At the further end of the garden, away from the Palace, was a small summer-house, a sort of bower embosomed amongst some mango and orange trees, and covered all over with roses. It was quite sheltered from the heat of the sun, and formed a cool and quiet retreat. And here Flora had spent many hours, grateful for the undisturbed solitude. It was furnished with a couch, a few chairs and a table, some pictures and books. Feeling unequal to walking about, she entered this place, and taking up a book, reclined on the couch and tried to read. But her mind was too confused to allow her to concentrate her thoughts. A mass of things rushed through her brain, until she became bewildered with the conflicting emotions which agitated her. In a little while she realised that something was moving under the couch. Her first thought was that it was a snake, and she held her breath in alarm, but in a few moments she uttered a half-suppressed cry, as a voice close to her whispered-- “Hush! Silence, for your life.” CHAPTER XXXV. NEW HOPES OF LIBERTY. The cry that Flora Meredith half gave vent to was not a cry of alarm, but joy; for a head had gradually protruded from under the couch, until the face was revealed--and the face was Zeemit Mehal’s. “Hush, for your life!” the old woman repeated, as she revealed her presence to the astonished girl. But, in spite of the warning, Flora seized the hands of the faithful Zeemit, and, as her heart beat violently, she whispered-- “God bless you, Zeemit. Your presence is new life to me.” The woman rose very cautiously, and peered through the jalousies. Then she listened intently for a few moments--they almost seemed like hours to Flora, for she was burning with impatience for an explanation. “My presence here, should it be discovered, would be death to us both,” Zeemit whispered at last. “But what is your object?” was Flora’s anxious query. “To try and save you.” “God be thanked.” “The difficulties are so great, though, that I am afraid to hold out much hope. I have been in the city for some days, and have made various attempts to get into the Palace, but failed. By mingling with the soldiers in the courtyards, however, I learnt that you were in the habit of walking here. I determined at all hazards to try and reach you. I succeeded last night in escaping the vigilance of the sentries and getting into the grounds. Here I have remained since, until my old bones are sore, and I faint for the want of food.” “You are a faithful, noble, generous creature,” was Flora’s answer. “The only reward I can give you now is my grateful thanks. But tell me, Zeemit, what are your plans?” “Alas, I have none. I am like a fly that has got into a spider’s web. I don’t see how I am to get out. I was determined to come if that were possible, and here I am. But the way I came, you could never go back. I had to mount stone walls, and scramble over high hedges.”