JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN
Wakara. [To Joseph] Thou art to wait.
Mehtu [Coming up to him caressingly] Thou—here!
Joseph [Courteously] Where is the lady Zuleika?
Anset [Close to him] What matter Zuleika?—My name is Anset.
Arilennu [Pushing her aside] Little he heedeth thy name! [She puts her head close to his shoulder] Thou shalt not kiss my hair.
Joseph [Simply] God forbid!
Tahrerer. Oh! Oh! . . . Some evil thing hath flown into mine eye! [Putting her face up to his cheek.] I prithee, gentle shepherd, pluck it out!
Nesta [To her] Here is the mirror. Pluck it out, thyself. [To Joseph] Heigho! I am glad I am not thy sister!
Joseph. [Simply] So am I. [To Tamai, who has stood apart, in mute adoration] Art thou hurt?
Tamai [Gasping with happiness at being spoken to] Oh—! It is nothing—my lord!
Joseph. Give me thy hand. Let me see.
Tamai [In an agony of shyness] Nay, it is nothing.
Mehtu. The cunning wretch!
Joseph [Holding Tamai's hand] How came this cut?
Tahrerer. Shall we tell him?
Tamai. [Covering her face with her hands, in a paroxysm of sobs] Cruel! Cruel!
75
