Women generally fall in love first, and it is expected that they will tell their love first.

The delicacy of a woman's feelings makes this natural, for if a man tells his love to a woman who does not love him, it shocks her modesty; while if a woman tells a man, he has no modesty to shock." "That is strange," said I; "but suppose the man does not love the woman ?" "Why, no woman wants to be loved; she only wants to love." At this I felt somewhat bewildered.
"That," said Layelah, "is unrequited love, which is the chief blessing here, though for my part I am a philosopher, and would wish when I love to be loved in return." "And then," said I, "if so, would you give up your lover, in accordance with the custom of your country ?" Layelah's dark eyes rested on me for a moment with a glance of intense earnestness and profound meaning.

She drew a long breath, and then said, in a low, tremulous voice, "Never!" Layelah was constantly with me, and at length used to come at an earlier time, when Almah was present.

Her manner toward Almah was full of the usual Kosekin courtesy and gracious cordiality.

She was still intent upon learning from me the manners, customs, and principles of action of the race to which I belonged.