ld grant me a divorce in

addition to securing a support allowance for me。 But since we are； many

thanks　to　Allah；　Hanefis；　this　option　is　not　open　to　us。”

“Don’t　mention　the　üsküdar　judge’s　Shafüte　stand…in　to　me。　That’s　not　a

sound　venture。”

“All　the　women　of　Istanbul　whose　husbands　are　missing　at　the　front　go　to

him　with　their　witnesses　to　get　divorced。　Since　he’s　a　Shafüte；　he　simply　asks；

”Is　your　husband　missing？“　”How　long　has　he　been　missing？“　”Are　you　having

trouble making ends meet？“ ”Are these your witnesses？“ and immediately

grants　the　divorce。”

“My dear Shekure； who’s planted such schemes in your head？” he said。

“Who’s　stripped　you　of　your　reason？”

“After　I’m　divorced　once　and　for　all；　if　there　is　a　man　who　can　truly　strip

me of my reason； you will； of course； tell me who that might be and I shall

never　question　your　decision　about　my　husband。”

My　shrewd　father；　realizing　that　his　daughter　was　as　shrewd　as　he；　began　to

blink。　My　father　would　blink　rapidly　like　this　for　three　reasons：　1。　because　he

was　in　a　tight　spot　and　his　mind　was　racing　to　find　a　clever　way　out；　2。　because

he　was　on　the　verge　of　tears　of　hopelessness　and　sorrow；　3。　because　he　was　in　a

tight　spot；　cunningly　bining　reasons　1　and　2　to　give　the　impression　that　he

might　soon　cry　out　of　sorrow。

“Are yo