ehousewithhimandmyfather-in-law.Hefellihme.Lately,he’ssuspiciousofwhatmightbegoingon.He’sfuriousimaginingthatImightmarrysomebodyelse,youperhaps.Hesentworddeclaringthathewantstotakemebacktotheirhousebyforce.TheysaythatsinceI’mnotawidowintheeyesofthejudge,they’regoingtoforcemebackthereinthenameofmyhusband.Theymightraidourhouseatanytime.Myfatherdoesn’twaobedeclaredawidowbyverdictofthejudgeeither.IfIamgrantedadivorce,hethinksI’llfindmyselfanewhusbandandabandonhim.Byreturninghomewithmychildren,Ibroughthimgreathappinessinthelonelinesshesufferedafterthedeathofmymother.Wouldyouagreetolivewithus?”

    “Howdoyoumean?”

    “Ifed,wouldyoulivewithmyfather,togetherwithus?”

    “Idon’tknow.”

    “Thinkaboutthisassoonaspossible.Youdon’thavemuchtime,believeme.Myfathersehatsomeevilisingourway,andIthinkhe’sright.IfHasanandhismenraidourhomewithahandfulofJanissariesandbringmyfatherbeforethejudge,wouldyoutestifythatyou’dinfactseenmyhusband’scorpse?You’veretlyefromPersia,theywouldbelieveyou.”

    “Iwouldtestify,butIwasn’ttheonewhokilledhim.”

    “Allright,then.Togetherwithaness,ihatIbedeclaredaouldyoutestifybeforethejudgethatyousawmyhusband’sbloodycorpseolefieldinPersia?”

    “Ididn’tactuallyseeit,mydear,butforyoursakeIwouldtestifyso.”

    “Doyoulovemychildren?”

    “Ido.”

    “Tellme,whatisitaboutthemthatyoulove?”

    “IloveShevket’sstrength,decisiveness,hoy,intelligendstubbornness,”Isaid.“AndIloveOrhaiveanddelicatedemeanorandhisastuteness.Ilovethefactthatthey’reyo