SJSEYZH HASAN'S DINNER. 375
ing yet fearless children, were beyond descrip-
tion. The mother brought the bride up to
me, and unveiled her, and asked me to look at
her, and to let her kiss my hand. I said all
the usual "Bismillah Masha-allahs," and after a
time went to the men, who were eating,—all
but Hasan, who sat apart. He begged me to
sit by him, and whispered anxious inquiries
about his " Arooseh's " looks. After a time he
went to visit her. He returned in half an
hour, very shy, and covering his face and hand,
and kissed the hands of the chief guests. Then
we all departed, and the girl was taken to look
at the Nile, and then to her husband's house.
Last night he gave me a dinner—a very good
dinner indeed—in his house, which is equal to
a very poor cattle-shed at home. . We were
only five; Sheykh Yoosuf, Omar, an elderly
merchant, and I. Hasan wanted to serve us,
but I bade him sit. The merchant, a well-bred
man of the world, who has enjoyed life and
married wives everywhere, had arrived tliat
day, and found a daughter of his dead here.
He said he felt very miserable; upon which
every one told him not to mind, and consoled
him oddly enough according to English ideas.