HOW HADIJEH'S FATHER WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON, AND HOW HADIJEH CAME TO LIVE IN HER FATHER'S HOUSE

AND in those days the Afghan had pity on Hadijeh's father and loosed his bonds and bade him to return to his own house. And great was Hadijeh's joy: and Valeh rejoiced with her. And the Sultan summoned Hadijeh's husband and took him to his wars: and Hadijeh remained in her father's house: the gazelle escaped the jaws of the wolf; the nightingale was free from the thorn.

And Valeh came often to his uncle's house: and there into his hands fell the treasure: that priceless treasure that he might hold but might not use. For when he held his joy in his hands, he looked and beheld only sorrow. She sat beside him: his all and yet how little—she was there: how near and yet how far away! They sat like a houri and an angel in the gates of Paradise, where desire is not, nor fleshly longing. Even so were Valeh and Hadijeh: even such was her presence: even so was he bound.

And he sat and gazed on the ruby of her lips, and he laughed for joy to hear her voice. And he answered—how did he answer? In soft riddles, in tender parables—but, ah, how easy to read to her that heard him!

And many a sport and pastime they played together, as children might play, as they had played together in old times: and of all his dearest games was the game they call “playing at kings.”