Prudence's curious servant, Jasmine, now attired in a brief Greek style robe, helped her from the water, towelled her briskly and then guided her back through the door that connected the bathroom with Ellen's bedroom. Ellen was sitting propped up on the bed, still fully clothed, even to her boots. On a table alongside the bed sat a strange glass bowl-like contraption, half filled with what seemed to be water, a brass container set atop it, a flexible tube rising from its side. The other end of this tube Ellen held, periodically raising it to her lips and sucking upon it, causing a stream of bubbles to rise to the surface of the clear liquid inside. 'It's called a water pipe, or hookah,' Ellen said, seeing Sarah's look of puzzlement. 'The Arabs invented it. Very pleasant and most soothing. Come, try some.' She held the mouthpiece towards Sarah, who after a momentary hesitation, padded forward uncertainly. The ivory end felt cold between her lips and again she hesitated. 'Suck gently, pretty,' Ellen whispered encouragingly.
