Chapters 10-14 Summary

In a suit and with his hair neatly curled, Abbas admires himself in a mirror, and then emerges from his shop at his favorite time of day, early evening, to stroll the rain-washed alley. Next door, Kamil dozes, and Abbas sings to himself about happiness being the key to happiness. Kamil awakens, congratulates his friend on being in love, and warns Abbas not to sell his shroud to pay for a dowry. For four days, Abbas feels self-confident about Hamida, certain that her resistance is but the natural behavior of desirous women, but then he begins to consider she might truly be resistant, cruel, or rude. Morning and afternoon he looks at her window, hoping to see her moving behind the shutters. When he cannot stand this lonely vigil, he approaches her again in Darasa, only to be snubbed. Today, he...