第8部分(第3/7 頁)

was　with　the　permission

and encouragement of the Sultan； a situation that； of course； strained his

relationship　with　the　elderly　Master　Osman。

Thinking of my childhood； I allowed my attention to be absorbed by the

furniture and objects within the house。 From twelve years ago； I still

remembered　the　blue　kilim　from　Kula　covering　the　floor；　the　copper　ewer；　the

coffee　set　and　tray；　the　copper　pail　and　the　delicate　coffee　cups　that　had　e

all the way from China by way of Portugal； as my late aunt had boasted

numerous　times。　These　effects；　like　the　low　X…shaped　reading　desk　inlaid　with

mother…of…pearl；　the　stand　for　a　turban　nailed　to　the　wall；　the　red　velvet　pillow

whose　smoothness　I　recalled　as　soon　as　I　touched　it；　were　from　the　house　in

Aksaray where I’d passed my childhood with Shekure； and they still carried

something　of　the　bliss　of　my　days　of　painting　in　that　house。

Painting　and　happiness。　I　would　like　my　dear　readers　who　have　given　close

attention　to　my　story　and　my　fate　to　bear　these　two　things　in　mind；　as　they

are　the　genesis　of　my　world。　At　one　time；　I　was　contented　here；　among　these

books；　calligraphy　brushes　and　paintings。　Then；　I　fell　in　love　and　was　banished

from　this　Paradise。　In　the　years　I　endured　my　amorous　exile；　I　often　thought

how　I　was　in　fact　deeply　indebted　to　Shekure　and　my　love　for　her；　because　they

had　enabled　me　to　adapt　optimistically　to　life　and　the　world。　Since　I　had；　in

my childlike na？veté； no doubt that my love would be reciprocated； I grew

exceedingly　assured　and　came　to　regard　the　world　as　a　good　place。　You　see；　it

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