Do not be afraid . She will not go very far . ' The Bassa , shocked at his impertinent interference , desired him to leave the room and not to come back till he was sent for . ` My lord shall be obeyed , ' said the page , ` but when I return , it shall be in such good company that you will welcome me gladly . ' So saying , he went out . When they were alone , Neangir turned to the fair strangers and implored their help . ` My brothers and myself , ' he cried , ` are filled with love for three peerless maidens , two of whom are under a cruel spell . If their fate happened to be in your hands , would you not do all in your power to restore them to happiness and liberty ? ' But the young man 's appeal only stirred the two ladies to anger . ` What , ' exclaimed one , ` are the sorrows of lovers to us ? Fate has deprived us of our lovers , and if it depends on us the whole world shall suffer as much as we do ! ' This unexpected reply was heard with amazement by all present , and the Bassa entreated the speaker to tell them her story . Having obtained permission of her sister , she began : THE STORY OF THE FAIR CIRCASSIANS ` We were born in Circassia of poor people , and my sister 's name is Tezila and mine Dely . Having nothing but our beauty to help us in life , we were carefully trained in all the accomplishments that give pleasure . We were both quick to learn , and from our childhood could play all sorts of instruments , could sing , and above all could dance . We were , besides , lively and merry , as in spite of our misfortunes we are to this day . ` We were easily pleased and quite content with our lives at home , when one morning the officials who had been sent to find wives for the Sultan saw us , and were struck with our beauty . We had always expected something of the sort , and were resigned to our lot , when we chanced to see two young men enter our house . The elder , who was about twenty years of age , had black hair and very bright eyes . The other could not have been more than fifteen , and was so fair that he might easily have passed for a girl .
` They knocked at the door with a timid air and begged our parents XXXXX give them shelter , as they had lost their way .
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