The Pasha retired and Mohammed was called.
His story was that having given his wife permission to be nurse to little Ferida, he had no intention of depriving the little girl of her services; he simply wished that his wife should visit him occasionally and prove herself amenable to marital duty.
“If you will conform to a few simple conditions, I will do my best to bring your wife to her senses, but it is necessary you should meet me at the Pasha’s house to-morrow morning and apologise to him for your shocking violence to-night. Now, don’t interrupt me,” I said; “you have been urged to this rude behaviour by your friends, Dr. Vita Hassan, Bassili Effendi, and others to make a scene. Go to your house quietly, and beware you utter no more words to-night. To-morrow morning we shall meet again.”
This evening a mail has arrived from Wadelai, and the letters announce the utmost disorder and the most extraordinary confusion at that station.
_April 4th_.--At 8 A.M. I proceeded to the Pasha’s house and informed him that I desired to call Mohammed to his presence. He consented, and the man made a most submissive apology, though his angry features belied his professions of penitence. He was then told to state to the Pasha before me upon what conditions he was willing to let the woman continue as nurse. He said he wished his wife to attend on Ferida until she was put to sleep, from the first hour of the morning, that was all, to which the Pasha expressed himself agreeable.
“On the following conditions only, Mohammed, do I agree:--
“1st. Your wife shall attend on Ferida during the daytime.
“2nd. Your wife shall return to your house after sunset.
“3rd. Your wife is not to be beaten or bruised.
“4th. Your wife’s personal property shall remain with the Pasha.
“5th. You shall assist, protect, and watch over your wife while on the march, and allow her on reaching camp to serve Ferida.
“6th. You shall not trouble your wife and distract her with your demands during the day--except in case of your illness.
“7th. The Pasha, in consideration of your wife’s service, shall feed and clothe her, and see that she is carried on the march.”
The woman was then called, and the Pasha translated word for word the above conditions. As she heard them she swept the white muslin from her face, and in the absence of any superior attraction she appeared to me to possess considerable beauty, with splendid large black eyes--a distinctively fine Cairene face. The hut was filled with perfume from her spotless white muslin robe. Under this overdress, she wore a scarlet dress. In the wilds of Africa I never met anything approaching her.