第2章

"Getaway，willyou？"saidhe。"Idon’twantanyofyou，andIwon’thaveyou！IfyoutakeholdofmeI’llshootyou！"ThiswassaidtoonespeciallyenergeticArab，who，inhiseffortstosecurehisprey，hadcaughtholdofMr。Damerbytheleg。

"Yes，yes，Isay！Englishmenalwaystakeme；——me——me，andthennobreakhimleg。Yes——yes——yes；——Igo。Master，sayyes。Onlyoneleetletenshillings！"

"Abdallah！"shoutedMr。Damer，"whydon’tyoutakethismanaway？Whydon’tyoumakehimunderstandthatifallthePyramidsdependedonit，Iwouldnotgivehimsixpence！"

AndthenAbdallah，thusinvoked，cameup，andexplainedtothemaninArabicthathewouldgainhisobjectmoresurelyifhewouldbehavehimselfalittlemorequietly；ahintwhichthemantookforoneminute，andforoneminuteonly。

AndthenpoorMrs。Damerrepliedtoanapplicationforbacksheishbythegiftofasixpence。Unfortunatewoman！Thewordbacksheishmeans，Ibelieve，agift；butithascomeinEgypttosignifymoney，andiseternallydinnedintotheearsofstrangersbyArabsuppliants。Mrs。

Dameroughttohaveknownbetter，as，duringthelastsixweeksshehadnevershownherfaceoutofShepheard’sHotelwithoutbeingpesteredforbacksheish；butshewastiredandweak，andfoolishlythoughttoridherselfofthemanwhowasannoyingher。

NosoonerhadthecoindroppedfromherhandintothatoftheArab，thanshewassurroundedbyaclusterofbeggars，wholoudlymadetheirpetitionsasthoughtheywould，eachofthem，individuallybeinjurediftreatedwithlessliberalitythanthatfirstcomer。Theytookholdofherdonkey，herbridle，hersaddle，herlegs，andatlastherarmsandhands，screamingforbacksheishinvoicesthatwereneithersweetnormild。

Inherdismayshedidgiveawaysundrysmallcoins——all，probably，thatshehadabouther；butthisonlymadethematterworse。Moneywasgoing，andeachman，bysufficientenergy，mighthopetogetsomeofit。Theywereveryenergetic，andsofrightenedthepoorladythatshewouldcertainlyhavefallen，hadshenotbeenkeptonherseatbythepressurearoundher。

"Oh，dear！oh，dear！getaway，"shecried。"Ihaven’tgotanymore；

indeedIhaven’t。Goaway，Itellyou！Mr。Damer！oh，Mr。Damer！"andthen，intheexcessofheragony，sheutteredoneloud，long，andcontinuousshriek。

UpcameMr。Damer；upcameAbdallah；upcameM。Delabordeau；upcameMr。Ingram，andatlastshewasrescued。"Youshouldn’tgoawayandleavemetothemercyofthesenastypeople。AstothatAbdallah，heisofnousetoanybody。"

"Whyyoubodderdegoodlady，youdemblackguard？"saidAbdallah，raisinghisstick，asthoughheweregoingtolaythemalllowwithablow。"Nowyougetnoting，youtief！"

TheArabsforamomentretiredtoalittledistance，likefliesdrivenfromasugar—bowl；butitwaseasytoseethat，liketheflies，theywouldreturnatthefirstvacantmoment。

AndnowtheyhadreachedtheveryfootofthePyramidsandproceededtodismountfromtheirdonkeys。Theirintentionwasfirsttoascendtothetop，thentocomedowntotheirbanquet，andafterthattopenetrateintotheinterior。Andallthiswouldseemtobeeasyofperformance。ThePyramidisundoubtedlyhigh，butitissoconstructedastoadmitofclimbingwithoutdifficulty。Aladymountingitwouldundoubtedlyneedsomeassistance，butanymanpossessedofmoderateactivitywouldrequirenoaidatall。

Butourfriendswereatonceimbuedwiththetremendousnatureofthetaskbeforethem。AsheikhoftheArabscameforth，whocommunicatedwiththemthroughAbdallah。Theworkcouldbedone，nodoubt，hesaid；

butagreatmanymenwouldbewantedtoassist。EachladymusthavefourArabs，andeachgentlementhree；andthen，seeingthattheworkwouldbepeculiarlysevereonthisspecialday，eachofthesenumerousArabsmustberemuneratedbysomeverylargenumberofpiastres。

Mr。Damer，whowasbynomeansaclosemaninhismoneydealings，openedhiseyeswithsurprise，andmildlyexpostulated；M。Delabordeau，whowasratheraclosemaninhisreckonings，immediatelybuttoneduphisbreechespocketanddeclaredthatheshoulddeclinetomountthePyramidatallatthatprice；andthenMr。Ingramdescendedtothecombat。

Theprotestationsofthemenwerefearful。Theydeclared，withloudvoices，eageractions，andmanifoldEnglishoaths，thatanattemptwasbeingmadetorobthem。Theyhadarighttodemandthesumswhichtheywerecharging，anditwasashamethatEnglishgentlemenshouldcomeandtakethebreadoutoftheirmouths。Andsotheyscreeched，gesticulated，andswore，andfrightenedpoorMrs。Dameralmostintofits。

Butatlastitwassettledandawaytheystarted，thesheikhdeclaringthatthebargainhadbeenmadeatsolowarateastoleavehimnotonepiastreforhimself。EachmanhadanAraboneachsideofhim，andMissDawkinsandMissDamerhadeach，inaddition，onebehind。Mrs。

Damerwassofrightenedasaltogethertohavelostallambitiontoascend。Shesatbelowonafragmentofstone，withthethreedragomansstandingaroundherasguards；butevenwiththethreedragomanstheattacksonherweresofrequent，andasshedeclaredafterwardsshewassobewildered，thatsheneverhadtimetorememberthatshehadcometherefromEnglandtoseethePyramids，andthatshewasnowimmediatelyunderthem。

Theboys，utterlyignoringtheirguides，scrambledupquickerthantheArabscouldfollowthem。Mr。Damerstartedoffatapacewhichsoonbroughthimtotheendofhistether，andfromthatpointwasdraggedupbythesheerstrengthofhisassistants；therebyaccomplishingthewishesofthemen，whoinducetheirvictimstostartasrapidlyaspossible，inorderthattheymaysoonfindthemselveshelplessfromwantofwind。Mr。IngramendeavouredtoattachhimselftoFanny，andshewouldhavebeennothinglothtohavehimatherrighthandinsteadofthehideousbrown，shrieking，one—eyedArabwhotookholdofher。

Butitwassoonfoundthatanysucharrangementwasimpossible。Eachguidefeltthatifhelosthisownpeculiarholdhewouldlosehisprey，andheldon，therefore，withinvincibletenacity。MissDawkinslooked，too，asthoughshehadthoughttobeattendedtobysomeChristiancavalier，butnoChristiancavalierwasforthcoming。M。

Delabordeauwasthewisest，forhetookthematterquietly，didashewasbid，andallowedtheguidesnearlytocarryhimtothetopoftheedifice。

"Ha！sothisisthetopofthePyramid，isit？"saidMr。Damer，bringingouthiswordsonebyone，beingterriblyoutofbreath。"Verywonderful，verywonderful，indeed！"

"Itiswonderful，"saidMissDawkins，whosebreathhadnotfailedherintheleast，"verywonderful，indeed！Onlythink，Mr。Damer，youmighttravelonfordaysanddays，tilldaysbecamemonths，throughthoseinterminablesands，andyetyouwouldnevercometotheendofthem。Isitnotquitestupendous？"

"Ah，yes，quite，——puff，puff"——saidMr。Damerstrivingtoregainhisbreath。

Mr。Damerwasnowatherdisposal；weakandwornwithtoilandtravel，outofbreath，andwithhalfhismanhoodgone；ifevershemightprevailoverhimsoastoprocurefromhismouthanassenttothatNileproposition，itwouldbenow。Andafterall，thatNilepropositionwasthebestonenowbeforeher。ShedidnotquiteliketheideaofstartingoffacrosstheGreatDesertwithoutanylady，andwasnotsurethatshewaspreparedtobefalleninlovewithbyM。Delabordeau，evenifthereshouldultimatelybeanyreadinessonthepartofthatgentlemantoperformtheroleoflover。WithMr。Ingramthematterwasdifferent，norwasshesodiffidentofherowncharmsastothinkitaltogetherimpossiblethatshemightsucceed，intheteethofthatlittlechit，FannyDamer。ThatMr。IngramwouldjointhepartyuptheNileshehadverylittledoubt；andthentherewouldbeoneplaceleftforher。Shewouldthus，atanyrate，becomecommingledwithamostrespectablefamily，whomightbeofmaterialservicetoher。

ThusactuatedshecommencedanearnestattackuponMr。Damer。

"Stupendous！"shesaidagain，forshewasfondofrepeatingfavouritewords。"WhatawondrousracemusthavebeenthoseEgyptiankingsofold！"

"Idaresaytheywere，"saidMr。Damer，wipinghisbrowashesatuponalargeloosestone，afragmentlyingontheflattopofthePyramid，oneofthosestoneswithwhichthecompleteapexwasoncemade，orwasonceabouttobemade。

"Amagnificentrace！sogiganticintheirconceptions！Theirideasaltogetheroverwhelmuspoor，insignificant，latter—daymortals。TheybuiltthesevastPyramids；butforus，itistaskenoughtoclimbtotheirtop。"

"Quiteenough，"ejaculatedMr。Damer。

ButMr。Damerwouldnotalwaysremainweakandoutofbreath，anditwasabsolutelynecessaryforMissDawkinstohurryawayfromCheopsandhistomb，toThebesandKarnac。

"AfterseeingthisitisimpossibleforanyonewithasparkofimaginationtoleaveEgyptwithoutgoingfarthera—field。"

Mr。Damermerelywipedhisbrowandgrunted。ThisMissDawkinstookasasignalofweakness，andwentonwithhertaskperseveringly。

"Formyself，Ihaveresolvedtogoup，atanyrate，asfarasAsouanandthefirstcataract。IhadthoughtofaccedingtothewishesofapartywhoaregoingacrosstheGreatDesertbyMountSinaitoJerusalem；butthekindnessofyourselfandMrs。Damerissogreat，andtheprospectofjoininginyourboatissopleasurable，thatIhavemadeupmymindtoacceptyourverykindoffer。"

This，itwillbeacknowledged，wasboldonthepartofMissDawkins；

butwhatwillnotaudacityeffect？Tousetheslangofmodernlanguage，cheekcarrieseverythingnowadays。AndwhatevermayhavebeenMissDawkins’sdeficiencies，inthisvirtueshewasnotdeficient。

"Ihavemadeupmymindtoacceptyourverykindoffer，"shesaid，shiningonMr。Damerwithherblandestsmile。

Whatwasastout，breathless，perspiring，middle—agedgentlemantodoundersuchcircumstances？Mr。Damerwasamanwho，inmostmatters，hadhisownway。Thathiswifeshouldhavegivensuchaninvitationwithoutconsultinghim，was，heknew，quiteimpossible。ShewouldassoonhavethoughtofaskingallthoseArabguidestoaccompanythem。

NorwasittobethoughtofthatheshouldallowhimselftobekidnappedintosuchanarrangementbytheimpudenceofanyMissDawkins。Buttherewas，hefelt，adifficultyinansweringsuchapropositionfromayoungladywithadirectnegative，especiallywhilehewassoscantofbreath。Sohewipedhisbrowagain，andlookedather。

"ButIcanonlyagreetothisononeunderstanding，"continuedMissDawkins，"andthatis，thatIamallowedtodefraymyownfullshareoftheexpenseofthejourney。"

UponhearingthisMr。Damerthoughtthathesawhiswayoutofthewood。"WhereverIgo，MissDawkins，Iamalwaysthepaymastermyself，"

andthishecontrivedtosaywithsomesternness，palpitatingthoughhestillwas；andthesternnesswhichwasdeficientinhisvoiceheendeavouredtoputintohiscountenance。

ButhedidnotknowMissDawkins。"Oh，Mr。Damer，"shesaid，andasshespokehersmilebecamealmostblanderthanitwasbefore；"oh，Mr。

Damer，Icouldnotthinkofsufferingyoutobesoliberal；Icouldnot，indeed。ButIshallbequitecontentthatyoushouldpayeverything，andletmesettlewithyouinonesumafterwards。"

Mr。Damer’sbreathwasnowrathermoreunderhisowncommand。"Iamafraid，MissDawkins，"hesaid，"thatMrs。Damer’sweakstateofhealthwillnotadmitofsuchanarrangement。"

"What，aboutthepaying？"

"Notonlyastothat，butweareafamilyparty，MissDawkins；andgreataswouldbethebenefitofyoursocietytoallofus，inMrs。

Damer’spresentstateofhealth，Iamafraid——inshort，youwouldnotfinditagreeable。——Andtherefore——"thisheadded，seeingthatshewasstillabouttopersevere——"Ifearthatwemustforegotheadvantageyouoffer。"

Andthen，lookingintohisface，MissDawkinsdidperceivethatevenheraudacitywouldnotprevail。

"Oh，verywell，"shesaid，andmovingfromthestoneonwhichshehadbeensitting，shewalkedoff，carryingherheadveryhigh，toacornerofthePyramidfromwhichshecouldlookforthalonetowardsthesandsofLibya。

InthemeantimeanotherlittleoverturewasbeingmadeonthetopofthesamePyramid，——anoverturewhichwasnotreceivedquiteinthesamespirit。WhileMr。DamerwasrecoveringhisbreathforthesakeofansweringMissDawkins，MissDamerhadwalkedtothefurthercornerofthesquareplatformonwhichtheywereplaced，andtheresatherselfdownwithherfaceturnedtowardsCairo。PerhapsitwasnotsingularthatMr。Ingramshouldhavefollowedher。

ThiswouldhavebeenverywellifadozenArabshadnotalsofollowedthem。Butasthiswasthecase，Mr。Ingramhadtoplayhisgameundersomedifficulty。Hehadnosoonerseatedhimselfbesideherthantheycameandstooddirectlyinfrontoftheseat，shuttingouttheview，andbynomeansimprovingthefragranceoftheairaroundthem。

"Andthis，then，MissDamer，willbeourlastexcursiontogether，"hesaid，inhistenderest，softesttone。

"DegoodEnglishmanwillgibdepoorArabonelittlebacksheish，"saidanArab，puttingouthishandandshakingMr。Ingram’sshoulder。

"Yes，yes，yes；himgibbacksheish，"saidanother。

"Himberrygoodman，"saidathird，puttinguphisfilthyhand，andtouchingMr。Ingram’sface。

"Andyoungladyberrygood，too；shegivebacksheishtopoorArab。"

"Yes，"saidafourth，preparingtotakeasimilarlibertywithMissDamer。

ThiswastoomuchforMr。Ingram。Hehadalreadyusedverypositivelanguageinhisendeavourtoassurehistormentorsthattheywouldnotgetapiastrefromhim。Butthisonlychangedtheirsoftpersuasionsintothreats。Uponhearingwhich，anduponseeingwhatthemanattemptedtodoinhisendeavourtogetmoneyfromMissDamer，heraisedhisstick，andstruckfirstoneandthentheotherasviolentlyashecouldupontheirheads。

Anyordinarycivilisedmenwouldhavebeenstunnedbysuchblows，fortheyfellonthebareforeheadsoftheArabs；buttheobjectsoftheAmerican’swrathmerelyskulkedaway；andtheothers，convincedbytheonlyargumentswhichtheyunderstood，followedinpursuitofvictimswhomightbelesspugnacious。

Itishardforamantobeatoncetenderandpugnacious——tobesentimental，whileheisputtingforthhisphysicalstrengthwithalltheviolenceinhispower。Itisdifficult，also，forhimtobegentleinstantlyafterhavingbeeninarage。Sohechangedhistacticsatthemoment，andcametothepointatonceinamannerbefittinghispresentstateofmind。

"Thosevilewretcheshaveputmeinsuchaheat，"hesaid，"thatI

hardlyknowwhatIamsaying。Butthefactisthis，MissDamer，I

cannotleaveCairowithoutknowing——。YouunderstandwhatImean，MissDamer。"

"IndeedIdonot，Mr。Ingram；exceptthatIamafraidyoumeannonsense。"

"Yes，youdo；youknowthatIloveyou。Iamsureyoumustknowit。

Atanyrateyouknowitnow。"

"Mr。Ingram，youshouldnottalkinsuchaway。"

"WhyshouldInot？Butthetruthis，Fanny，Icantalkinnootherway。Idoloveyoudearly。Canyoulovemewellenoughtogoandbemywifeinacountryfarawayfromyourown？"

BeforesheleftthetopofthePyramidFannyDamerhadsaidthatshewouldtry。

Mr。Ingramwasnowaproudandhappyman，andseemedtothinkthestepsofthePyramidtoosmallforhiselasticenergy。ButFannyfearedthathertroublesweretocome。Therewaspapa——thatterriblebugbearonallsuchoccasions。Whatwouldpapasay？Shewassureherpapawouldnotallowhertomarryandgosofarawayfromherownfamilyandcountry。Forherself，shelikedtheAmericans——alwayshadlikedthem；

soshesaid；——woulddesirenothingbetterthantoliveamongthem。Butpapa！AndFannysighedasshefeltthatalltherecognisedmiseriesofayoungladyinlovewereabouttofalluponher。

Nevertheless，atherlover’sinstance，shepromised，anddeclared，intwentydifferentlovingphrases，thatnothingonearthshouldevermakeherfalsetoherloveortoherlover。

"Fanny，whereareyou？Whyareyounotreadytocomedown？"shoutedMr。Damer，notinthebestoftempers。Hefeltthathehadalmostbeenunkindtoanunprotectedfemale，andhisheartmisgavehim。AndyetitwouldhavemisgivenhimmorehadheallowedhimselftobeentrappedbyMissDawkins。

"Iamquiteready，papa，"saidFanny，runninguptohim——foritmaybeunderstoodthatthereisquiteroomenoughforayoungladytorunonthetopofthePyramid。

"IamsureIdon’tknowwhereyouhavebeenallthetime，"saidMr。

Damer；"andwherearethosetwoboys？"

FannypointedtothetopoftheotherPyramid，andtheretheywere，conspicuouswiththeirredcaps。

"AndM。Delabordeau？"

"Oh！hehasgonedown，Ithink；——no，heistherewithMissDawkins。"

AndintruthMissDawkinswasleaningonhisarmmostaffectionately，asshestoopedoverandlookeddownupontheruinsbelowher。

"Andwhereisthatfellow，Ingram？"saidMr。Damer，lookingabouthim。

"Heisalwaysoutofthewaywhenhe’swanted。"

TothisFannysaidnothing。Whyshouldshe？ShewasnotMr。Ingram’skeeper。

Andthentheyalldescended，eachagainwithhispropernumberofArabstohurryandembarrasshim；andtheyfoundMr。Dameratthebottom，likeapieceofsugarcoveredwithflies。ShewasheardtodeclareafterwardsthatshewouldnotgotothePyramidsagain，notiftheyweretobegiventoherforherself，asornamentsforhergarden。

ThepicniclunchamongthebigstonesatthefootofthePyramidwasnotaverygayaffair。MissDawkinstalkedmorethananyoneelse，beingdeterminedtoshowthatsheboreherdefeatgallantly。Herconversation，however，waschieflyaddressedtoM。Delabordeau，andheseemedtothinkmoreofhiscoldchickenandhamthanhedidofherwitandattention。

Fannyhardlyspokeaword。Therewasherfatherbeforeherandshecouldnoteat，muchlesstalk，asshethoughtofallthatshewouldhavetogothrough。WhatwouldhesaytotheideaofhavinganAmericanforason—in—law？

NorwasMr。Ingramverylively。Ayoungmanwhenhehasbeenjustaccepted，neverisso。Hishappinessunderthepresentcircumstanceswas，nodoubt，intense，butitwasofasilentnature。

Andthentheinteriorofthebuildinghadtobevisited。Totellthetruthnoneofthepartywouldhavecaredtoperformthisfeathaditnotbeenforthehonourofthething。TohavecomefromParis，NewYork，orLondon，tothePyramids，andthennottohavevisitedtheverytombofCheops，wouldhaveshownonthepartofallofthemanindifferencetosubjectsofinterestwhichwouldhavebeenaltogetherfataltotheircharacterastravellers。Andsoapartyfortheinteriorwasmadeup。

MissDamerwhenshesawtheaperturethroughwhichitwasexpectedthatsheshoulddescend，atoncedeclaredforstayingwithhermother。MissDawkins，however，wasenthusiasticforthejourney。"Personswithsoverylittlecommandovertheirnervesmightreallyaswellstayathome，"shesaidtoMr。Ingram，whogloweredatherdreadfullyforexpressingsuchanopinionabouthisFanny。

ThisentranceintothePyramidsisaterribletask，whichshouldbeundertakenbynolady。Thosewhoperformithavetocreepdown，andthentobedraggedup，throughinfinitedirt，foulsmells，andbadair；

andwhentheyhavedoneit，theyseenothing。ButtheydoearnthegratificationofsayingthattheyhavebeeninsideaPyramid。

"Well，I’vedonethatonce，"saidMr。Damer，comingout，"andIdonotthinkthatanyonewillcatchmedoingitagain。Ineverwasinsuchafilthyplaceinmylife。"

"Oh，Fanny！Iamsogladyoudidnotgo；Iamsureitisnotfitforladies，"saidpoorMrs。Damer，forgetfulofherfriendMissDawkins。

"Ishouldhavebeenashamedofmyself，"saidMissDawkins，bristlingup，andthrowingbackherheadasshestood，"ifIhadallowedanyconsiderationtohavepreventedmyvisitingsuchaspot。Ifitbenotimproperformentogothere，howcanitbeimproperforwomen？"

"Ididnotsayimproper，mydear，"saidMrs。Damer，apologetically。

"Andasforthefatigue，whatcanawomanbeworthwhoisafraidtoencounterasmuchasIhavenowgonethroughforthesakeofvisitingthelastresting—placeofsuchakingasCheops？"AndMissDawkins，asshepronouncedthelastwords，lookedroundherwithdisdainuponpoorFannyDamer。

"ButImeantthedirt，"saidMrs。Damer。

"Dirt！"ejaculatedMissDawkins，andthenwalkedaway。WhyshouldshenowsubmitherhightoneoffeelingtotheDamers，orwhycarelongerfortheirgoodopinion？Thereforeshescatteredcontemptaroundherassheejaculatedthelastword，"dirt。"

Andthenthereturnhome！"IknowIshallnevergetthere，"saidMrs。

Damer，lookingpiteouslyupintoherhusband’sface。

"Nonsense，mydear；nonsense；youmustgetthere。"Mrs。Damergroaned，andacknowledgedinherheartthatshemust，——eitherdeadoralive。

"And，Jefferson，"saidFanny，whispering——fortherehadbeenamomentsincetheirdescentinwhichshehadbeeninstructedtocallhimbyhisChristianname——"nevermindtalkingtomegoinghome。Iwillridebymamma。Doyougowithpapaandputhimingoodhumour；andithesaysanythingaboutthelordsandthebishops，don’tyoucontradicthim，youknow。"

Whatwillnotamandoforlove？Mr。Ingrampromised。

Andinthiswaytheystarted；thetwoboysledthevan；thencameMr。

DamerandMr。Ingram，unusuallyandunpatrioticallyacquiescentastoEngland’saristocraticpropensities；thenMissDawkinsriding，alas！

alone；afterher，M。Delabordeau，alsoalone，——theungallantFrenchman！

AndtherearwasbroughtupbyMrs。Damerandherdaughter，flankedoneachsidebyadragoman，withathirddragomanbehindthem。

AndinthisordertheywentbacktoCairo，ridingtheirdonkeys，andcrossingtheferrysolemnly，and，forthemostpart，silently。Mr。

Ingramdidtalk，ashehadanimportantobjectinview，——thatofputtingMr。Damerintoagoodhumour。

Inthishesucceededsowellthatbythetimetheyhadremounted，aftercrossingtheNile，Mr。Dameropenedhishearttohiscompaniononthesubjectthatwastroublinghim，andtoldhimallaboutMissDawkins。

"Idon’tseewhyweshouldhaveacompanionthatwedon’tlikeforeightortenweeks，merelybecauseitseemsrudetorefusealady。"

"Indeed，Iagreewithyou，"saidMr。Ingram；"Ishouldcallitweak—

mindedtogivewayinsuchacase。"

"Mydaughterdoesnotlikeheratall，"continuedMr。Damer。

"NorwouldshebeanicecompanionforMissDamer；notaccordingtomywayofthinking，"saidMr。Ingram。

"Andastomyhavingaskedher，orMrs。Damerhavingaskedher！Why，Godblessmysoul，itispureinventiononthewoman’spart！"

"Ha！ha！ha！"laughedMr。Ingram；"Imustsaysheplayshergamewell；

butthensheisanoldsoldier，andhasthebenefitofexperience。"

WhatwouldMissDawkinshavesaidhadsheknownthatMr。Ingramcalledheranoldsoldier？

"Idon’tlikethekindofthingatall，"saidMr。Damer，whowasveryseriousuponthesubject。"YouseethepositioninwhichIamplaced。

Iamforcedtobeveryrude，or——"

"Idon’tcallitrudeatall。"

"Disobliging，then；orelseImusthaveallmycomfortinvadedandpleasuredestroyedby，by，by——"AndMr。Damerpaused，beingatalossforanappropriatenameforMissDawkins。

"Byanunprotectedfemale，"suggestedMr。Ingram。

"Yes，justso。Iamasfondofpleasantcompanyasanybody；butthenI

liketochooseitmyself。"

"SodoI，"saidMr。Ingram，thinkingofhisownchoice。

"Now，Ingram，ifyouwouldjoinus，weshouldbedelighted。"

"Uponmyword，sir，theofferistooflattering，"saidIngram，hesitatingly；forhefeltthathecouldnotundertakesuchajourneyuntilMr。DamerknewonwhattermshestoodwithFanny。

"Youareaterribledemocrat，"saidMr。Damer，laughing；"butthen，onthatmatter，youknow，wecouldagreetodiffer。"

"Exactlyso，"saidMr。Ingram，whohadnotcollectedhisthoughtsormadeuphismindastowhathehadbettersayanddo，onthespurofthemoment。

"Well，whatdoyousaytoit？"saidMr。Damer，encouragingly。ButIngrampausedbeforeheanswered。

"ForHeaven’ssake，mydearfellow，don’thavetheslightesthesitationinrefusing，ifyoudon’tliketheplan。"

"Thefactis，Mr。Damer，Ishouldlikeittoowell。"

"Likeittoowell？"

"Yes，sir，andImayaswelltellyounowaslater。Ihadintendedthiseveningtohaveaskedforyourpermissiontoaddressyourdaughter。"

"Godblessmysoul！"saidMr。Damer，lookingasthoughatotallynewideahadnowbeenopenedtohim。

"Andunderthesecircumstances，Iwillnowwaitandseewhetherornoyouwillrenewyouroffer。"

"Godblessmysoul！"saidMr。Damer，again。Itoftendoesstrikeanoldgentlemanasveryoddthatanymanshouldfallinlovewithhisdaughter，whomhehasnotceasedtolookuponasachild。Thecaseisgenerallyquitedifferentwithmothers。Theyseemtothinkthateveryyoungmanmustfallinlovewiththeirgirls。

"AndhaveyousaidanythingtoFannyaboutthis？"askedMr。Damer。

"Yes，sir，Ihaveherpermissiontospeaktoyou。"

"Godblessmysoul！"saidMr。Damer；andbythistimetheyhadarrivedatShepheard’sHotel。

"Oh，mamma，"saidFanny，assoonasshefoundherselfalonewithhermotherthatevening，"IhavesomethingthatImusttellyou。"

"Oh，Fanny，don’ttellmeanythingto—night，forIamagreatdealtootiredtolisten。"

"Butoh，mamma，pray；——youmustlistentothis；indeedyoumust。"AndFannykneltdownathermother’sknee，andlookedbeseechinglyupintoherface。

"Whatisit，Fanny？Youknowthatallmybonesaresore，andIamsotiredthatIamalmostdead。"

"Mamma，Mr。Ingramhas——"

"Haswhat，mydear？hashedoneanythingwrong？"

"No，mamma：buthehas；——hehasproposedtome。"AndFanny，burstingintotears，hidherfaceinhermother’slap。

Andthusthestorywastoldonbothsidesofthehouse。Onthenextday，asamatterofcourse，allthedifficultiesanddangersofsuchamarriageasthatwhichwasnowprojectedwereinsistedonbybothfatherandmother。Itwasimproper；itwouldcauseaseveringofthefamilynottobethoughtof；itwouldbeanallianceofadangerousnature，andnotatallcalculatedtoinsurehappiness；and，inshort，itwasimpossible。Onthatday，therefore，theyallwenttobedveryunhappy。Butonthenextday，aswasalsoamatterofcourse，seeingthattherewerenopecuniarydifficulties，themotherandfatherweretalkedover，andMr。Ingramwasacceptedasason—in—law。ItneedhardlybesaidthattheofferofaplaceinMr。Damer’sboatwasagainmade，andthatonthisoccasionitwasacceptedwithouthesitation。

TherewasanAmericanProtestantclergymanresidentinCairo，withwhom，amongotherpersons，MissDawkinshadbecomeacquainted。UponthisgentlemanoruponhiswifeMissDawkinscalledafewdaysafterthejourneytothePyramid，andfindinghiminhisstudy，thusperformedherdutytoherneighbour，—

"YouknowyourcountrymanMr。Ingram，Ithink？"saidshe。

"Oh，yes；veryintimately。"

"Ifyouhaveanyregardforhim，Mr。Burton，"suchwasthegentleman’sname，"Ithinkyoushouldputhimonhisguard。"

"Onhisguardagainstwhat？"saidMr。Burtonwithaseriousair，fortherewassomethingseriousinthethreatofimpendingmisfortuneasconveyedbyMissDawkins。

"Why，"saidshe，"thoseDamers，Ifear，aredangerouspeople。"

"Doyoumeanthattheywillborrowmoneyofhim？"

"Oh，no；notthat，exactly；buttheyareclearlysettingtheircapathim。"

"Settingtheircapathim？"

"Yes；thereisadaughter，youknow；alittlechitofathing；andI

fearMr。Ingrammaybecaughtbeforeheknowswhereheis。Itwouldbesuchapity，youknow。Heisgoinguptheriverwiththem，Ihear。

That，inhisplace，isveryfoolish。Theyaskedme，butIpositivelyrefused。"

Mr。Burtonremarkedthat"InsuchamatterasthatMr。Ingramwouldbeperfectlyabletotakecareofhimself。"

"Well，perhapsso；butseeingwhatwasgoingon，Ithoughtitmydutytotellyou。"AndsoMissDawkinstookherleave。

Mr。IngramdidgouptheNilewiththeDamers，asdidanoldfriendoftheDamerswhoarrivedfromEngland。Andaverypleasanttriptheyhadofit。And，asfarasthepresenthistorianknows，thetwoloverswereshortlyafterwardsmarriedinEngland。

PoorMissDawkinswasleftinCairoforsometimeonherbeamends。

Butshewasoneofthosewhoarenoteasilyvanquished。AfteranintervaloftendaysshemadeacquaintancewithanIrishfamily——havingutterlyfailedinmovingthehardheartofM。Delabordeau——andwiththesesheproceededtoConstantinople。Theyconsistedoftwobrothersandasister，andwere，therefore，veryconvenientformatrimonialpurposes。Butnevertheless，whenIlastheardofMissDawkins，shewasstillanunprotectedfemale。