View PDF version of this page

MOBNING IN A NEW CITY CO for doors occurring at wide intervals. Above were irregular windows, many of which projected ; and the roofs, which projected still farther, in places nearly touched those opposite to them. Out of this street we passed into another—a narrower one—then into another, and so on into more. Some of them were merely alleys running between high mud walls, above which peered the leafage of palms or fruit trees. I felt that it was lucky for me I had not come out by myself. The place seemed as intricate as the Oretan labyrinth, so that very soon I had completely lost my bearings ; and everywhere it was pervaded by a sense of hush and secrecy. The narrower alleys were generally quite deserted, only now and again a grave bearded figure, in a turban and long robes, went by stealthily ; or suddenly round a corner came a white-veiled girl gliding. As my eyes grew gradually accustomed to the , look of things I began to realise a number of strange details. I noticed that though the upper parts of the walls were of mud or of sun-dried brick, the lower parts were mostly of finely-cut ancient stone-work, and that most of the doors were early Gothic arches which might, with their mouldings and their ornaments, have belonged to an English abbey. Here and there, too, in an odd angle was a conduit or fountain that suggested medieval Europe, and in one place, embedded in a shadowy blank wall, was the chancel end of an exquisite Gothic church. The window, with its mass of florid carving, was perfect ;

View PDF version of this page