"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into my arms, "what do
you mean? Am I free, and my own mistress, and not yours for ever?"
"You are mine, because I love you," I said to her very quickly, seeing
her agitation; "and so long as you do not want to leave me--"
"Leave you! But what would become of me, then, without you?"
And her eyes filled with tears.
"What a foolish girl you are!" I replied, quite touched at her evident
pain; "you are exaggerating the significance of my words: your liberty
will make no difference in our relations."
"Why did you tell me this cruel truth, then? I was so happy in the
belief that I was your slave, and in obeying and loving you at the same
time."
"Still it was necessary for me to tell you, as you wish to learn our
ideas and customs. Your ignorance was a source of danger, for even your
questions might lead to the betrayal of relations which must remain a
mystery for the rest of the world, and, above all, in the 'pension,'
where you are about to live with companions."
I had some difficulty in consoling her for this terrible discovery that
our laws do not recognise slavery. Nevertheless, her desire for further
instruction remained very keen.
Finally, two days afterwards, Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul entered Madame
Montier's institution, having been presented by her guardian, the worthy
Omer-Rashid-Effendi, who made all the necessary arrangements with the
majestic dignity which he displays on every occasion.
Although I have kept myself carefully in the background in all this
matter, I watch its progress just the same, and superintend everything.
Every evening Kondjé-Gul writes to her guardian, and I get her letters
at once: I can assure you they constitute quite an interesting romance.
For a whole week Kondjé-Gul, who had been rather overawed at first and
astonished at all her new surroundings, seemed to live like one dazed.
She would not trust herself to speak, fearing to appear uncultivated;
but she observed, and the results of her observations were most curious.
After that I perceived that she was gradually trying her wings; for when
she had been initiated a few days into her new life, she soon abandoned
her reserve, and has by this time passed the first step in her
emancipation. Her simplicity of character, and her quaint Oriental
manners, have secured her some very cordial friendships; and nothing can
be more charming than the accounts she gives me of her devotion for her
friends, Maud and Suzannah Montague, who are the realisation of
perfection in her eyes.