Evening drew on until it was time to go to bed and when Hassan was alone with Zainab he talked to her cheerfully but she only responded with an occasional word. The minutes passed. A lamp in one corner illuminated the room with a faint glow just sufficient to distinguish the objects in the room, while numerous shadows danced on the walls behind them. In another corner stood a wardrobe, filled with Zainab’s clothes, making that part of the room perpetually gloomy by day and by night. Dismayed by her silence and the serious expression on her face, Hassan asked:
‘Why are you so miserable tonight?’
Drawing her towards him and resting her head in his lap he leaned over to kiss her. He caressed and fondled her then sat her up beside him and embraced her again while she submitted to his advance
