ed　the

door　behind　us。　Though　it　wasn’t　pitch…black　inside—a　faint　light　fell　through

the　space　between　the　shutters　facing　the　pomegranate　tree　in　the　courtyard—

I　was　scared。

“Open　the　door；　Mother；”　I　said。　“I’m　cold。”

“Quit whimpering； you coward；” Shevket said。 “She’ll open it soon

enough。”

Mother　opened　the　door。　“Are　you　going　to　behave　until　the　visitor　leaves？”

she　said。　“All　right　then；　you’ll　sit　in　the　kitchen　by　the　stove　until　Black　takes

his　leave；　and　you’re　not　to　go　upstairs；　do　you　understand？”

“We’ll　get　bored　in　there；”　Shevket　said。　“Where　has　Hayriye　gone？”

“Quit　butting　into　everyone’s　affairs；”　my　mother　said。

We　heard　a　soft　whinnying　from　one　of　the　horses　in　the　stable。　The　horse

whinnied again。 It wasn’t our grandfather’s horse； but Black’s。 We were

overe with mirth； as if it were a fair day。 Mother smiled； wanting us to

smile　as　well。　Taking　two　steps　forward；　she　opened　the　stable　door　that　faced

us　off　the　stairwell　outside　the　kitchen。

34

“Drrsss；”　she　said　into　the　s