And then, very close together, in silence, these two remained for long moments, watching one another; the girl reclining on her cushions and the man kneeling beside her. In that odd hush, the suave tones of Mr. Tawwab were clearly audible as he entered the upper end of the _wâdi_ in conversation with Danbazzar. A subdued booming was all that could be distinguished of the latter’s responses. Both voices presently ceased. The party had met in the tent above. Barry suddenly grew self-conscious. He was kneeling beside Zalithea and studying her raptly. It had occurred to him that this was the height of rudeness. True, she had suffered his scrutiny without complaint, but this did not excuse his bad form. In a nervous endeavour to break the tension, and recalling Danbazzar’s instructions, he touched a symbol embroidered upon one of the tent cloths draped beside the divan. It was the _crux ansata_, symbol of life; and: “This,” he said, “means Life.” Zalithea looked at it, then turned to him. She seemed to be trying hard to grasp what he had in mind; and finally: “_Ankh_,” she said. “You call it _ankh_?” he asked eagerly; for he knew this to be the Ancient Egyptian term for the figure. Zalithea, listening and watching, smiled. “_Ankh_,” she repeated. “Life,” said Barry. “Lie-ef,” Zalithea whispered doubtfully. “Life!” She shook her head. And Barry realized how, tempted by the fact that he chanced to know its Egyptian name, he had chosen an object impossible to explain in pantomime. Zalithea, laughing now, stretched out a finger and laid it gently upon his eyelid. “Eye,” he said eagerly. “Eye,” she repeated. She touched his ear. “Ear.” “Ee-ah!” So the first lesson began--a lesson in a science that was old even in Seti’s days. Master and pupil forgot the passing of the hours in that enthralling study. Old Safîyeh, squatting patiently on her mat beyond the curtain, nodded as the sun climbed a blue highway toward the dome of noon. Innumerable cups of coffee had been drunk by Danbazzar, John Cumberland, and Mr. Tawwab, and entire boxes of cigarettes consumed. But still Barry said, touching Zalithea: “Arm!” And Zalithea, watching him, replied: “Aah-em!” When, at last, a substantial check having changed hands, Mr. Tawwab rose to take his departure, he showed a marked preference for a route through the lower end of the _wâdi_. Mr. Tawwab was an observant man. Suddenly, raised voices disturbed the English lesson. Zalithea sat very upright, listening. “If you don’t mind, yes!” Mr. Tawwab was saying. “Your camp is so interesting. I should love to see your kitchen.” Placing a finger on her lips, Zalithea stood up. In her simple native dress Barry thought she was the sweetest thing he had ever looked upon. “Zalithea,” he murmured, “you are adorable!” She paused, glancing down at him. “Zal’ith-_eeah_!” she corrected; then: “You-ah-addorahble!” she added.