第606页 / 共1116页

So return to thy sound senses!" When Ajib heard these insulting

words from the Monitor and the school boys and understood the

reproach they put upon him, he went out at once and ran to his

mother, Sitt al-Husn, to complain; but he was crying so bitterly

that his tears prevented his speech for a while. When she heard

his sobs and saw his tears her heart burned as though with fire

for him, and she said, "O my son, why dost thou weep? Allah keep

the tears from thine eyes! Tell me what hath betided thee?" So he

told her all that he heard from the boys and from the Monitor and

ended with asking, "And who, O my mother, is my father?" She

answered, "Thy father is the Wazir of Egypt;" but he said, "Do

not lie to me. The Wazir is thy father, not mine! who then is my

father?