e　father　to　them　both。”

We shuddered anxiously and trembled in the half…light as though the

shadow of some nonexistent thing had passed between us。 I pulled myself

together　and　saw　that　Shekure　was　crying　with　tiny　sobs。

“My ill…fated husband has a brother named Hasan。 As I waited for my

husband’s　return；　I　lived　two　years　in　the　same　house　with　him　and　my　father…

in…law。　He　fell　in　love　with　me。　Lately；　he’s　suspicious　of　what　might　be　going

on。　He’s　furious　imagining　that　I　might　marry　somebody　else；　you　perhaps。　He

sent word declaring that he wants to take me back to their house by force。

They　say　that　since　I’m　not　a　widow　in　the　eyes　of　the　judge；　they’re　going　to

force　me　back　there　in　the　name　of　my　husband。　They　might　raid　our　house　at

any　time。　My　father　doesn’t　want　me　to　be　declared　a　widow　by　verdict　of　the

judge　either。　If　I　am　granted　a　divorce；　he　thinks　I’ll　find　myself　a　new　husband

and　abandon　him。　By　returning　home　with　my　children；　I　brought　him　great

happiness　in　the　loneliness　he　suffered　after　the　death　of　my　mother。　Would

you　agree　to　live　with　us？”

“How　do　you　mean？”

166

“If　we　were　wed；　would　you　live　with　my　father；　together　with　us？”

“I　don’t　know。”

“Think about this as soon as possible。 You don’t have much time； believe

me。　My　father　senses　that