Lolah demanded the new damsel’s name— ‘Juanna.’—Well, a pretty name enough. Katinka ask’d her also whence she came— ‘From Spain.’—‘But where is Spain?’—‘Don’t ask such stuff, Nor show your Georgian ignorance—for shame!’ Said Lolah, with an accent rather rough, To poor Katinka: ‘Spain ’s an island near Morocco, betwixt Egypt and Tangier.’ Dudu said nothing, but sat down beside Juanna, playing with her veil or hair; And looking at her steadfastly, she sigh’d, As if she pitied her for being there, A pretty stranger without friend or guide, And all abash’d, too, at the general stare Which welcomes hapless strangers in all places, With kind remarks upon their mien and faces. But here the Mother of the Maids drew near, With, ‘Ladies, it is time to go to rest. I’m puzzled what to do with you, my dear,’ She added to Juanna, their new guest: ‘Your coming has been unexpected here, And every couch is occupied; you had best Partake of mine; but by to-morrow early We will have all things settled for you fairly.’ Here Lolah interposed—‘Mamma, you know You don’t sleep soundly, and I cannot bear That anybody should disturb you so; I’ll take Juanna; we’re a slenderer pair Than you would make the half of;—don’t say no; And I of your young charge will take due care.’ But here Katinka interfered, and said, ‘She also had compassion and a bed. ‘Besides, I hate to sleep alone,’ quoth she. The matron frown’d: ‘Why so?’—‘For fear of ghosts,’ Replied Katinka; ‘I am sure I see A phantom upon each of the four posts; And then I have the worst dreams that can be, Of Guebres, Giaours, and Ginns, and Gouls in hosts.’ The dame replied, ‘Between your dreams and you, I fear Juanna’s dreams would be but few. ‘You, Lolah, must continue still to lie Alone, for reasons which don’t matter; you The same, Katinka, until by and by; And I shall place Juanna with Dudu, Who ’s quiet, inoffensive, silent, shy, And will not toss and chatter the night through. What say you, child?’—Dudu said nothing, as Her talents were of the more silent class; But she rose up, and kiss’d the matron’s brow Between the eyes, and Lolah on both cheeks, Katinka, too; and with a gentle bow (Curt’sies are neither used by Turks nor Greeks) She took Juanna by the hand to show Their place of rest, and left to both their piques, The others pouting at the matron’s preference Of Dudu, though they held their tongues from deference. It was a spacious chamber (Oda is The Turkish title), and ranged round the wall Were couches, toilets—and much more than this I might describe, as I have seen it all, But it suffices—little was amiss; ’Twas on the whole a nobly furnish’d hall, With all things ladies want, save one or two, And even those were nearer than they knew.