The Prism. Unequally Yoked ... Life in a Swiss Chalet ... From Darkness to Light [Tales] By M. L. W, ... and two members of her family (H. W [ale] and E. M [oore] .) Edited, with a preface, by E. Jane Whately

Front matter

THE PARTING BETWEEN AMY AND RAHME1I. Page 119. The Prism: ©ncquallj) j$oket> ; a "Salt of (gguptiau }€iU. gift in a §toiss (Shales ; or, Ulu ©oob .Stepmother. Jfrom gbrkncss to 3Cight ; a Hate of (Spanish I?ife. BY M. L. WHATELY, AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF A DIAMOND," "RAGGED LIFE IN EGYPT." ETC. AND TWO MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY. EDITED, WITH A PREFACE, BY E. JANE ll'HATELl THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, ;6, Paternoster Row ; 65, St. Paul's Churchyard ; and 164, Piccadilly, London. LONDON: KNIGHT, PRINTER, MIDDLE STREET, E.C.

Preface

. title of this little book has been HE chosen to express the main object and aim common to the Tales which it contains, viz. : the unity and variety at once of those precious truths which are essentially the same to " all peoples, nations, and languages," and which yet, in their manifestations, are adapted to the peculiarities of national character, habits, and ways of thought, — like the sunlight, which, itself pure and undivided, can yet be viewed through the prism in its variously coloured rays, shedding, in the language of the poet, "a thousand colours on a thousand flowers." The writers of these Tales have all had the advantage of familiarity with the language and manners, respectively, of the countries described. vi Preface. The Swiss Tale is written by one who is no mere tourist, but personally acquainted, with the class of persons she delineates. .

The outline of the Spanish Story is founded on actual occurrences, as stated by eye-witnesses to the writer, who was for some time intimately connected with Mission Work in Spain. The object of the Egyptian Tale is to illustrate the evil of those mixed unions which are much commoner than is generally supposed, and likely, from increased facilities of communication, to become more so. The main facts con nected with the domestic history described are taken from life ; and it is earnestly hoped that the tale may be useful as a warning to young persons who may be tempted to enter into such an " Unequal Yoke." If any should derive pleasure and profit from these sketches of life in various lands, they will not have been written in vain. E. JANE WHATELY. CONTENTS. flokeb ; a Uale of (Egyptian |£ifc.

By M. L. WHATELY. chap. page i. The Lion in the Village 3 J 11. English Brides bound for Egyi>t 14 in. Travellers by the Nile 23 iv. Seven Years' Experience 40 v. Wives' Troubles 52 vi. Two Ways of Meeting Trouble 60 vii. The Sugar Mill 71 viii. The Servant of Light ....... 87 ix. A Link in the Chain 95 x. The House Swept and Garnished 102 xi. Rahmeh's Comfort .114 xil A Walk in Cairo 124 xm. Fanny's Visit 135 xiv. Number Two 141 xv. A Glance at Old Friends 147 xvi. In the Hareem 157 xvn. Cotton Wool . . . 168 xvni. The Postman's Bag 179 xix. The Servant of Night i87 xx. A Desert Home 195 xxi. Rest . Contents. VIII _\li in a §133X00 Œhalet; or, Uhe @oob .Siep-JEcther. By H. W. CHAP. PAGE I. Pierre's First Temptation 217 11. How Trouble Proved a Blessing 234 in. The Grandmother's Visit 249 iv.

A Sunday at Les Fontaines 269 Jftom Iparkness to ICighi ; a Uale of .Spanish |pfe. By E. M. I. The Student 275 11. How Diego came by a Bible 279 III. The Casino 2S2 iv. The Struggle 291 v. Diego's Decision . 296 vi. The Discovery 302 vii. How they Met 307 viii. Aurora's Trials 312 ix. Seeking for Work 323 x. In the Hospital 331 xi. The Bride 339 xn. The Haven Reached ft Tale of Eqypti/^ L,ife. BY M. L. WHATELY. B NILE CLIFFS,

Chapter I

.^^_ "gion in the tillage. ''m T was a ramy summer morning. From five o'clock V^rfix C1°U(^S nad been steadily pouring down quiet *^3Ih^ drops on the village of Newton, a small old <~?i\7*^, fashioned place which belied its name, though, t^PfXS as t^e old men say of themselves, it had once H^SffiV been young. Now most of its houses were old I^PS and moss-grown or ivy-grown ; and it was, in the »jr^K opinion of a young lady who stood watching the j/KVTl rain-drops at the window, the dullest place in the 73^ world; while her widowed mother considered it VSp " a nice retired spot," and particularly suitable as " a residence for her when left with limited means and several children. Mr. Weston had been a chemist in very good business in a country town ; but, dying early, had left his family, though far from poor, yet equally far from rich.

The younger children were all boys, and at this time at school or in business. The eldest child and only daughter was pretty and lively ; and a wealthy relative, who had taken a fancy to her, had sent her to a boarding-school where a smattering of many things was taught, and nothing well. It would have been better for Fanny Weston had she been left to attend the village school, and been under her mother's eye. The principal farm in Newton was owned by Mrs. Weston's brother, which was the reason of her selecting the place as a home. Like her, he had an only daughter, who had but one brother ; but her cousin looked down on Lucy Simmons because she had not been educated in a " Seminary for Young Ladies ;" though she could not help loving her, and, in spite of herself, respecting her steady character.

Fanny thought herself the finest lady in Newton, and sighed often on her hard fate in having so few to admire her. On this rainy morning she stood, as we have said, looking out of window, watching the drops that trickled from the window panes to the drenched roses below, and at last uttered an impatient exclamation which caused her mother to look up. She was darning house - linen at a little table, and seemed as comfortable as her daughter was miserable. " Dull, do you say, Fan ? that's because you are idle. Get something to do, and you'll never fret about the rain." "I hate sewing, mother ; and there is nothing worth reading in the house ; and my embroidery is at a stand because my wool is finished. I wanted to go to the shop for some. I wish I had a novel ! " " I am sorry I ever let Aunt Susan send you t Bir mingham, where you learnt to read such silly books, my dear, and to be so idle at home," observed the parent, a little sharply ; but at that moment a knock at the front door startled them both, and, to Fanny's joy, her friend Miss Jones, a kindred spirit and former schoolfellow, came hastily in, and warmly saluted her.

In fact, a spectator would hardly believe the fair friends had met only the day before, so vehement were their demonstrations. The " friend's " father was the village doctor, a clever and worthy man, although he had made just the same mistake as Mrs. Weston, and allowed his daughter to go to a school where she learnt nothing profitable for this world or the next ; but he was a busy man, and left all such matters to a not very sensible wife. On her death, Miss Harriet was recalled from her wool-work and bad French to become the head of the household ; and she and Fanny, who left soon after, had kept up their friendship in a sentimental school-girl way ever since. The wet cloak laid aside, and the young ladies seated on the sofa, Fanny began, "What is the news, Harriet ? You are full of something, I see, you sly thing !

You wouldn't walk all this way in the wet without a strong reason." "Love of you, dear, isn't that enough?" said the visitor, mincing ; " but I'll put you out of your pain, for I see you are dying with curiosity. Yes, Fanny, something has at last happened to enliven our dull village, — this dreary, tedious place is for the time the abode of an Eastern prince !" These ladies, the reader perceives, were fonder of strong expressions than they were correct in the use of them. Fanny gasped with impatience, as Miss Jones paused. " Well, dear, my brother has come down for a week, and has actually brought a prince, or, at any rate, a great noble man from Egypt!" " From Egypt !" cried Fanny. " That's in the Holy Land, is it not ?" " No. I'm not a great one for geography," interposed the old lady ; " but I read my Bible, and I do know that Egypt is not the Holy Land.

For shame, Fanny ! Don't you recollect that King Pharaoh lived in Egypt, who wanted to drown Moses when he was a baby ? Have you forgot the land of Canaan was the Holy Land ?" " Well, well, mamma, they are both in Asia," retorted the young lady ; and, quite unaware of her second blunder, she proceeded to overwhelm her friend with questions about the Eastern prince. " He has been nearly two years in Birmingham, Lewis tells me, studying machinery and steam engines ; and as Lewis is clerk in Mr. Thomson's foundry he often met him, and they are quite friends." " Is it not strange a prince should be so long in the town, and no mention of him in the papers, nor your brother speak of him when he was here at Christmas ?" observed Fanny, with some shrewdness. " I said a nobleman or prince, dear," replied Miss Jones ; " not a royal prince, of course, though, indeed, he might be — in disguise ; but I don't think he is connected with the Sultan at all, only some grand family ; and they call them princes, no doubt.

He says he is learning about our improvements for the good of his country. Oh, he is charming, I assure you." " Can he talk English well ?" asked Fanny. "Oh, beautifully; he is at our house. Lewis brought him to consult papa, and give him a little country air. He had been poorly ; but papa says it is only want of exercise and fresh air. No doubt he studies too hard. I came to ask you to tea, Fan, — our vulgar country habits are of use for once. You see an early tea is best for such weather. Your cousin is coming, — your aunt has a cold, but said Lucy might walk down with you." Fanny was in ecstacies at the romance of seeing an Oriental nobleman, and she felt her friend's generosity in sharing the delight. It is true Miss Jones was engaged to her father's assistant ; but still it was very kind to divide the honour of seeing this wonderful stranger, and hearing the pretty Eastern compliments, which Fanny hoped might be worthy of writing in her pink-leaved album.

Certainly Harriet was generous to partake such delights with her ! After fervent wishes for the clearing of the weather, the friends parted. " If it rains like this," observed Fanny's prudent mother, " I shan't let you go, my dear, to get your death of cold ; not if King Pharaoh himself was coming to tea, unless he brought the sun." Fortunately for the young ladies, though Pharaoh was not coming, it did clear up. By four o'clock a feeble gleam of sunshine appeared, and happy Fanny hastened to prepare her finest trappings for the occasion. She was much smarter than her cousin ; but her second-rate finery was not so becoming as Lucy's simple white gown, only adorned with a few car nations from the garden. They were both pretty girls ; but one was as full of affectation as the other was unpretending.

Lucy's father had provided his child with the best plain education within his means ; he was a Methodist, and very fond of hymn-singing, in which his daughter excelled. As to the piano, she had not time for it, if she were to play really well, — and her father's accurate ear could not endure bad music, such as his niece occasionally treated him to. " Uncle makes Lucy quite a drudge," observed that young person, as she and her friend Miss Jones stood for a minute gossipping in the parlour, where the little maid was laying the table for tea, under her young mistress's directions. Lucy had gone to salute two old ladies, who were the only company as yet, the gentlemen not having returned from their walk. " She is plain in dress, certainly, but she is pretty," said Miss Jones ; "at least, Lewis thinks so."

" Yes," said Fanny ; " but fancy her helping to make the butter, and giving out cheese for the men, — so ungenteel ! But she was not at boarding-school, like us." Just then a tall, pleasant-looking young man came in, who greeted Fanny civilly. "Oh, Lewis," cried his sister, "you are just in time. Will you help me with this stiff drawer ?" " And do tell us if you are all come," added Fanny. " Is the prince here ?" " Prince ! why, what nonsense, Harriet ! Did you tell Fanny that the Egyptian was a prince ?" "Why, brother, the title he has probably answers to our word prince, or something similar," replied Miss Harriet, scooping jam out of a pot into a glass-dish as she spoke. "What is his title, Mr. Jones ?" asked Fanny, eagerly. " They call him Effendi ; but, as I am not learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians, I can't translate it for you.

He is not very definite himself in his interpretation." "I dare say it means a prince of the second rank," whispered his sister. "And I want to know," asked Fanny, " if he can eat with a knife and fork, like us ?" " Oh yes, as well as you do," interposed Miss Jones. " I had forgotten how long he had been in England. When he arrived last night, I expected he would eat with chopsticks." "You goose!" exclaimed her brother; "don't you know it's the Chinese who eat with chopsticks, and that other Easterns use fingers ? What geography did you learn, or anything else useful, at Mrs. Moneypenny's ? She taught you nothing, I believe." "Oh, Lewis, Mrs. Moneypenny did not teach, she only received the quarters, and so on. It was Miss Noodles and Madame La Vide who taught us." "And a nice mess they made of education, to be sure!" said the young man, shrugging his broad shoulders, — a John Bull's shrug, however.

His sister only giggled, and having finished her arrangements, Fanny and she minced out of the room together. At that moment the door-bell rang, and enter — Dr. Jones and his wonderful guest ! At first sight Fanny was a little disappointed ; she had forgotten to ask if the foreigner wore his native costume ; and certainly he would have looked much better if he had, for the dark, sallow complexion of Egypt is singularly unfitted to the dark and sombre hues of European dress, though it looks exceedingly well in the rich and tasteful colours which the Oriental eye seems to select by instinct. However, the picturesque "gibbeh," or "kaftan," of Egypt would look so remarkable in the streets of an English city, that we must pardon the Effendi for having adopted our ugly dress as less conspicuous, and suiting our cold climate better than his own.

The " prince," therefore, entered the drawing-room in a garb only different from that of other gentlemen in being ill-made and in bad taste. His dark skin had nothing to set it off, except the one bit of colour in his scarlet felt cap or tarboosh. Still, he was handsome in feature, as are many of his countrymen, and the jet-black moustache and brilliant dark eyes gave him a novel and attractive appearance in the young ladies' eyes especially. "This is Abdul Leyl Effendi, Miss Weston," said Dr. Jones, presenting his guest formally to her (after going through the ceremony to the two old ladies first) ; " and this is Miss Simmons." The stranger bowed, and hoped the ladies were well. " Does it rain in your country as much as here ?" asked Fanny, by way of beginning. " Oh no, it never hardly rains in Egypt ; one, two, three times, perhaps, — so we can say we have no rain."

" Ah ! there is an allusion in the Bible to the land of Egypt watered with the foot, by irrigation from the river," observed Lucy ; " and also as the land where there is not rain, I think." Fanny could not for the life of her have told where either of these allusions were to be found, for she knew little and cared less for her Bible. She went on volubly asking questions, some silly, and some sharp and lively, though always rather flippant in manner. " How well you talk English!" she exclaimed, admiringly, as they walked into the dining-room for tea. " Ah, you are very kind ; but I have yet many mistakes. I must speak plenty, and improve, and especially talk with the ladies !" replied the supposed prince, with a smile. Miss Jones gave him the seat of honour at her right hand, at which her betrothed, the young doctor, looked rather sulky.

The stranger was overwhelmed with kind attentions, which he took with true Oriental calmness and dignity. It was not the first time he had been made a fuss with since his arrival in England ; and his heart had been pricked — we cannot say pierced — by many damsels, who, half from fun in most cases, had appeared to be delighted with him. But now his term was nearly over : in six months he was to return, and he was resolved to take an English wife back to Egypt, as so many of his countrymen had done. Both the young ladies in the village party were above the average in good looks, and if they had a little money all the better. So when busy with muffins and tea, our prince was carefully noticing the young maidens opposite him. It is hardly needful to observe that he was no higher in position than Miss Jones's own brother, and of much humbler origin, — his respectable old father being at that very hour toiling for daily bread for a few piastres a day, and his mother, in a ragged veil of blue cotton, squatted on a dust-heap in front of a mud hovel, very inferior in accommodation to Farmer Simmons's fine pig-styes.

However, he had all the graceful ease which belongs to his race, and behaved perfectly, though the civilisation might be more external than deep. He was, like most Orientals, a very good judge of jewels, and was not deceived by Fanny's Birmingham necklace and bracelets for a moment ; but he was so unused to the society of women in his own country (the few he was on intimate terms with there having been relatives, and all of the peasant class, and utterly devoid of education), that it is no wonder the false glitter of her conversation and manners quite imposed upon him, and he thought her a very charming and distinguished lady. Still, the instinct which often directs the first thought to the simple and true, did turn him to sweet Lucy Simmons, quiet and comparatively silent as she was. He thought her prettiest too ; her light auburn hair and mild brown eyes were more attractive, though less showy than her cousin.

But our Eastern friend may spare his trouble in that quarter, — no really Christian girl would for a moment accept his addresses while he belongs to a religion and holds customs and habits so utterly opposed to hers. "Is the Bible translated into his language?" asked Lucy, in a whisper of Mr. Jones, when they were in the parlour again, and the other young people were clustered round the piano to hear Miss Fanny belabour the unfortunate thing with what she called music. " Oh y;s ; but if not, he reads English very tolerably," replied Lewis ; " only, you know, he's a Mohammedan." "But if he learns all about our machines and engines," pursued Lucy, " the more important knowledge ought not to be left out entirely. He should at least be shown the tru*:h, and then he can take or leave it." " My dear Lucy, it would never do.

Abdul Leyl is under Mr. Thomson's care ; and he would be quite angry if we interfered by mentioning religion at all," said Mr. Jones. " But we gave no promise ; and it seems some one ought to put the Scripture in his way." Lucy was no arguer, but she knew and loved the Bible. Lewis Jones was not himself a really Christian man, though he loved and admired her all the more for being so. He gave plenty of reasons why it would never answer to put religion in the way of one who came to learn machinery. She remained unconvinced ; and his conscience told him she was right, but he would not allow it. They were interrupted by a call from Harriet. " Do come and look, Lucy ; we are writing our autographs in the prince's note-book, and he is going to put his in those lovely queer letters in my album."

"Won't that be hiero — , what do you call them?" asked old Miss Brown. " Hieroglyphics ?" suggested Dr. Jones. " No, madam ; those are quite out of date. The Egyptians had a language since that, which is nearly out of use in its turn, I believe. You don't write in Coptic, do you, Effendi ?" The young man, who was cutting a reed pen to a point, replied, " You are correct, sir ; Coptic is never written except in the books of the Coptic priests. I am of Islam, and of course do not understand it ; but the language of Egypt is all one — all Arabic." He then wrote in Miss Fanny's book, and at her request translated his name. " Servant of night ! What a beautiful name ! " cried the young lady ; and several compliments were exchanged, to mutual satisfaction. But too soon they were interrupted by a summons from the old servant with the lantern.

" How charming the prince is !" cried Fanny, as she and her cousin walked home together ; " quite distingue', as Madame La Vide used to say." " Well, he is handsome, and has nice manners," replied Lucy; "but he is no more a prince than you are a princess. He is only studying machines in order to superintend some railway engines ; Lewis Jones told me so." Tlie Lion in the Village. 13 " Yes, dear, I know ; but not for his living ; it is for the good of his country, to improve his people ; he told me so himself, noble fellow !" " I would not be too friendly, if I were you, Fanny. Excuse me, but he might think you meant more than you do." " You needn't be afraid, Miss Prudent ; we are not likely to see him any more," answered Fanny ; " and now good night ; there is our door." It may seem strange that Mr. Jones should never have alluded to his friend before, as they had been in the same business ; but the fact was that Lewis Jones was but slightly acquainted with the young foreigner, and, being absorbed in his studies, and in trying to make up for deficiency in his education, caused by his father's limited means, had now little thought to spare ; and as his sister was not very congenial to him, he rarely wrote long letters to her.

His attention had been called to Abdul Leyl merely from benevolence, in the first instance. The family with whom he had been placed went to spend a few weeks at the sea, and left him at their house alone ; and Lewis, seeing him looking ill and moped, asked him down, with his father's consent, for a few days in the country, as it was a holiday time. The morning after the party, the young men walked over to Mr. Simmons, to call, and were received very civilly ; and the stranger was shown over the farm, which he admired, as every intelligent foreigner must admire a really well-kept English farm. But Mr. Simmons hardly liked to see the admiring glances he kept throwing at his fair daughter. She, on her part, had tried to speak on serious subjects when they were thrown together for a few minutes in the kitchen garden, while her father was asking Mr. Jones's opinion of his new pump.

Lucy was both simple and earnest, and asked one or two questions with quiet seriousness. But young men are easily led to exaggerate interest in themselves ; and it would be well if girls were often as prompt as Lucy was, in withdrawing in such a case, and trusting God to send other messengers. Many mistakes and much ill-natured misrepre sentation would thus be spared. Abdul Leyl was, however, both conceited and ignorant, and followed her to the flower-garden with compliments about jessamine and roses, and white skins and bright eyes, and even entreated permission to speak to her father to let the pearl of all England go with him as a bride, in spite of Lucy's cold manner and evident desire to avoid being tite-ci-tete. She saw it was necessary to be very plain indeed : " Pray don't speak in that way," she said ; " father would be quite displeased, and I have no wish to hear such things."

She turned away as she spoke, and, entering the dairy by a little side-door, left the " prince " to admire a fine bed of carnations by himself, till Mr. Simmons and Lewis joined him. "Well," said the suitor to himself, as he followed his friend down the green lane back to Dr. Jones's, " I must try the other ; this is the prettiest, but the other girl is pretty too ; and she will have me I am nearly sure ! "

Chapter II

(English bribes honnb for ffigjjpt. FEW weeks after the visit of the Egyptian " prince," the village was again enlivened by the sight of his red cap, or tarboosh, as it is called ; and the old ladies were edified to see that he appeared in church on Sunday. "You see how liberal the Effendi is !" said Fanny to her cousin, whom she met coming out of chapel. " Oh, you needn't look so grave ; he is really very clever and liberal, and does not seem to think very differently from us." " Perhaps, Cousin Fanny, it would be well to be a little prudent ; he may fancy you admire him seriously," said Lucy, timidly. Fanny giggled, in her silly school-girl way, but made no answer. Her uncle, however, took his sister to task next morning, actually stopping on his way to the market, and coming in before they had sat down to breakfast ; for Miss Fanny was not very early, and her mother, though she grumbled, ended by yielding far too much to her.

"Well, sister, I have come just for a minute, to see if you have any commissions for town, and also " (he glanced round the room) — " I see she is not down yet — about your girl. If you don't mind, you will have some trouble, Susan, I am afraid, about that foreign chap." Poor Mrs. Weston opened her eyes very wide, and gasped for breath. " What do you mean, John ?" " Mean ? Why, what made you ask him in to tea last night?" " I did not, brother ; he just dropped in accidentally to call, and found it was too early for the train for an hour or so, and Fanny said, the Fender — or what is it they call him ? — would like a cup of tea, as we were sitting down ; and I did not like to say ' no ' in my own house ; but I did think he looked very hard at Fanny, — perhaps he admires her too much. Deary me, I'll take care if he ever comes again.

I know she is a bit of a flirt ; though she is not likely to have any serious thoughts of a man with perhaps half a dozen wives at home. Goodness me, how awful!" and the poor old lady shook in her shoes at the thought. " I believe," said her brother, drily, " their laws limit them to four wives." " Oh, John, hush ! pray don't say such things, or think as if my poor child were so mad. As I tell you, she is a bit of a flirt now and then ; but that's all. I do wish she were like your Lucy, I do !" "Why did you send her to a silly woman's care, just because an old aunt paid for her ? Didn't you know that the fear of God is better than wool-work and bad music — which were all that Mrs. Moneypenny seemed to teach ?" " Fanny is thought very clever in many ways," said her mother ; " but, poor dear, she is too light ; I see that with sorrow.