an unprotected female at the pyramids-第2章

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line。　　Damer　fille　was　attended　sedulously　by　Mr。　Ingram；　for　whose
demolishment；　however；　Mr。　Damer　still　brought　up；　in　a　loud　voice；　the
fag　ends　of　certain　political　arguments　which　he　would　fain　have　poured
direct　into　the　ears　of　his　opponent；　had　not　his　wife　been　so
persistent　in　claiming　her　privileges。　　M。　Delabordeau　should　have
followed　with　Miss　Dawkins；　but　his　French　politeness；　or　else　his　fear
of　the　unprotected　female；　taught　him　to　walk　on　the　other　side　of　the
mistress　of　the　party。

Miss　Dawkins　left　the　house　with　an　eager　young　Damer　yelling　on　each
side　of　her；　but　nevertheless；　though　thus　neglected　by　the　gentlemen
of　the　party；　she　was　all　smiles　and　prettiness；　and　looked　so　sweetly
on　Mr。　Ingram　when　that　gentleman　stayed　a　moment　to　help　her　on　to　her
donkey；　that　his　heart　almost　misgave　him　for　leaving　her　as　soon　as
she　was　in　her　seat。

And　then　they　were　off。　　In　going　from　the　hotel　to　the　Pyramids　our
party　had　not　to　pass　through　any　of　the　queer　old　narrow　streets　of
the　true　CairoCairo　the　Oriental。　　They　all　lay　behind　them　as　they
went　down　by　the　back　of　the　hotel；　by　the　barracks　of　the　Pasha　and
the　College　of　the　Dervishes；　to　the　village　of　old　Cairo　and　the　banks
of　the　Nile。

Here　they　were　kept　half　an　hour　while　their　dragomans　made　a　bargain
with　the　ferryman；　a　stately　reis；　or　captain　of　a　boat；　who　declared
with　much　dignity　that　he　could　not　carry　them　over　for　a　sum　less　than
six　times　the　amount　to　which　he　was　justly　entitled；　while　the
dragomans；　with　great　energy　on　behalf　of　their　masters；　offered　him
only　five　times　that　sum。

As　far　as　the　reis　was　concerned；　the　contest　might　soon　have　been　at
an　end；　for　the　man　was　not　without　a　conscience；　and　would　have　been
content　with　five　times　and　a　half；　but　then　the　three　dragomans
quarrelled　among　themselves　as　to　which　should　have　the　paying　of　the
money；　and　the　affair　became　very　tedious。

〃What　horrid；　odious　men！〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　appealing　to　Mr。　Damer。
〃Do　you　think　they　will　let　us　go　over　at　all？〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　they　will；　people　do　get　over　generally；　I　believe。
Abdallah！　　Abdallah！　why　don't　you　pay　the　man？　　That　fellow　is　always
striving　to　save　half　a　piastre　for　me。〃

〃I　wish　he　wasn't　quite　so　particular；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer；　who　was
already　becoming　rather　tired；　〃but　I'm　sure　he's　a　very　honest　man　in
trying　to　protect　us　from　being　robbed。〃

〃That　he　is；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins。　　〃What　a　delightful　trait　of　national
character　it　is　to　see　these　men　so　faithful　to　their　employers。〃　　And
then　at　last　they　got　over　the　ferry；　Mr。　Ingram　having　descended　among
the　combatants；　and　settled　the　matter　in　dispute　by　threats　and
shouts；　and　an　uplifted　stick。

They　crossed　the　broad　Nile　exactly　at　the　spot　where　the　nilometer；　or
river　guage；　measures　from　day　to　day；　and　from　year　to　year；　the
increasing　or　decreasing　treasures　of　the　stream；　and　landed　at　a
village　where　thousands　of　eggs　are　made　into　chickens　by　the　process
of　artificial　incubation。

Mrs。　Damer　thought　that　it　was　very　hard　upon　the　maternal　hensthe
hens　which　should　have　been　maternalthat　they　should　be　thus　robbed
of　the　delights　of　motherhood。

〃So　unnatural；　you　know；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　〃so　opposed　to　the
fostering　principles　of　creation。　　Don't　you　think　so；　Mr。　Ingram？〃

Mr。　Ingram　said　he　didn't　know。　　He　was　again　seating　Miss　Damer　on　her
donkey；　and　it　must　be　presumed　that　he　performed　this　feat　clumsily；
for　Fanny　Damer　could　jump　on　and　off　the　animal　with　hardly　a　finger
to　help　her；　when　her　brother　or　her　father　was　her　escort；　but　now；
under　the　hands　of　Mr。　Ingram；　this　work　of　mounting　was　one　which
required　considerable　time　and　care。　　All　which　Miss　Dawkins　observed
with　precision。

〃It's　all　very　well　talking；〃　said　Mr。　Damer；　bringing　up　his　donkey
nearly　alongside　that　of　Mr。　Ingram；　and　ignoring　his　daughter's
presence；　just　as　he　would　have　done　that　of　his　dog；　〃but　you　must
admit　that　political　power　is　more　equally　distributed　in　England　than
it　is　in　America。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is；〃　said　Mr。　Ingram；　〃equally　distributed　among；　we　will
say；　three　dozen　families；〃　and　he　made　a　feint　as　though　to　hold　in
his　impetuous　donkey；　using　the　spur；　however；　at　the　same　time　on　the
side　that　was　unseen　by　Mr。　Damer。　　As　he　did　so；　Fanny's　donkey　became
equally　impetuous；　and　the　two　cantered　on　in　advance　of　the　whole
party。　　It　was　quite　in　vain　that　Mr。　Damer；　at　the　top　of　his　voice；
shouted　out　something　about　〃three　dozen　corruptible　demagogues。〃　　Mr。
Ingram　found　it　quite　impossible　to　restrain　his　donkey　so　as　to　listen
to　the　sarcasm。

〃I　do　believe　papa　would　talk　politics；〃　said　Fanny；　〃if　he　were　at　the
top　of　Mont　Blanc；　or　under　the　Falls　of　Niagara。　　I　do　hate　politics；
Mr。　Ingram。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that；　very；〃　said　Mr。　Ingram；　almost　sadly。

〃Sorry；　why？　　You　don't　want　me　to　talk　politics；　do　you？〃

〃In　America　we　are　all　politicians；　more　or　less；　and；　therefore；　I
suppose　you　will　hate　us　all。〃

〃Well；　I　rather　think　I　should；〃　said　Fanny；　〃you　would　be　such　bores。〃
But　there　was　something　in　her　eye；　as　she　spoke；　which　atoned　for　the
harshness　of　her　words。

〃A　very　nice　young　man　is　Mr。　Ingram；　don't　you　think　so？〃　said　Miss
Dawkins　to　Mrs。　Damer。　　Mrs。　Damer　was　going　along　upon　her　donkey；　not
altogether　comfortably。　　She　much　wished　to　have　her　lord　and
legitimate　protector　by　her　side；　but　he　had　left　her　to　the　care　of　a
dragoman　whose　English　was　not　intelligible　to　her；　and　she　was　rather
cross。

〃Indeed；　Miss　Dawkins；　I　don't　know　who　are　nice　and　who　are　not。　　This
nasty　donkey　stumbles　at　ever　step。　　There！　　I　know　I　shall　be　down
directly。〃

〃You　need　not　be　at　all　afraid　of　that；　they　are　perfectly　safe；　I
believe；　always；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　rising　in　her　stirrup；　and
handling　her　reins　quite　triumphantly。　　〃A　very　little　practice　will
make　you　quite　at　home。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean　by　a　very　little　practice。　　I　have　been
here　six　weeks。　　Why　did　you　put　me　on　such　a　bad　donkey　as　this？〃　and
she　turned　to　Abdallah；　the　dragoman。

〃Him　berry　good　donkey；　my　lady；　berry　good；best　of　all。　　Call　him
Jack　in　Cairo。　　Him　go　to　Pyramid　and　back；　and　mind　noting。〃

〃What　does　he　say；　Miss　Dawkins？〃

〃He　says　that　that　donkey　is　one　called　Jack。　　If　so　I've　had　him
myself　many　times；　and　Jack　is　a　very　good　donkey。〃

〃I　wish　you　had　him　now　with　all　my　heart；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer。　　Upon
which　Miss　Dawkins　offered　to　change；　but　those　perils　of　mounting　and
dismounting　were　to　Mrs。　Damer　a　great　deal　too　severe　to　admit　of
this。

〃Seven　miles　of　canal　to　be　carried　out　into　the　sea；　at　a　minimum
depth　of　twenty…three　feet；　and　the　stone　to　be　fetched　from　Heaven
knows　where！　　All　the　money　in　France　wouldn't　do　it。〃　　This　was
addressed　by　Mr。　Damer　to　M。　Delabordeau；　whom　he　had　caught　after　the
abrupt　flight　of　Mr。　Ingram。

〃Den　we　will　borrow　a　leetle　from　England；〃　said　M。　Delabordeau。

〃Precious　little；　I　can　tell　you。　　Such　stock　would　not　hold　its　price
in　our　markets　for　twenty…four　hours。　　If　it　were　made；　the　freights
would　be　too　heavy　to　allow　of　merchandise　passing　through。　　The　heavy
goods　would　all　go　round；　and　as　for　passengers　and　mails；　you　don't
expect　to　get　them；　I　suppose；　while　there　is　a　railroad　ready　made　to
their　hand？〃

〃Ye　vill　carry　all　your　ships　through　vidout　any　transportation。　　Think
of　that；　my　friend。〃

〃Pshaw！　　You　are　worse　than　Ingram。　　Of　all　the　plans　I　ever　heard　of
it　is　the　most　monstrous；　the　most　impracticable；　the　most〃　　But　here
he　was　interrupted　by　the　entreaties　of　his　wife；　who　had；　in　absolute
deed　and　fact；　slipped　from　her　donkey；　and　was　now　calling　lustily　for
her　husband's　aid。　　Whereupon　Miss　Dawkins　allied　herself　to　the
Frenchman；　and　listened　with　an　air　of　strong　conviction　to　those
arguments　which　were　so　weak　in　the　ears　of　Mr。　Damer。　　M。　Delabordeau
was　about　to　ride　across　the　Great　Desert　to　Jerusalem；　and　it　might
perhaps　be　quite　as　well　to　do　that　with　him；　as　to　go　up　the　Nile　as
far　as　the　second　cataract　with　the　Damers。

〃And　so；　M。　Delabordeau；　you　intend　really　to　start　for　Mount　Sinai？〃

〃Yes；　mees；　ve　intend　to　make　one　start　on　Monday　week。〃

〃And　so　on　to　Jerusalem。　　You　are　quite　right。　　It　would　be　a　thousand
pities　to　be　in　these　countries；　and　to　return　without　going　over　such
ground　as　that。　　I　shall　certainly　go　to　Jerusalem　myself　by　that
route。〃

〃Vot；　mees！　you？　　Would　you　not　find　it　too　much　fatigante？〃

〃I　care　nothing　for　fatigue；　if　I　like　the　party　I　am　with；nothing　at
all；　literally。　　You　will　hardly　understand　me；　perhaps；　M。
Delabordeau；　but　I　do　not　see　any　reason　why　I；　as　a　young　woman；
should　not　make　any　journey　that　is　practicable　for　a　young　man。〃

〃Ah！　dat　is　great　resolution　for　you；　mees。〃

〃I　mean　as　far　as　fatigue　is　concerned。　　You　are　a　Frenchman；　and
belong　to　the　nation　that　is　at　the　head　of　all　human　civilisation〃

M。　Delabordeau　took　off　his　hat　and　bowed　low；　to　the　peak　of　his
donkey　saddle。　　He　dearly　loved　to　hear　his　country　praised；　as　Miss
Dawkins　was　aware。

〃And　I　am　sure　you　must　agree　with　me；〃　continued　Miss　Dawkins；　〃that
the　time　is　gone　by　for　women　to　consider　themselves　helpless　animals；
or　to　be　so　considered　by　others。〃

〃Mees　Dawkins　vould　never　be　considered；　not　in　any　times　at　all；　to　be
one　helpless　animal；〃　said　M。　Delabordeau　civilly。

〃I　do　not；　at　any　rate；　intend　to　be　so　regarded；〃　said　she。　　〃It　suits
me　to　travel　alone；　not　that　I　am　averse　to　society；　quite　the
contrary；　if　I　meet　pleasant　people　I　am　always　ready　to　join　them。
But　it　suits　me　to　travel　without　any　permanent　party；　and　I　do　not　see
why　false　shame　should　prevent　my　seeing　the　world　as　thoroughly　as
though　I　belonged　to　the　other　sex。　　Why　should　it；　M。　Delabordeau？〃

M。　Delabordeau　declared　that　he　did　not　see　any　reason　why　it　should。

〃I　am　passionately　anxious　to　stand　upon　Mount　Sinai；〃　continued　Miss
Dawkins；　〃to　press　with　my　feet　the　earliest　spot　in　sacred　history；　of
the　identity　of　which　we　are　certain；　to　feel　within　me　the　awe…
inspiring　thrill　of　that　thrice　sacred　hour！〃

The　Frenchman　looked　as　though　he　did　not　quite　understand　her；　but　he
said　that　it　would　be　magnifique。

〃You　have　already　made　up　your　party　I　suppose；　M。　Delabordeau？〃

M。　Delabordeau　gave　the　names　of　two　Frenchmen　and　one　Englishman　who
were　going　with　him。

〃Upon　my　word　it　is　a　great　temptation　to　join　you；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；
〃only　for　that　horrid　Englishman。〃

〃Vat；　Mr。　Stanley？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　any　disrespect　to　Mr。　Stanley。　　The　horridness　I
speak　of　does　not　attach　to　him　personally；　but　to　his　stiff；
respectable；　ungainly；　well…behaved；　irrational；　and　uncivilised
country。　　You　see　I　am　not　very　patriotic。〃

〃Not　quite　so　much　as　my　friend；　Mr。　Damer。〃

〃Ha！　ha！　ha！　an　excellent　creature；　isn't　he？　　And　so　they　all　are；
dear　creatures。　　But　then　they　are　so　backward。　　They　are　most　anxious
that　I　should　join　them　up　the　Nile；　but；〃　and　then　Miss　Dawkins
shrugged　her　shoulders　gracefully；　and；　as　she　flattered　herself；　like
a　Frenchwoman。　　After　that　they　rode　on　in　silenc