Wheurnedhomethatnight,ablyevadingmylandlady—whowasbeginningtoactlikemymother—Isequesteredmyselfinmyroomandlayonmymattress,givingmyselfovertovisionsofShekure.

    AllowmetheamusementofdescribingthesoundsI’dheardinEnishte’shouse.Onmysedvisit

    aftertwelveyears,shedidn’tshowherself.Shedidsucceed,however,insomagicallyendowihherpreseIwascertainofbeing,somehow,tinuallyunderherwatch,whileshesizedmeupasafuturehusband,amusingherselfallthewhileasifplayingagameoflogiowingthis,IalsoimaginedIwastinuallyabletoseeher.ThuswasIbetterabletouandIbnArabi’snotionthatloveistheabilitytomaketheinvisiblevisibleandthedesirealwaystofeeltheinvisibleinone’smidst.

    IcouldihatShekurewastinuallywatgmebecauseI’dbeenlisteningtothesoundsingfromwithinthehouseandtothecreakingofitswoodboards.Atonepoint,Iwasabsolutelycertainshewaswithherchildreniroom,whichopeothewidehallway-cum-anteroom;Icouldhearthechildrenpushing,shovingandsparringwitheachotherwhiletheirmother,perhaps,triedtoquietthemwithgestures,threateningglandknitbrows.OnawhileIheardthemwhisperingquiteunnaturally,notasonewouldwhispertoavoiddisturbingsomeone’sritualprayers,butaffectedly,asonewouldbeforeeruptinginafitoflaughter.

    Aime,astheirgrandfatherlainingtomethewondersoflightandshadow,ShevketandOrhaheroom,andwithcarefulgesturesobviouslyrehearsedbeforehand,profferedatrayandserveduscoffee.Thisceremony,whichshould’vebeenHayriye’s,wasarrangedbyShekuresotheycouldobservethemanwhomightsoonbeetheirfather.Andso,IpaidaplimenttoShevket:“Whatni