Pyramids，theNile，andallEgypt。Theyhadescapedtoamuchfairerparadise。

"CouldIbeartoliveamongRepublicans？"saidFanny，repeatingthelastwordsofherAmericanlover，andlookingdownfromherdonkeytothegroundasshedidso。"IhardlyknowwhatRepublicansare，Mr。

Ingram。"

"Letmeteachyou，"saidhe。

"Youdotalksuchnonsense。IdeclarethereisthatMissDawkinslookingatusasthoughshehadtwentyeyes。Couldyounotteachher，Mr。Ingram？"

Andsotheyemergedfromthepalm—treegrove，throughavillagecrowdedwithdirty，stragglingArabchildren，ontothecultivatedplain，beyondwhichthePyramidsstood，nowfullbeforethem；thetwolargePyramids，asmallerone，andthehugesphynx’sheadallinagrouptogether。

"Fanny，"saidBobDamer，ridinguptoher，"mammawantsyou；sotoddleback。"

"Mammawantsme！Whatcanshewantmefornow？"saidFanny，withalookofanythingbutfilialdutyinherface。

"ToprotectherfromMissDawkins，Ithink。Shewantsyoutorideatherside，sothatDawkinsmayn’tgetather。Now，Mr。Ingram，I’llbetyouhall—a—crownI’matthetopofthebigPyramidbeforeyou。"

PoorFanny！Sheobeyed，however；doubtlessfeelingthatitwouldnotdoasyettoshowtooplainlythatshepreferredMr。Ingramtohermother。Shearrestedherdonkey，therefore，tillMrs。Damerovertookher；andMr。Ingram，ashepausedforamomentwithherwhileshedidso，fellintothehandsofMissDawkins。

"Icannotthink，Fanny，howyougetonsoquick，"saidMrs。Damer。

"I’malwayslast；butthenmydonkeyissuchaverynastyone。Lookthere，now；he’salwaystryingtogetmeoff。"

"WeshallsoonbeatthePyramidsnow，mamma。"

"HowonearthIamevertogetbackagainIcannotthink。IamsotirednowthatIcanhardlysit。"

"You’llbebetter，mamma，whenyougetyourluncheonandaglassofwine。"

"HowonearthwearetoeatanddrinkwiththosenastyArabpeoplearoundus，Ican’tconceive。Theytellmeweshallbeeatenupbythem。But，Fanny，whathasMr。Ingrambeensayingtoyoualltheday？"

"Whathashebeensaying，mamma？Oh！Idon’tknow；——ahundredthings，Idaresay。Buthehasnotbeentalkingtomeallthetime。"

"Ithinkhehas，Fanny，nearly，sincewecrossedtheriver。Oh，dear！

oh，dear！thisanimaldoeshurtmeso！Everytimehemovesheflingshisheadabout，andthatgivesmesuchabump。"AndthenFannycommiseratedhermother’ssufferings，andinhercommiserationcontrivedtoeludeanyfurtherquestioningsastoMr。Ingram’sconversation。

"Majesticpiles，aretheynot？"saidMissDawkins，who，havingchangedhercompanion，allowedhermindtorevertfromMountSinaitothePyramids。Theywerenowridingthroughcultivatedground，withthevastextentofthesandsofLibyabeforethem。ThetwoPyramidswerestandingonthemarginofthesand，withtheheadoftherecumbentsphynxplainlyvisiblebetweenthem。Butnoideacanbeformedofthesizeofthisimmensefiguretillitisvisitedmuchmoreclosely。Thebodyiscoveredwithsand，andtheheadandneckalonestandabovethesurfaceoftheground。Theywerestilltwomilesdistant，andthesphynxasyetwasbutanobscuremountbetweenthetwovastPyramids。

"Immensepiles！"saidMissDawkins，repeatingherownwords。

"Yes，theyarelarge，"saidMr。Ingram，whodidnotchoosetoindulgeinenthusiasminthepresenceofMissDawkins。

"Enormous！Whatagrandidea！——eh，Mr。Ingram？Thehumanracedoesnotcreatesuchthingsasthosenowadays！"

"No，indeed，"heanswered；"butperhapswecreatebetterthings。"

"Better！Youdonotmeantosay，Mr。Ingram，thatyouareanutilitarian。Ido，intruth，hopebetterthingsofyouthanthat。

Yes！steammillsarebetter，nodoubt，andmechanics’institutesandpennynewspapers。Butisnothingtobevaluedbutwhatisuseful？"

AndMissDawkins，intheheightofherenthusiasm，switchedherdonkeyseverelyovertheshoulder。

"Imight，perhaps，havesaidalsothatwecreatemorebeautifulthings，"saidMr。Ingram。

"Butwecannotcreateolderthings。"

"No，certainly；wecannotdothat。"

"Norcanweimbuewhatwedocreatewiththegrandassociationswhichenvironthosepileswithsointenseaninterest。Thinkofthemightydead，Mr。Ingram，andoftheirgreathomeswhenliving。Thinkofthehandswhichittooktoraisethosehugeblocks——"

"Andoftheliveswhichitcost。"

"Doubtless。Thetyrannyandinvinciblepoweroftheroyalarchitectsaddtothegrandeuroftheidea。OnewouldnotwishtohavebackthekingsofEgypt。"

"Well，no；theywouldbeneitherusefulnorbeautiful。"

"Perhapsnot；andIdonotwishtobepicturesqueattheexpenseofmyfellow—creatures。"

"Idoubt，even，whethertheywouldbepicturesque。"

"YouknowwhatImean，Mr。Ingram。Buttheassociationsofsuchnames，andthepresenceofthestupendousworkswithwhichtheyareconnected，fillthesoulwithawe。Such，atleast，istheeffectwithmine。"

"Ifearthatmytendencies，MissDawkins，aremorerealisticthanyourown。"

"Youbelongtoayoungcountry，Mr。Ingram，andarenaturallypronetothinkofmateriallife。Thenecessityoflivingloomslargebeforeyou。"

"Verylarge，indeed，MissDawkins。"

"Whereaswithus，withsomeofusatleast，thematerialaspecthasgivenplacetooneinwhichpoetryandenthusiasmprevail。Tosuchamongustheassociationsofpasttimesareverydear。Cheops，tome，ismorethanNapoleonBonaparte。"

"Thatismorethanmostofyourcountrymencansay，atanyrate，justatpresent。"

"Iamawoman，"continuedMissDawkins。

Mr。Ingramtookoffhishatinacknowledgmentbothoftheannouncementandofthefact。

"Andtousitisnotgiven——notgivenasyet——toshareinthegreatdeedsofthepresent。Theenvyofyoursexhasdrivenusfromthepathswhichleadtohonour。Butthedeedsofthepastareasmuchoursasyours。"

"Oh，quiteasmuch。"

"’Tistoyourcountrythatwelookforenfranchisementfromthisthraldom。Yes，Mr。Ingram，thewomenofAmericahavethatstrengthofmindwhichhasbeenwantingtothoseofEurope。IntheUnitedStateswomanwillatlastlearntoexerciseherpropermission。"

Mr。Ingramexpressedasincerewishthatsuchmightbethecase；andthenwonderingattheingenuitywithwhichMissDawkinshadtravelledroundfromCheopsandhisPyramidtotherightsofwomeninAmerica，hecontrivedtofallback，underthepretenceofaskingaftertheailmentsofMrs。Damer。

Andnowatlasttheywereonthesand，intheabsolutedesert，makingtheirwayuptotheveryfootofthemostnorthernofthetwoPyramids。

TheywerebythistimesurroundedbyacrowdofArabguides，orArabsprofessingtobeguides，whohadalreadyascertainedthatMr。Damerwasthechiefoftheparty，andwereaccordinglydrivinghimalmosttomadnessbytheoffersoftheirservices，andtheirassurancethathecouldnotpossiblyseetheoutsideortheinsideofeitherstructure，orevenremainaliveupontheground，unlessheatonceacceptedtheiroffersmadeattheirownprices。