But when Tufik brought us little thimble-sized glasses
filled with a milky stuff and assured us that the women had only gone to
prepare the bride, we felt reassured. He said that etiquette demanded
that we drink the milky white stuff.
Tish was inclined to demur. "Has it any alcohol in it?" she demanded.
Tufik did not understand, but he said it was harmless and given to all
the Syrian babies; and while we were still undecided Aggie sniffed it.
"It smells like paregoric, Tish," she said. "I'm sure it's harmless."
We took it then. It tasted sweet and rather spicy, and Aggie said it
stopped her sneezing at once. It was very mild and pleasant, and rather
medicinal in its flavor. We each had two little glasses--and Tish said
she would not bother about the switch-key. The car was insured against
theft.
A little later Aggie said she used to do a little jig step when she was
a girl, and if they would play slower she would like to see if she had
forgotten it. Tish did not hear this--she was talking to Tufik, and a
moment later she got up and went out.
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