''  I  wish  I  knew  a  little  more  about  the
stars,"  she  said.
CHAPTER    XII


A  CONSPIRACY.
"  I  THINK  I  am  doing  what  is  right,"  the
Master  of  Lynn  said  to  his  sister,  of  whom,
in  his  perplexity,  he  was  driven  to  take
counsel.
They  had  once  more  resumed  their  idle,
uneventful,  dream-like  voyage  up  the  broad
river  ;  and  the  dahabeeah  was  large,  and
had  many  quiet  corners  for  confidential  con-
versations. Moreover,  the  monotony  of  the
scene  around  them  left  them  ample  leisure.
Their  attention  was  seldom  called  away  by
any  striking-  feature  or  incident ;  and  never
at  all  by  any  atmospheric  phenomena.  The)'
had  grown  accustomed  to  the  level  plains  of
yellow  sand,  the  distant  low  hills  quivering
in  the  heat,  the  wide,  yellow -green  waters
ruffled  by  the  northerly  breeze,  and  the
palms,  and  the  mud  villages,  and  the  groups
of  swarthy   Arabs  (^r   Nul)ians   la/ilv  driving


CHAP.  XII.]  A  CONSPIRACY.  219


down  the  sheep  and  camel  and  buffalo  to  the
banks  of  the  stream.  The  pulse  of  the  world
beats  slowly  there.
*' Yes,  I  think  you  are  doing  what  is  right
— though  not  what  is  usual,  perhaps,"  said
his  sister,  regarding  him.
''  What  do  you  mean  T'

"Oh,  well,"  she  said,  with  a  smile,  ''no
doubt  it  is  quite  correct  to  ask  the  papa's
permission  first ;  it  is  quite  according  to  rule
and  etiquette  ;  but  generally,  I  should  think,
some  understanding  exists "

''  But  I  am  afraid  to  startle  her,"  he  said,
quickly.  "  Besides,  there  might  be  some  one
else  ;  and  I  would  rather  get  to  know  that
from  her  father."

''There  is  no  one  else,"  said  pretty  Mrs.
Graham,  sipping  her  tumbler  of  cold  tea.
