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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42972 ***
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+ 1. Page scan source:
+ Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=vBgOAAAAYAAJ
+ (Harvard University)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ A FEW PRESS OPINIONS
+
+ ON
+
+ "AARON THE JEW."
+
+ BY
+
+ B. L. FARJEON.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ Globe.
+
+"Aaron is a most engaging figure; nothing loftier, purer, sweeter, can
+be imagined than the beautiful tie which unites him to his gentle,
+true-hearted Rachel."
+
+
+ Speaker.
+
+"In many respects a really powerful story, strong and sympathetic. The
+book is infinitely superior in tone and motive to much of the current
+fiction."
+
+
+ Guardian.
+
+"A very tender and touching sketch, showing what a beautiful and noble
+life is possible to a Jew who would really live in the true spirit of
+his simple faith and the best traditions of his people. Charming
+pictures of Jewish household life.... Exceedingly pleasant to read."
+
+
+ Daily Telegraph.
+
+"Written with earnestness, sincerity, and lively sympathy with all that
+is good, generous, and tender."
+
+
+ The Scotsman.
+
+"Powerful studies of lofty human character. It is full of genuine
+life, of real men and women, and of sustained interest.... A
+delightful story. 'Aaron the Jew' is a strong and original piece of
+work, and will well repay perusal."
+
+
+ Lady's Pictorial.
+
+"This book has been received with such a chorus of praise that nothing
+is left to say. It is the best novel that Mr. Farjeon has produced
+since 'Grif.'"
+
+
+ Glasgow Herald.
+
+"'Aaron the Jew' is a benevolent and beautiful character. The story is
+an interesting one."
+
+
+ Western Morning News.
+
+"Mr. Farjeon has never written a more natural and touching story than
+this of 'Aaron the Jew.' All his characters are of an attractive and
+noble-minded type."
+
+
+ Westminster Gazette.
+
+"Very simply and touchingly written; rises to the level of real
+pathos."
+
+
+ Jewish Chronicle.
+
+"The book is interesting, and is a worthy addition to the Jewish
+stories which are so much in fashion just now."
+
+
+ Jewish World.
+
+"'Aaron the Jew' is a contribution to light fiction, all the more
+welcome because its very slightness may cause it to be read by people
+who still know nothing of Jews and Judaism, and so tend to remove
+senseless prejudices."
+
+
+ Record.
+
+"A powerfully written work."
+
+
+ World.
+
+"Mr. Farjeon's new novel, 'Aaron the Jew,' is his best work since
+'Grif' made him known to the reading world as a writer of fiction
+gifted with exceptional power and originality. The story is finely
+conceived and worked out with great care and lucidity."
+
+
+ Liverpool Daily Post.
+
+"The book is, indeed, in every way an excellent production of Mr.
+Farjeon's pen, and will no doubt attain the popularity it
+unquestionably deserves."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ _AARON THE JEW_
+
+
+ A Novel
+
+
+
+ _By_
+
+ _B. L. FARJEON_
+
+ AUTHOR OF
+ "_Great Porter Square_," "_Grif_," "_Blade o' Grass_,"
+ "_The Last Tenant_," _etc._, _etc_.
+
+
+
+
+
+London, 1895
+ HUTCHINSON & CO
+ 34, _PATERNOSTER ROW_
+
+
+ _All rights reserved_
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ _CHEAP AND POPULAR EDITION_.
+
+ * * * * * *
+
+ THE LAST TENANT
+ BY
+ B. L. FARJEON.
+
+ _In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt top, 2s. 6d.;_
+ _picture boards, 2s_.
+
+ * * * * * *
+
+"A well written novel of absorbing interest."
+
+ _Scotsman_.
+
+
+"The story enchains the reader's attention from the first page to the
+last."--_Yorkshire Post_.
+
+"Must be pronounced a successful piece of detective narration. Those
+who like a good detective story will find what they want in 'The Last
+Tenant.'"
+
+ _Manchester Guardian_.
+
+ * * * * * *
+
+ London: HUTCHINSON & CO., Paternoster Row.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ CONTENTS.
+
+
+ BOOK THE FIRST.
+
+ _MOTHER AND CHILD_.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ CHAP.
+
+ I. THE POOR DOCTOR.
+
+ II. DR. SPENLOVE'S VISITOR.
+
+ III. DR. SPENLOVE UNDERTAKES A DELICATE MISSION.
+
+ IV. FLIGHT.
+
+ V. DEATH BETTER THAN LIFE.
+
+ VI. THE FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+ VII. DR. SPENLOVE ADVISES.
+
+ VIII. WHAT WAS PUT IN THE IRON BOX.
+
+ IX. MR. MOSS PLAYS HIS PART.
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE SECOND.
+
+ _RACHEL_.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ X. THE VISION IN THE CHURCHYARD.
+
+ XI. MR. WHIMPOLE INTRODUCES HIMSELF.
+
+ XII. THE COURSE OF THE SEASONS.
+
+ XIII. AARON COHEN PREACHES A SERMON ON LARGE NOSES.
+
+ XIV. A PROCLAMATION OF WAR.
+
+ XV. THE BATTLE IS FOUGHT AND WON.
+
+ XVI. JOY AND SORROW.
+
+ XVII. DIVINE CONSOLATION.
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE THIRD.
+
+ _THE TEMPTATION AND THE FALL_.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ XVIII. UNTO THEM A CHILD IS BORN.
+
+ XIX. BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
+
+ XX. A MOMENTOUS NIGHT.
+
+ XXI. OVER A BRIGHT CLOUD A BLACK SHADOW FALLS.
+
+ XXII. THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
+
+ XXIII. PLUCKED FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH.
+
+ XXIV. THE CURTAIN FALLS AWHILE.
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE FOURTH.
+
+ _HONOUR AND PROGRESS_.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ XXV. AFTER MANY YEARS.
+
+ XXVI. THE FOUNDATION OF AARON'S FORTUNE.
+
+ XXVII. THE FEAST OF PASSOVER.
+
+ XXVIII. RACHEL'S LIFE IN THE NEW LAND.
+
+
+ XXIX. THE FAREWELL.
+
+
+ XXX. AT THE GRAVE OF HIS CHILD.
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE FIFTH.
+
+ _THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUD_.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ XXXI. AARON IS ASKED FOR A SUBSCRIPTION, AND RELATES THE
+ STORY OF A CONVERT.
+
+ XXXII. AARON COHEN ADDRESSES A JEWISH AUDIENCE.
+
+ XXXIII. WHAT SHALL BE DONE TO THE MAN WHOM THE KING DELIGHTETH
+ TO HONOUR?
+
+ XXXIV. THE HONOURABLE PERCY STORNDALE.
+
+ XXXV. THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PAST.
+
+ XXXVI. BEFORE ALL, DUTY.
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE SIXTH.
+
+ _RETRIBUTION_.
+
+ * * * *
+
+ XXXVII. ESTHER MOSS RECEIVES A LETTER.
+
+ XXXVIII. RUTH'S SECRET.
+
+ XXXIX. THE HONOURABLE PERCY STORNDALE MAKES AN APPEAL TO
+ AARON COHEN.
+
+ XL. A DUTY PERFORMED.
+
+ XLI. THERE IS A PROVIDENCE THAT SHAPES OUR ENDS.
+
+ XLII. A MOTHER'S JOY.
+
+ XLIII. A PANIC IN THE CITY.
+
+ XLIV. THE CONFESSION.
+
+ XLV. A POISONED ARROW.
+
+ XLVI. RETRIBUTION.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ AARON THE JEW.
+
+ * * *
+
+ BOOK THE FIRST.
+
+ _MOTHER AND CHILD_.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER I.
+
+ THE POOR DOCTOR.
+
+
+On a bright, snowy night in December, 1871, Dr. Spenlove, having been
+employed all the afternoon and evening in paying farewell visits to
+his patients, walked briskly towards his home through the narrowest
+and most squalid thoroughfares in Portsmouth. The animation of his
+movements may be set down to the severity of the weather, and not to
+any inward cheerfulness of spirits, for as he passed familiar
+landmarks, he looked at them with a certain regret, which men devoid
+of sentiment would have pronounced an indication of a weak nature. In
+this opinion, however, they would have been wrong, for Dr. Spenlove's
+intended departure early the following morning from a field which had
+strong claims upon his sympathies was dictated by a law of inexorable
+necessity. He was a practitioner of considerable skill, and he had
+conscientiously striven to achieve a reputation in some measure
+commensurate with his abilities. From a worldly point of view his
+efforts had been attended with mortifying failure; he had not only
+been unsuccessful in earning a bare livelihood, but he had completely
+exhausted the limited resources with which he had started upon his
+career; he had, moreover, endured severe privation, and an opening
+presenting itself in the wider field of London, he had accepted it
+with gladness and reluctance. With gladness, because he was an
+ambitious man, and had desires apart from his profession; with
+reluctance, because it pained him to bid farewell to patients in whom
+he took a genuine interest, and whom he would have liked to continue
+to befriend. He had, indeed, assisted many of them to the full extent
+of his power, and in some instances had gone beyond this limit,
+depriving himself of the necessaries of life to supply them with
+medicines and nourishing food, and robbing his nights of rest to
+minister to their woes. He bore about him distinguishing marks of the
+beautiful self-sacrifice. On this last night of his residence among
+them, his purse was empty, and inclement as was the weather, he wore,
+on his road home, but one thin coat, which was but a feeble protection
+from the freezing air, which pierced to his skin, though every button
+was put to its proper use. A hacking cough, which caused him to pause
+occasionally, denoted that he was running a dangerous risk in being so
+insufficiently clad; but he seemed to make light of it, and smiled
+when the paroxysm was over. In no profession can be found displayed a
+more noble humanity and philanthropy than in that which Dr. Spenlove
+practised, and, needy as he was, and narrow as had been his means from
+the start, his young career already afforded a striking example of
+sweet and unselfish attributes. In the Divine placing of human hosts,
+the poor doctor and the poor priest shall be found marching in the van
+side by side.
+
+During the whole of the day snow had been falling, and during the
+whole of the day Dr. Spenlove had had but one meal. He did not
+complain; he had been accustomed to live from hand to mouth, and well
+knew what it was to go to bed hungry; and there was before him the
+prospect of brighter times.
+
+But cheering as was this prospect, his walk home through the falling
+snow was saddened by the scenes he had witnessed in the course of the
+day; and one especially dwelt in his mind.
+
+"Poor creature!" he mused. "What will become of her and her baby? O
+pitiless world! Does it not contain a single human being who will hold
+out a helping hand?"
+
+Before one of the poorest houses in one of the poorest streets he
+paused, and, admitting himself with a private latchkey, unlocked a
+door on the ground floor, and entered a room which faced the street.
+There was a wire blind to the window, on which was inscribed,--
+
+
+ CONSULTATIONS FROM 9 TILL 11 A.M.
+
+
+This room, with a communicating bedroom at the back, comprised his
+professional and private residence.
+
+Dr. Spenlove groped in the dark for the matches, and, lighting a
+candle, applied a match to a fire laid with scrupulous economy in the
+matter of coals. As he was thus employed, his landlady knocked at the
+door and entered.
+
+"Is it you, Mrs. Radcliffe?" he asked, not turning his head.
+
+"Yes, sir. Let me do that, please."
+
+The paper he had lit in the grate was smouldering away without
+kindling the wood; the landlady knelt down, and with a skilful touch
+the flame leapt up. Dr. Spenlove, unbuttoning his thin coat, spread
+out his hands to the warmth.
+
+"Any callers, Mrs. Radcliffe?"
+
+"A gentleman, sir, who seemed very anxious to see you. He did not
+leave his name or card, but said he would call again this evening."
+
+"Did he mention the hour?"
+
+"Nine, sir."
+
+Dr. Spenlove put his hand to his waistcoat pocket, and quickly
+withdrew it, with a smile of humour and self-pity. The landlady
+noticed the action, and dolefully shook her head.
+
+"Very anxious to see me, you say, Mrs. Radcliffe."
+
+"Very anxious indeed, sir. Dear, dear, you're wet through!"
+
+"It is a bitter night," he said, coughing.
+
+"You may well say that, sir. Bad weather for you to be out, with that
+nasty cough of yours."
+
+"There are many people worse off than I am, without either fire or
+food."
+
+"We all have our trials, sir. It's a hard world."
+
+"Indeed, indeed!" he said, thinking of the female patient whom he had
+last visited.
+
+"Where's your overcoat, sir? I'll take it down to the kitchen; it'll
+dry sooner there." She looked around in vain for it.
+
+"Never mind my overcoat, Mrs. Radcliffe."
+
+"But you had it on when you went out, sir?"
+
+"Did I? Don't trouble about it. It will dry quickly enough where it
+is."
+
+He was now busily employed making a parcel of books and instruments,
+which he had taken from different parts of the room, and which were
+the only articles of value belonging to himself it contained. The
+landlady stood for a moment or two watching his movements, and then
+she hurried down to her kitchen, and presently returned with a cup of
+hot tea. As she passed through the passage, with the cup in one hand
+and a candle in the other, she glanced at the empty umbrella stand.
+
+"His umbrella, too, as well as his overcoat," she muttered. "The man's
+heart's too big for his body!"
+
+She re-entered the room.
+
+"I've brought you a cup of tea, sir, if you don't mind taking it."
+
+"Not at all, Mrs. Radcliffe. It is very kind of you."
+
+He drank the tea, which warmed him through and through.
+
+"We're all sorry at your leaving us, sir," said the landlady. "There's
+plenty that'll miss you."
+
+"I am sorry, too," he replied; "but when needs must, you know. I can
+do no good to myself or others by remaining. If the gentleman calls
+again, ask him to wait, if his business is of importance. You had
+better tell him I am leaving Portsmouth to-morrow morning."
+
+With his parcel under his arm he left the house, and trudging through
+the snow again, halted at a pawnbroker's shop, lingering awhile before
+he entered, as sensitive men do before putting the finishing touch to
+a humiliating act. Then, shrugging his shoulders, and muttering, "I
+ought to be used to it by this time," he plunged into the shop, where
+he obtained upon his few last treasures as much as would pay his
+third-class fare to London and the two weeks' rent he owed his
+landlady. Thus safe-guarded for a few hours at least, he left the
+shop, but instead of immediately retracing his steps to his lodgings
+he lingered once more irresolutely, with the air of a man who was at
+war with himself upon a momentous question. The sixteen shillings due
+to his landlady was in his pocket, and undoubtedly it was but simple
+honesty that it should be handed over to her without hesitation. But
+the hapless female patient who had occupied his thoughts during the
+last hour was at this moment in the throes of a desperate human
+crisis, and dark as was the present to her suffering soul, the terrors
+which the future held in store for her were still more agonising. She
+had a young baby at her breast; she had no food in her cupboard, not a
+loaf of bread, not a cup of milk; she had not a friend in the world to
+whom she could appeal for help. She, too, was in debt to her landlord,
+a hard man who was waiting for another sun to rise to thrust her and
+her infant into the white and pitiless streets. It would have been
+done to-day but for the intervention of Dr. Spenlove, who had pawned
+his overcoat and umbrella to buy of the poor creature's landlord a
+respite of twenty-four hours. The sixteen shillings due to Mrs.
+Radcliffe would buy her another respite for a longer term, but when
+this was expired there was still the hopeless future to face. Dr.
+Spenlove thrust aside this latter consideration, and thought only of
+the ineffable relief it was in his power to bring to a heart racked
+with anguish and despair. He lost sight of the fact that the wretched
+woman would still be without food, and that she was too weak to work
+for it. Even when she was strong, and able to ply her needle
+throughout the whole of the day and the greater part of the night, her
+earnings had never exceeded six shillings a week; she had confessed as
+much to the good doctor, but for whose timely aid the workhouse would
+have been her only refuge. As he stood debating with himself the
+sentiment of pity was strong within him, but he could not banish the
+voice of justice which whispered that the money was not his to dispose
+of. All the people with whom he was acquainted were poor, and his
+landlady was as poor as the rest; he knew that she often depended upon
+the payment of his rent to pay her own. It might be that just now she
+could afford to wait awhile for what was due to her; if so, he would
+dispose of the sixteen shillings as his benevolent instincts impelled
+him to do; he must, however, ascertain how the land lay before he
+acted. It may appear strange to many fortunate persons that issues so
+grave and vital should hang upon a sum of money which to them would
+not be worth a thought; but it would be a good lesson for them to
+learn that opportunities are not scarce for bringing Heaven's
+brightest sunshine to overcharged hearts by the judicious bestowal of
+a few small coins out of the wealth which yields them all the material
+comforts of life.
+
+Having made up his mind upon the important matter, Dr. Spenlove turned
+homewards, and as he walked he recalled the incidents in connection
+with the unhappy woman in which he had played a part. She was a
+stranger in the neighbourhood, and had lived her lonely life in a
+garret for five months. No person with whom she came in contact knew
+anything of her or of her antecedents, and it was by chance that he
+became acquainted with her. Attending to his poor patients in the
+street in which she resided, he passed her one afternoon, and was
+attracted as much by her modest and ladylike appearance as by the
+evidence of extreme weakness, which could hardly escape the
+observation of a man so kindly-hearted as himself. He perceived at
+once that she was of a superior class to those among whom she moved,
+and he was impressed by a peculiar expression on her face when his
+eyes rested on her. It was the expression of a hunted woman, of one
+who was in hiding and dreaded being recognised. He made inquiries
+about her, but no one could give him any information concerning her,
+and in the press of onerous cares and duties she passed out of his
+mind. Some weeks later he met her again, and his first impressions
+were renewed and strengthened; and pity stirred his heart as he
+observed from her garments that she was on the downward path of
+poverty. It was clear that she was frightened by his observance of
+her, for she hurried quickly on; but physical weakness frustrated her
+desire to avoid him; she staggered and would have fallen had he not
+ran forward and caught her. Weak as she was she struggled to release
+herself; he kept firm hold of her, however, animated by compassion and
+fortified by honest intention.
+
+"You have nothing to fear from me," he said. "Allow me to assist you.
+I am Dr. Spenlove."
+
+It was the first time he had addressed her, but his name was familiar
+to her as that of a gentleman to whom the whole neighbourhood was
+under a debt of gratitude for numberless acts of goodness. She glanced
+timidly at his face, and a vague hope stirred her heart; she knew that
+the time was approaching when she would need such a friend. But the
+hope did not live long; it was crushed by a sudden fear.
+
+"Do you know me, sir?"
+
+"No," replied Dr. Spenlove, in a cheerful tone. "You are a stranger to
+me, as I have no doubt I am to you."
+
+"You are not quite a stranger, sir," she said, timidly. "I have heard
+of your kindness to many suffering people."
+
+"Tush, tush!" he exclaimed. "A man deserves no credit for doing his
+duty. You feel stronger now, do you not? If you have no doctor you
+must allow me to come and see you. Do not hesitate; you need such
+advice as I can give you; and," he added gently, "I will send in my
+account when you are rich. Not till then, upon my honour; and
+meanwhile I promise to ask no questions."
+
+"I am deeply grateful to you, sir."
+
+And, indeed, when they parted the world was a little brighter to the
+poor soul.
+
+From that day he attended her regularly, and she was strengthened and
+comforted by his considerate conduct towards her. She was known as
+Mrs. Turner; but it was strange, if she were wife or widow, that she
+should wear no wedding-ring. As their intimacy ripened his first
+impression that she was a lady was confirmed, and although he was
+naturally curious about her history, he kept his promise by not asking
+her any questions which he instinctively felt it would be painful to
+her to answer. Even when he discovered that she was about to become a
+mother he made no inquiries concerning the father of her unborn child.
+On the day he bade her farewell, her baby, a girl, was two weeks old,
+and a dark and terrible future lay before the hapless woman. His heart
+bled for her, but he was powerless to help her further. Weak and
+despairing, she sat in her chair with her child at her wasted breast;
+her dark and deep-sunken eyes seemed to be contemplating this future
+in hopeless terror.
+
+"I am grieved to leave you so," he said, gazing sadly at her; "but it
+is out of my power to do what I would wish. Unhappily, I am almost as
+poor as yourself. You will try to get strong, will you not?"
+
+"I don't know," she murmured.
+
+"Remember," he said, taking her hand, "you have a duty to perform.
+What will you do when you are strong?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"Nay, nay," he gently urged, "you must not speak so despondently.
+Believe me, I do not wish to force your confidence, but I have
+gathered from chance words you have let drop that you lived in London.
+I am going there to-morrow. Can I call upon any person who would be
+likely to assist you?"
+
+"There is no one."
+
+"But surely you must have some friends or relations----"
+
+"I have none. When you leave me I shall be without a friend in the
+world."
+
+"God help you!" he sighed.
+
+"Will He?"
+
+The question was asked in the voice of one who had abandoned hope, who
+had lost faith in human goodness and eternal justice, and who was
+tasting the bitterness of death.
+
+Dr. Spenlove remained with her an hour, striving to cheer her, to
+instil hope into her heart, but his words had no effect upon her; and,
+indeed, he felt at times that the platitudes to which he was giving
+utterance were little better than mockery. Was not this woman face to
+face with the practical issues of life and death in their most awful
+aspect, and was it not a stern fact that there was but one practical
+remedy for them? She asked for bread, and he was offering her a stone.
+It was then he went from her room and learned the full truth from her
+landlord, who was only waiting till he was gone to turn her into the
+streets. We know by what means he bought a day's respite for her.
+Finally he left her, and bore away with him the darkest picture of
+human misery of which he had ever had experience.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER II.
+
+ DR. SPENLOVE'S VISITOR.
+
+
+His landlady, Mrs. Radcliffe, met him on the doorstep, and informed
+him that the gentleman who had called to see him in the afternoon had
+called again, and was in his room.
+
+"A word, Mrs. Radcliffe," he said, hurriedly. "I am going to ask a
+great favour of you. I owe you two weeks' rent."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+His heart sank within him; he divined immediately from her tone that
+she was in need of the money.
+
+"Would it inconvenience you to wait a little while for it?"
+
+"I must, sir, if you haven't got it," she replied, "but I am
+dreadfully hard pressed, and I reckoned on it. I'm behindhand myself,
+sir, and my landlord's been threatening me----"
+
+"Say no more, Mrs. Radcliffe. Justice must be first served. I have the
+money; take it--for Heaven's sake take it quickly! I must not rob the
+poor to help the poor."
+
+He muttered the last words to himself as he thrust the sixteen
+shillings into her hand.
+
+"I am so sorry, sir," said the distressed woman.
+
+He interrupted her with, "There, there, I am ashamed that I asked you.
+I am sure no one has a kinder heart than you, and I am greatly obliged
+to you for all the attention you have shown me while I have been in
+your house. The gentleman is in my room, you say?"
+
+It was a proof of Mrs. Radcliffe's kindness of heart that there was a
+bright fire blazing in the room, made with her own coals, and that the
+lamp had been replenished with her own oil. Dr. Spenlove was grateful
+to her, and he inwardly acknowledged that he could not have otherwise
+disposed of the few shillings which he had no right to call his own.
+His visitor rose as he entered, a well-dressed man some forty years of
+age, sturdily built, with touches of grey already in his hair and
+beard, and with signs in his face and on his forehead indicative of a
+strong will.
+
+"Dr. Spenlove?" he asked, as they stood facing each other.
+
+"That is my name."
+
+"Mine is Gordon. I have come to see you on a matter of great
+importance."
+
+Dr. Spenlove motioned to the chair from which his visitor had risen,
+and he resumed his seat; but although he had said that he had come
+upon a matter of great importance, he seemed to be either in no hurry
+to open it, or to be uncertain in which way to do so, for he sat for
+some moments in silence, smoothing his bearded chin and studying Dr.
+Spenlove's face with a stern and studious intentness.
+
+"Can you spare me half an hour of your time?" he said at length.
+
+"Longer, if you wish," said Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"It may be longer, if you offer no opposition to the service I wish
+you to render me; and perhaps it is as well to say that I am willing
+and can afford to pay for the service."
+
+Dr. Spenlove bent his head.
+
+"It is seldom," continued Mr. Gordon, "that I make mistakes, and the
+reason is not far to seek. I make inquiries, I clear the ground, I
+resolve upon a course of action, and I pursue it to its end without
+deviation. I will be quite frank with you, Dr. Spenlove; I am a hard,
+inflexible man. Thrown upon the world when I was a lad, I pushed my
+way to fortune. I am self-made; I can speak fair English. I have
+received little education, none at all in a classical way; but I
+possess common sense, and I make it apply to my affairs. That is
+better than education if a man is resolved to get along in life--as I
+was resolved to do. When I was a young man I said, 'I will grow rich,
+or I will know the reason why.' I have grown rich. I do not say it as
+a boast--it is only fools who boast--but I am worth to-day a solid
+twenty thousand pounds a year. I make this statement merely as a proof
+that I am in a position to carry out a plan in which I desire your
+assistance and co-operation."
+
+"My dear sir," said Dr. Spenlove, who could not but perceive that his
+visitor was very much in earnest, "the qualities you mention are
+admirable in their way, but I fear you have come to the wrong man. I
+am a doctor, and if you do not need my professional advice----"
+
+"Stop a moment," interrupted Mr. Gordon, "I have come to the right
+man, and I do not need professional advice. I am as sound as a bell,
+and I have never had occasion to pay a doctor's fee. I know what I am
+about in the mission which brings me here. I have made inquiries
+concerning you, and have heard something of your career and its
+results; I have heard of your kindnesses and of the esteem in which
+you are held. You have influence with your patients; any counsel you
+might give them, apart from your prescriptions, would be received with
+respect and attention; and I believe I am not wrong when I say that
+you are to some extent a man of the world."
+
+"To some slight extent only," corrected Dr. Spenlove, with a faint
+smile.
+
+"Sufficient," proceeded Mr. Gordon, "for my purpose. You are not blind
+to the perils which lie before weak and helpless women--before, we
+will say, a woman who has no friends, who is living where she is not
+known, who is in a position of grave danger, who is entirely without
+means, who is young and good-looking, and who, at the best, is unable
+by the work of her hands to support herself."
+
+Dr. Spenlove looked sharply at his visitor. "You have such a woman in
+your mind, Mr. Gordon."
+
+"I have such a woman in my mind, Dr. Spenlove."
+
+"A patient of mine?"
+
+"A patient of yours."
+
+There was but one who answered to this description, and whose future
+was so dark and hopeless. For the first time during the interview he
+began to be interested in his visitor. He motioned him to proceed.
+
+"We are speaking in confidence, Dr. Spenlove?"
+
+"In perfect confidence, Mr. Gordon."
+
+"Whether my errand here is successful or not, I ask that nothing that
+passes between us shall ever be divulged to a third person."
+
+"I promise it."
+
+"I will mention the name of the woman to whom I have referred, or, it
+will be more correct to say, the name by which she is known to you.
+Mrs. Turner."
+
+"You mean her no harm, sir?"
+
+"None. I am prepared to befriend her, to save her, if my conditions
+are accepted."
+
+Dr. Spenlove drew a deep breath of relief. He would go to his new
+field of labours with a light heart if this unhappy woman were saved.
+
+"You have come at a critical moment," he said, "and you have
+accurately described the position in which she is placed. But how can
+my mediation, or the mediation of any man, be necessary in such a
+case? She will hail you as her saviour and the saviour of her babe.
+Hasten to her immediately, dear sir; or perhaps you do not know where
+she lives, and wish me to take you to her? I am ready. Do not let us
+lose a moment, for every moment deepens her misery."
+
+He did not observe the frown which passed into Mr. Gordon's face at
+his mention of the child; he was so eager that his hat was already on
+his head and his hand on the handle of the door.
+
+Mr. Gordon did not rise from his chair.
+
+"You are in too great a hurry, Dr. Spenlove. Be seated, and listen to
+what I have to say. You ask how your mediation can avail. I answer, in
+the event of her refusal to accept the conditions upon which I am
+ready to marry her."
+
+"To marry her!" exclaimed Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"To marry her," repeated Mr. Gordon. "She is not a married woman, and
+her real name need not be divulged. When you hear the story I am about
+to relate, when you hear the conditions, the only conditions, upon
+which I will consent to lift her from the degraded depths into which
+she has fallen, you will understand why I desire your assistance. You
+will be able to make clear to her the effect of her consent or refusal
+upon her destiny and the destiny of her child; you will be able to use
+arguments which are in my mind, but to which I shall not give
+utterance. And remember, through all, that her child is a child of
+shame, and that I hold out to her the only prospect of that child
+being brought up in a reputable way and of herself being raised to a
+position of respectability."
+
+He paused a moment or two before he opened fresh matter.
+
+"I was a poor lad, Dr. Spenlove, without parents, without a home; and
+when I was fourteen years of age I was working as an errand-boy in
+London, and keeping myself upon a wage of four shillings a week. I
+lost this situation through the bankruptcy of my employer, and I was
+not successful in obtaining another. One day, I saw on the walls a
+bill of a vessel going to Australia, and I applied at the agent's
+office with a vague idea that I might obtain a passage by working
+aboard ship in some capacity or other. I was a strong boy--starvation
+agrees with some lads--and a willing boy, and it happened that one of
+my stamp was wanted in the cook's galley. I was engaged at a shilling
+a month, and I landed in Melbourne with four shillings in my pocket.
+
+"How I lived till I became a man is neither here nor there; but when
+gold was discovered I lived well, for I got enough to buy a share in a
+cattle station, which now belongs entirely to me. In 1860, being then
+on the high road to fortune, I made the acquaintance of a man whom I
+will call Mr. Charles, and of his only child, a girl of fourteen, whom
+I will call Mary. I was taken with Mr. Charles, and I was taken in by
+him as well, for he disappeared from the colony a couple of years
+afterwards, in my debt to the tune of a thousand pounds. He had the
+grace to write to me from London, saying he would pay me some day; and
+there the matter rested for seven years more, which brings me to two
+years ago.
+
+"At that time I had occasion to visit England on business; and in
+London I hunted up my debtor, and we renewed our acquaintance. Mary
+was then a young woman of twenty-one; and had it not been for her, it
+is more than likely I might have made things unpleasant for her
+father, who was leading the disreputable life of a gambler on
+racecourses, and in clubs of a low character.
+
+"Dr. Spenlove, you must have gathered from the insight I have given
+you into my character that I am not a man of sentiment, and you will
+probably consider it all the more strange that I should have
+entertained feelings towards Mary which caused me to consider whether
+she would not make me a creditable wife. Of these feelings I prefer
+not to speak in a warmer strain, but shall leave you to place your own
+construction upon them. While I was debating with myself as to the
+course I should pursue, the matter was decided for me by the death of
+Mr. Charles. He died in disgrace and poverty, and Mary was left
+friendless and homeless.
+
+"I stepped in to her rescue, and I made a proposal of marriage to her.
+At the same time, I told her that I thought it advisable, for her sake
+and mine, that a little time should elapse before this proposal was
+carried into effect. I suggested that our marriage should take place
+in two years; meanwhile, I would return to Australia, to build a
+suitable house and to prepare a home for her, and she would remain in
+England to fit herself for her new sphere of duties. She accepted me,
+and I arranged with a lady of refinement to receive her. To this lady
+both she and I were utter strangers, and it was settled between Mary
+and myself that she should enter her temporary home under an assumed
+name. It was my proposal that this pardonable deceit should be
+practised; no person was wronged by it, and it would assist towards
+Mary's complete severance from old associations. Our future was in our
+own hands, and concerned nobody but ourselves.
+
+"I returned to Australia, and made my preparations. We corresponded
+once a month, and some few months ago I informed her of the date of my
+intended arrival in England. To that letter I received no reply; and
+when I landed and called at the lady's house, I learned that she had
+fled. I set to work to discover the truth, and I have discovered it; I
+set to work to track her, and I have succeeded. Her story is a common
+story of betrayal and desertion, and I am not inclined to trouble you
+with it. She has not the remotest hope of assistance from the man who
+betrayed her; she has not the remotest hope of assistance from a
+person in the world with the exception of myself.
+
+"Dr. Spenlove, notwithstanding what has occurred I am here in
+Portsmouth this night with the intention of carrying out the
+engagement into which I entered with her; I am here, prepared to marry
+her, on express conditions. The adoption of assumed names, the
+obscurity she has courted, the absolute silence which is certain to be
+observed by her, by me, by you, by the man who betrayed her, render me
+safe. It is known that I have come to England to be married, and she
+will be accepted as I present her when I return with her as my wife. I
+will have no discussion as to my motives for taking what the world
+would consider an unwise step; but you will understand that my
+feelings for the woman who has played me false must be of a deep and
+sincere nature, or I should not dream of taking it.
+
+"It now only remains for me to state the conditions under which I am
+prepared to save her from even a more shameful degradation than that
+into which she has already fallen. I speak plainly. You know as well
+as I the fate that is in store for her if my offer is rejected."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER III.
+
+ DR. SPENLOVE UNDERTAKES A DELICATE MISSION.
+
+
+Mr. Gordon had spoken throughout in a cold, passionless tone, and with
+no accent of emotion in his voice. If anything could have been
+destructive of the idea that he loved the woman he wished to marry, it
+was his measured delivery of the story he had related; and yet there
+could be no question that there was some nobility in the nature of the
+sacrifice he was prepared to make for her sake. The contrast between
+the man and the woman struck Dr. Spenlove very forcibly. The man was
+hard and cold, the woman was sensitive and sympathetic. Had their
+circumstances been equal, and had Dr. Spenlove been an interested
+adviser, he would have had no hesitation in saying to her: "Do not
+marry this man: there is no point of union between you; you can never
+kindle in his heart the fire which burns within your own; wedded to
+him, a dull routine of years will be your portion." But he felt that
+he dared not encourage himself to pursue this line of argument.
+Although the most pregnant part of Mr. Gordon's errand had yet to be
+disclosed, it seemed to him that he would very likely presently be the
+arbiter of her destiny. "You will be able," Mr. Gordon had said, "to
+make clear to her the effect of her consent or refusal upon her
+destiny and the destiny of her child." Whatever the conditions, it
+would be his duty to urge her to accept the offer that would be made
+to her; otherwise, he might be condemning her to a course of life he
+shuddered to contemplate. The responsibility would be too solemn for
+mere sentimental consideration. These were the thoughts that flashed
+through his mind in the momentary pause before Mr. Gordon spoke again.
+
+"I believe," his visitor then said, "that I am in possession of the
+facts relating to Mrs. Turner"--he reverted to the name by which she
+was generally known--"but you will corroborate them perhaps. She is in
+want."
+
+"She is in the lowest depths of poverty."
+
+"Unless she pays the arrears of rent she will be turned into the
+streets to-morrow."
+
+"That is the landlord's determination."
+
+"She would have been turned out to-day but for your intervention."
+
+"You are well informed, I see," observed Dr. Spenlove, rather nettled.
+
+"I have conversed with the landlord and with others concerning her.
+She lives among the poor, who have troubles enough of their own to
+grapple with, and are unable, even if they were inclined, to render
+her the assistance of which she stands in need. She seems to have kept
+herself aloof from them, for which I commend her. Now, Dr. Spenlove, I
+will have no spectre of shame and degradation to haunt her life and
+mine. Her past must be buried, and the grave must never be opened. To
+that I am resolved, and no power on earth can turn me from it."
+
+"But her child?" faltered Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"She will have no child. She must part with her, and the parting must
+be final and irrevocable. The steps I shall take to this end shall be
+so effectual that if by chance in the future they should happen to
+meet there shall be no possibility of recognition. I propose to have
+the child placed with a family who will adopt her as a child of their
+own--there will be little difficulty in finding such a family--to the
+head of which a sum of one hundred pounds will be paid yearly for
+maintenance. I name no limit as to time; so long as the child lives,
+so long will the payment be made through my lawyers. Should the child
+die before she reaches the age of twenty-one, the sum of five hundred
+pounds will be paid to the people who undertake the charge. They will
+know nothing of me or of the mother; our names will not be divulged to
+them, and they will not be able to trace us. Should they evince a
+disposition to be troublesome in this respect, the child will be taken
+from them by my lawyers, and another home provided for her. A hundred
+pounds a year is a liberal sum, and there will not be the least
+difficulty in carrying out the proposed arrangement. In proof that I
+desire the child to have every chance of leading a happy life, I will
+engage to give her a marriage portion of five hundred pounds. Judge
+for yourself whether a woman in Mrs. Turner's circumstances would be
+acting wisely in rejecting my proposition."
+
+"You have spoken in a most generous spirit," said Dr. Spenlove slowly,
+"so far as money goes; but you seem not to have taken into
+consideration a mother's feelings."
+
+"I have not taken them into consideration: they are not part of my
+plan. I have looked at the matter only from two points of view--its
+worldly aspect, and my desire to carry out my personal wishes. I
+decline to regard it or to argue upon it from the point of view of a
+mother's feelings. I ask you to judge of it as a man of the world."
+
+"Of which," said Dr. Spenlove, "as I have hinted to you, I am a poor
+example. Do you expect me to provide for the babe such a home as that
+you have described?"
+
+"Not at all. It is my business to carry out my plan if she accepts the
+conditions."
+
+"What, then, do you wish me to do?"
+
+"To lay my proposition before her as nearly as possible in my words,
+to impress upon her that it is her duty to agree to it, for her own
+sake and for the sake of the child."
+
+"Why not do so yourself?"
+
+"I have not seen her; I will not see her while she holds in her arms
+her burden of shame. She shall come to me free and unencumbered, or
+she shall not come at all. I could not speak to her as I have spoken
+to you; I should not be able to command myself. She would plead to me,
+and I should answer her in bitterness and anger. Such a scene would
+set me so strongly against her that I should immediately relinquish my
+purpose. You can reason with her; you can show her the path in which
+her duty clearly lies. I do not deny that she is called upon to make a
+sacrifice; but it is a sacrifice which will lead to good, it is a
+sacrifice which every right-minded man would urge her to make.
+Indifferent man of the world as you proclaim yourself to be, you
+cannot be blind to the almost sure fate in store for her in the
+circumstances in which she is placed. Your experiences must have made
+you acquainted with the stories of women who have fallen as she has
+fallen, and you will know how many of them were raised from the
+depths, and how many of them fell into deeper shame. Dr. Spenlove, I
+have entirely finished what I came here to say."
+
+"Before I undertake to do what you require of me," said Dr. Spenlove,
+who by this time understood the man he had to deal with, "I must ask
+you a question or two."
+
+"If they relate to the present business," responded Mr. Gordon, "I
+will answer them."
+
+"Failing me, will you employ some other person to act as your envoy to
+Mrs. Turner?"
+
+"I shall employ no other, for the reason that there is no other whose
+counsel would be likely to influence her. And for another reason--I
+have disclosed to you what I will disclose to no other person."
+
+"Would you leave her as she is?"
+
+"I would leave her as she is. Early in the morning I should take my
+departure, and she would have to face the future unaided by me."
+
+"If she will not listen to me, if she will not make the sacrifice, you
+will surely give her out of your abundance some little assistance to
+help her along?"
+
+"Out of my abundance," replied Mr. Gordon, sternly, "I will give her
+nothing--not the smallest coin. Make your mind easy upon one point,
+Dr. Spenlove. So far as a practical man like myself is likely to go, I
+will do what I can to make her happy if she affords me the
+opportunity. She will live in a respectable atmosphere, she will be
+surrounded by respectable people, she will have all the comforts that
+money can purchase, and I shall never utter to her a word of reproach.
+Her past will be as dead to me as if it had never been."
+
+Dr. Spenlove rose. "It is your desire that I shall go to her
+to-night?"
+
+"It is. The matter must be settled without delay."
+
+"If she asks for time to reflect----"
+
+"I must have an answer to-night, yea or nay."
+
+There was no more to be said. The man who had been wronged and
+deceived, and who had made an offer so strange, and generous, and
+cruel, was fixed and implacable.
+
+"I may be absent some time," said Dr. Spenlove. "Where shall I see you
+upon my return?"
+
+"Here, if you will allow me to stay."
+
+"You are welcome. My landlady will make you a bed on the sofa."
+
+"Thank you; I need no bed. I can employ myself while you are away."
+
+Dr. Spenlove stepped to the door, and turned on the threshold.
+
+"One other question, Mr. Gordon. If I succeed, when will you require
+her to give up her child?"
+
+"To-morrow evening. I will have a carriage ready at the door. On the
+following day Mrs. Turner and I will leave Portsmouth, and there is no
+probability, after that, that you and I will ever meet again."
+
+Dr. Spenlove nodded, and left the house.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER IV.
+
+ FLIGHT.
+
+
+The snow was falling more heavily, and a strong wind blew the flakes
+into his face as he made his way to Mrs. Turner's garret. He walked as
+quickly as he could, but his progress was impeded by the force of the
+wind and by its driving the snow into his eyes. Despite these
+obstacles he preserved his mental balance, and was observant of all
+that was passing around him; and it was a proof of his kindly and
+unselfish nature that, in the light of the vital errand upon which he
+was engaged, he was oblivious of the sense of physical discomfort.
+Conflicting questions agitated his mind. No longer under the influence
+of the cold, cruel logic which distinguished Mr. Gordon's utterances,
+he once more asked himself whether he would be acting rightly in
+urging Mrs. Turner to renounce her maternal duties and obligations,
+and to part for ever with the child of her blood. The human and the
+Divine law were in conflict. On one side degradation and direst
+poverty from which there seemed no prospect of escape, and driving the
+mother perhaps to a course of life condemned alike by God and man; on
+the other side a life of material comfort and respectability for
+herself and her child. A fortuitous accident--a chance for which he
+had prayed earlier in the night--had made him at once the arbiter and
+the judge; his hand was on the wheel to steer these two helpless
+beings through the voyage upon which they were embarked, and upon him
+rested the responsibility of their future. There was no case here of
+ploughing through unknown waters over hidden rocks; he saw the ocean
+of life before him, he saw the rocks beneath. Amid those rocks lay the
+forms of lost abandoned women who in their mortal career would surely
+have been saved had an offer of rescue come, such as had come to the
+woman who chiefly occupied his thoughts. They would have been spared
+the suffering of despairing days, the horrors of a despairing death;
+they would have been lifted from the gulf of shame and ignominy. New
+hopes, new joys would have arisen to comfort them. The sacrifice they
+would have been called upon to make would have been hallowed by the
+consciousness that they had performed their duty. It was not alone the
+happiness of the mortal life that had to be considered; if the
+ministrations of God's ministers on earth were not a mockery and a
+snare, it was the immortal life that was equally at stake. The soul's
+reward sprang from the body's suffering.
+
+And still the pitiless snow fell, and the wind howled around him; and
+through the white whirlwind he beheld the light of heaven and the
+stars shining upon him.
+
+How should he act? He imagined himself steering the vessel through an
+ocean of sad waters. On the right lay a haven of rest, on the left lay
+a dark and desolate shore. Here, salvation; there, destruction. Which
+way should he turn the wheel? His pity for her had drawn from him
+during their last interview the exclamation, "God help you!" and she
+had asked hopelessly, "Will He?" He had turned from her then; he had
+no answer to make. There is, he said to himself now, no Divine
+mediation in human affairs; the Divine hand is not stretched forth to
+give food to the hungry. In so grave an issue as the starvation of a
+human being, dependence upon Divine aid will not avail. Admitting
+this, he felt it to be almost a heresy, but at the same time he knew
+that it was true.
+
+There were but few people in the white streets, and of those few a
+large proportion tinged his musings with a deeper melancholy. These
+were ragged shivering children, and women recklessly or despondently
+gashing the white carpet, so pure and innocent and fair in its
+sentimental, so hard and bitter and cruel in its material aspect. By a
+devious process of reasoning he drew a parallel between it and the
+problem he was engaged in solving. It was poetic, and it freezed the
+marrow; it had a soul and a body, one a sweet and smiling spirit, the
+other a harsh and frowning reality. The heart of a poet without boots
+would have sunk within him as he trod the snow-clad streets.
+
+Dr. Spenlove's meditations were arrested by a sudden tumult. A number
+of people approached him, gesticulating and talking eagerly and
+excitedly, the cause of their excitement being a couple of policemen
+who bore between them the wet limp body of a motionless woman. He was
+drawn magnetically towards the crowd, and was immediately recognised.
+
+"Here's Dr. Spenlove," they cried; "he knows her."
+
+Yes, he knew her the moment his eyes fell upon her, the people having
+made way for him. The body borne by the policeman was that of a young
+girl scarcely out of her teens, an unfortunate who had walked the
+streets for two or three years past.
+
+"You had better come with us, doctor," said one of the policemen, to
+both of whom he was known. "We have just picked her out of the water."
+
+A middle-aged woman pushed herself close to Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"She said she'd do it a month ago," said this woman, "if luck didn't
+turn."
+
+Good God! If luck didn't turn! What direction in the unfortunate
+girl's career was the lucky turn to take to prevent her from courting
+death?
+
+"You will come with us, sir?" said the policeman.
+
+"Yes," answered Dr. Spenlove, mechanically.
+
+The police station was but a hundred yards away, and thither they
+walked, Dr. Spenlove making a hasty examination of the body as they
+proceeded.
+
+"Too late, I'm afraid, sir," said the policeman.
+
+"I fear so," said Dr. Spenlove, gravely.
+
+It proved to be the case. The girl was dead.
+
+The signing of papers and other formalities detained Dr. Spenlove at
+the police station for nearly an hour, and he departed with a heavy
+weight at his heart. He had been acquainted with the girl whose life's
+troubles were over since the commencement of his career in Portsmouth.
+She was then a child of fourteen, living with her parents, who were
+respectable working people. Growing into dangerous beauty, she had
+fallen as others had fallen, and had fled from her home, to find
+herself after a time deserted by her betrayer. Meanwhile the home in
+which she had been reared was broken up; the mother died, the father
+left the town. Thrown upon her own resources, she drifted into the
+ranks of the "unfortunates," and became a familiar figure in low
+haunts, one of civilisation's painted, bedizened night-birds of the
+streets. Dr. Spenlove had befriended her, counselled her, warned her,
+urged her to reform, and her refrain was, "What can I do? I must
+live." It was not an uncommon case; the good doctor came in contact
+with many such, and could have prophesied with unerring accuracy the
+fate in store for them. The handwriting is ever on the wall, and no
+special gift is needed to decipher it. Drifting, drifting, drifting,
+for ever drifting and sinking lower and lower till the end comes. It
+had come soon to this young girl--mercifully, thought Dr. Spenlove, as
+he plodded slowly on, for surely the snapping of life's chord in the
+springtime of her life was better than the sure descent into a
+premature haggard and sinful old age. Recalling these reminiscences,
+his doubts with respect to his duty in the mission he had undertaken
+were solved. There was but one safe course for Mrs. Turner to follow.
+
+He hastened his steps. His interview with Mr. Gordon and the tragic
+incident in which he had been engaged had occupied a considerable
+time, and it was now close upon midnight. It was late for an ordinary
+visit, but he was a medical man, and the doors of his patients were
+open to him at all hours. In the poor neighbourhood in which Mrs.
+Turner resided, many of the street doors were left unlocked night and
+day for the convenience of the lodgers, and her house being one of
+these, Dr. Spenlove had no difficulty in obtaining admission. He shook
+the snow from his clothes, and, ascending the stairs, knocked at Mrs.
+Turner's door; no answer coming he knocked again and again, and at
+length he turned the handle and entered.
+
+The room was quite dark; there was no fire in the grate, no candle
+alight. He listened for the sound of breathing, but none reached his
+ears.
+
+"Mrs. Turner!" he cried.
+
+Receiving no response he struck a match, and looked around. The room
+was empty. Greatly alarmed he went to the landing, and knocked at an
+adjoining door. A woman's voice called,--
+
+"Who's there?"
+
+"It is I, Dr. Spenlove."
+
+"Wait a moment, sir."
+
+He heard shuffling steps, and presently the tenant appeared, only
+partially dressed, with a lighted candle in her hand.
+
+"I didn't send for you, doctor," she said.
+
+"No. I want to ask you about Mrs. Turner. She is not in her room."
+
+"I thought it was strange I didn't hear the baby crying, but I don't
+know where she is."
+
+"Did you not hear her go out?"
+
+"No, sir; I came home at ten soaked through and through, and I was
+glad to get to bed. It ain't a night a woman would care to keep out in
+unless she couldn't help herself."
+
+"Indeed it is not. Did you see anything of her before you went to
+bed?"
+
+"I didn't see her, I heard her. I was just going off when she knocked
+at my door, and asked if I could give her a little milk for the baby;
+but I hadn't any to give. Besides, she ain't got a feeding-bottle that
+I know of. She's been trying to borrow one, but nobody in the house
+could oblige her. She's having a hard time of it, doctor."
+
+"She is, poor soul!" said Dr. Spenlove, with a sigh.
+
+"It's the way with all of us, sir; no one ought to know that better
+than you do. There ain't a lodger in the house that's earning more
+than twelve shillings a week; not much to keep a family on, is it,
+sir? And we've got a landlord with a heart of stone. If it hadn't been
+for her baby, and that it might have got him in hot water, he'd have
+turned her out weeks ago. He's bound to do it to-morrow if her rent
+ain't paid. He told me so this morning when he screwed the last penny
+out of me."
+
+"Do you know whether she succeeded in obtaining milk for the child?"
+
+"It's hardly likely, I should say. Charity begins at home, doctor."
+
+"It is natural and just that it should; but it is terrible, terrible!
+Where can Mrs. Turner have gone to?"
+
+"Heaven knows. One thing I do know, doctor, she's got no friends; she
+wouldn't make any, kept herself to herself, gave herself airs, some
+said, though I don't go as far as that. I dare say she has her
+reasons, only when a woman sets herself up like that it turns people
+against her. Are you sure she ain't in her room?"
+
+"The room is empty."
+
+"It's enough to be the death of a baby to take it out such a night as
+this. Listen to the wind."
+
+A furious gust shook the house, and made every window rattle. To Dr.
+Spenlove's agitated senses it seemed to be alive with ominous voices,
+proclaiming death and destruction to every weak and helpless creature
+that dared to brave it. He passed his hand across his forehead in
+distress.
+
+"I must find her. I suppose you cannot tell me of any place she may
+have gone to for assistance?"
+
+"I can't, sir. There's a bare chance that as she had no coals and no
+money to buy 'em with, some one in the house has taken her in for the
+night. I'll inquire, if you like."
+
+"I shall be obliged to you if you will," said Dr. Spenlove, catching
+eagerly at the suggestion; "and I pray that you may be right."
+
+"You won't mind waiting in the passage, sir, till I've dressed myself.
+I sha'n't be a minute."
+
+She was very soon ready and she went about the house making inquiries;
+and, returning, said that none of the lodgers could give her any
+information concerning Mrs. Turner.
+
+"I am sorry to have disturbed you," said Dr. Spenlove; and, wishing
+her good-night, he once more faced the storm. The fear by which he was
+oppressed was that the offer of succour had come too late, and that
+Mrs. Turner had been driven by despair to the execution of some
+desperate design to put an end to her misery. Instinctively, and with
+a sinking heart, he took the direction of the sea, hurrying eagerly
+after every person he saw ahead of him, in the hope that it might be
+the woman of whom he was in search. The snow was many inches thick on
+the roads, and was falling fast; the wind tore through the now almost
+deserted streets, moaning, sobbing, shrieking, with an appalling human
+suggestion in its tones created by Dr. Spenlove's fears. Now and then
+he met a policeman, and stopped to exchange a few words with him, the
+intention of which was to ascertain if the man had seen any person
+answering to the description of Mrs. Turner. He did not mention her by
+name, for he had an idea--supposing his search to be happily
+successful--that Mr. Gordon would withdraw his offer if any publicity
+were attracted to the woman he was ready to marry. The policemen could
+not assist him; they had seen no woman with a baby in her arms
+tramping the streets on this wild night.
+
+"Anything special, sir?" they asked.
+
+"No," he replied, "nothing special;" and so went on his way.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER V.
+
+ DEATH BETTER THAN LIFE.
+
+
+When Dr. Spenlove left Mrs. Turner she sat for some time in a state of
+dull lethargy. No tear came into her eyes, no sigh escaped from her
+bosom. During the past few months she had exhausted the entire range
+of remorseful and despairing emotion. The only comfort she had
+received through all those dreary months sprang from the helpful
+sympathy of Dr. Spenlove; apart from, that she had never been buoyed
+up by a ray of light, had never been cheered by the hope of a brighter
+day. Her one prevailing thought was that she would be better dead than
+alive. She did not court death; she waited for it, and silently prayed
+that it would come soon. It was not from the strength of inward moral
+support that she had the courage to live on; it was simply that she
+had schooled herself into the belief that before or when her child was
+born death would release her from the horrors of life. Young as she
+was she so fostered this hope that it became a conviction, and she
+looked forward to the end with dull resignation. "If I live till my
+baby is born," she thought, "I pray that it may die with me."
+
+Here was the case of a woman without the moral support which springs
+from faith in any kind of religion. In some few mortals such faith is
+intuitive, but in most instances it requires guidance and wise
+direction in childhood. Often it degenerates into bigotry and
+intolerance, and assumes the hateful narrow form of condemning to
+perdition all who do not subscribe to its own particular creed. Pagans
+are as worthy of esteem as the bigots who arrogate to themselves the
+monopoly of heavenly rewards.
+
+Mrs. Turner was neither pagan nor bigot; she was a nullity. Her
+religious convictions had not yet taken shape, and though, if she had
+been asked "Are you a Christian?" she would have replied, "Oh yes, I
+am a Christian," she would have been unable to demonstrate in what way
+she was a Christian, or what she understood by the term. In this
+respect many thousands of human beings resemble her.
+
+Faith is strength, mightier than the sword, mightier than the pen,
+mightier than all the world's store of gold and precious stones; and
+when this strength is displayed in the sweetness of resignation, and
+in submission to the Divine will which chastens human life with
+sorrow, its influence upon the passions is sustaining, and purifying,
+and sublime. If Mrs. Turner had been blessed with faith which
+displayed itself in this direction, she would have been the happier
+for it, and hard as were her trials, she would to the last have looked
+forward with hope instead of despair.
+
+The story related by Mr. Gordon to Dr. Spenlove was true in every
+particular. There was no distortion or exaggeration; he had done for
+Mrs. Turner and her father all that he said he had done. He had not
+mentioned the word "love" in connection with the woman he had asked to
+be his wife. She, on her part, had no such love for him as that which
+should bind a man and a woman in a life-long tie; she held him in
+respect and esteem--that was all. But she had accepted him, and had
+contemplated the future with satisfaction until, until----
+
+Until a man crossed her path who wooed her in different fashion, and
+who lavished upon her flatteries and endearments which made her false
+to the promise she had given. For this man she had deserted the home
+which Mr. Gordon had provided for her, and had deserted it in such a
+fashion that she could never return to it, could never again be
+received in it, and this without a word of explanation to the man she
+had deceived. She was in her turn deceived, and she awoke from her
+dream to find herself a lost and abandoned woman. In horror she fled
+from him, and cast her lot among strangers, knowing full well that she
+would meet with unbearable contumely among those to whom she was
+known. Hot words had passed between her and her betrayer, and in her
+anger she had written letters to him which in the eyes of the law
+would have released him from any obligation it might otherwise have
+imposed upon him. He was well pleased with this, and he smiled as he
+put those letters in a place of safety--to be brought forward only in
+case she annoyed him. She did nothing of the kind; her scorn for him
+was so profound that she was content to release him unconditionally.
+So she passed out of his life as he passed out of hers. Neither of
+these beings, the betrayed or the betrayer, reckoned with the future;
+neither of them gave a thought to the probability that the skeins of
+Fate, which to-day separated them as surely as if they had lived at
+opposite poles of the earth, might at some future time bring them
+together again, and that the pages of the book which they believed was
+closed for ever might be reopened for weal or woe.
+
+The child's moans aroused the mother from her lethargy. She had no
+milk to give the babe; nature's founts were dry, and she went from
+door to door in the house in which she lived to beg for food. She
+returned as she went, empty-handed, and the child continued to moan.
+
+Dr. Spenlove, her only friend, had bidden her farewell. She had not a
+penny in her pocket; there was not a crust of bread in the cupboard,
+not an ounce of coal, not a stick of wood to kindle a fire. She was
+thinly clad, and she did not possess a single article upon which she
+could have obtained the smallest advance. She had taken the room
+furnished, but even if what it contained had been her property a
+broker would have given but a few shillings for everything in it.
+
+The little hand instinctively wandered to the mother's wasted breast,
+and plucked at it imploringly, ravenously. The woman looked around in
+the last throes of an anguish too deep for expression, except in the
+appalling words to which she gave despairing utterance.
+
+"Come," she cried, "we will end it!"
+
+Out into the cold streets she crept, unobserved. She shivered, and a
+pitiful smile crossed her lips.
+
+"Hush, hush!" she murmured to her babe. "It will soon be over. Better
+dead--better dead--for you and for me!"
+
+She crept towards the sea, and hugged the wall when she heard
+approaching footsteps. She need not have feared; the night was too
+inclement for any but selfish consideration. The soft snow fell, and
+enwrapped her and her child in its pitiless shroud. She paused by a
+lamp-post, and cast an upward look at the heavens, in which she could
+see the glimmering of the stars. Then she went on, and fretfully
+pressed her babe close to her breast, to stifle the feeble sobs.
+
+"Be still, be still!" she murmured. "There is no hope in life for
+either of us. Better dead--better dead!"
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER VI.
+
+ THE FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+
+Desperately resolved as she was to carry her fatal design into
+execution she had not reckoned with nature. Weakened by the life of
+privation she had led for so many months, and also by the birth of her
+child, her physical forces had reached the limit of human endurance.
+She faltered and staggered, the ground slipped from beneath her weary
+feet. Vain was the struggle, her vital power was spent. From her
+overcharged heart a voiceless and terrible prayer went up to heaven.
+"Give me strength, O God, give me but a little strength! I have not
+far to go!" She fought the air with her disengaged hand, and tossed
+her head this way and that; but her ruthless prayer was not answered,
+and though she struggled fiercely she managed to crawl only a few more
+steps. She had yet hundreds of yards to go to reach the sea when some
+chord within her seemed to snap; her farther progress was instantly
+arrested, and she found herself incapable of moving backward or
+forward. Swaying to and fro, the earth, the sky the whirling snow, and
+the dim light of the stars swam in her sight and faded from before
+her. In that supreme moment she saw a spiritual vision of her
+dishonoured life. Deprived early of a mother's counsel and
+companionship, she had passed her days with a spendthrift father,
+whose love for her was so tainted with selfishness that it was not
+only valueless, but mischievous. When she grew to woman's estate she
+was worse than alone; she had no guide, no teacher, to point out the
+rocks and shoals of maidenhood, to inculcate in her the principles of
+virtue which would act as a safeguard against the specious wiles of
+men whose eyes were charmed by her beauty, and whose only aim was to
+lure her to ruin. Then her father died, and a friend came forward who
+offered her a home and an honourable position in the world. Friendless
+and penniless, she accepted him, and gave him her promise, and
+accepted his money. Love had not touched her heart; she thought it had
+when a wilier man wooed her in another and more alluring fashion, and
+by this man she had been beguiled and betrayed. Then she knew what she
+had lost, but it was too late; her good name was gone, and she fled to
+a strange part of the country and lived among strangers, a
+heartbroken, despairing woman. All the salient features in her career
+flashed before her. She saw the man who had trusted her, she saw the
+man in whom she put her trust, she saw herself, an abandoned creature,
+with a child of shame in her arms. These ghostly figures stood clearly
+limned in that one last moment of swiftly fading light, as in the
+moment of sunrise on a frosty morning every distant object stands
+sharply outlined against the sky; then darkness fell upon her, and
+with an inarticulate, despairing cry, she sank to the ground in a
+deathlike swoon. The wind sobbed and shrieked and wailed around her
+and her child; the falling snow, with treacherous tenderness, fell
+softly upon them; herself insensible, she had no power to shake it
+off; her babe was conscious, but its feeble movements were of small
+avail against the white pall which was descending upon it and its
+outcast mother. Thicker and thicker it grew, and in the wild outcry of
+this bitter night Fate seemed to have pronounced its inexorable
+sentence of death against these unfortunate beings.
+
+Ignorant of the fact that chance or a spiritual messenger was guiding
+him aright, Dr. Spenlove plodded through the streets. He had no clue,
+and received none from the half-dozen persons or so he encountered as
+he walked towards the sea. He was scarcely fit for the task he had
+undertaken, but so intent was he upon his merciful mission that he
+bestowed no thought upon himself. The nipping air aggravating the
+cough from which he was suffering, he kept his mouth closed as a
+protection, and peered anxiously before him for some signs of the
+woman he was pursuing. A man walked briskly and cheerily towards him,
+puffing at a large and fragrant cigar, and stamping his feet sturdily
+into the snow. This man wore a demonstratively furred overcoat; his
+hands were gloved in fur; his boots were thick and substantial; and in
+the independent assertion that he was at peace with the world, and on
+exceedingly good terms with himself, he hummed the words, in Italian,
+of the Jewel Song in "Faust" every time he removed the cigar from his
+lips. Although it was but a humming reminiscence of the famous and
+beautiful number, his faint rendering of it was absolutely faultless,
+and proved him to be a man of refined musicianly taste, quite out of
+keeping with his demonstratively furred overcoat. Music, however, was
+not his profession; the instincts of his race and a youthful ambition
+had welded the divine art into his soul, and the instincts of his race
+had made him--a pawnbroker. Singular conjunction of qualities--the
+music of the celestial spheres and fourpence in the pound a month! A
+vulgar occupation, that of a pawnbroker, which high-toned gentlemen
+and mortals of aristocratic birth regard with scorn and contempt. But
+the last vulgar and debasing music-hall ditty which was carolled with
+delight by the majority of these gilded beings of a higher social
+grade never found lodgment in the soul of Mr. Moss, which, despite
+that he devoted his business hours to the lending of insignificant
+sums of money upon any small articles which were submitted to his
+judgment across the dark counter of his pawnbroking establishment, was
+attuned to a far loftier height than theirs in the divine realms of
+song. Puff, puff, puff at his cigar, the curling wreaths from which
+were whirled into threads of fantastic confusion by the gusts of wind,
+or hung in faint grey curls of beauty during a lull. The starry gleam
+was transferred from the lips to the fur-covered hand:--
+
+
+ "E' strano poter il viso suo veder;
+ Ah! mi posso guardar mi pospo rimirar.
+ Di, sei tu? Margherita!
+ Di, sei tu? Dimmi su;
+ Dimmi su, di su, di su, di su presto!"
+
+
+From hand to lips the starry gleam, and the soul of Mr. Moss followed
+the air as he puffed his weed....
+
+
+ "E la figlia d'un re!...
+ Proseguiam l'adornamento.
+ Vo provare ancor se mi stan
+ Lo smaniglia ed il monil!"
+
+
+The pawnbroker broke into ecstasy. From lips to hand again the starry
+light, and his voice grew rapturous:--
+
+
+ "Ciel! E come una man
+ Che sul baaccio mi posa!
+ Ah! Io rido in poter
+ Me stessa qui veder!"
+
+
+The last trill brought him close to Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"Friend, friend!" cried the doctor. "A word with you, for charity's
+sake!"
+
+Mr. Moss did not disregard the appeal. Slipping off his right glove,
+and thereby displaying two fingers decorated with massive rings
+studded with diamonds, he fished a couple of coppers from a capacious
+pocket, and thrust them into Dr. Spenlove's outstretched palm. He
+thought it was a homeless beggar who had besought charity. Dr.
+Spenlove caught his hand, and said,--
+
+"No, no, it is not for that. Will you kindly tell me----
+
+"Why," interrupted Mr. Moss, "it is Dr. Spenlove!"
+
+"Mr. Moss," said Dr. Spenlove, with a sigh of relief, "I am glad it
+is you, I am glad it is you."
+
+"Not gladder than I am," responded Mr. Moss, jovially. "Even in
+weather like this I shouldn't care to be anybody else but myself."
+
+This feeble attempt at humour was lost upon Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"You have come from the direction I am taking, and you may have seen a
+person I am looking for--a woman with a baby in her arms, a poor
+woman, Mr. Moss, whom I am most anxious to find."
+
+"I've come from the Hard, but I took no account of the people I
+passed. A man has enough to do to look after himself, with the snow
+making icicles in his hair, and the wind trying to bite his nose off
+his face. The first law of nature, you know, doctor, is----"
+
+"Humanity," interrupted Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"No, no, doctor," corrected Mr. Moss; "number one's the first
+law--number one, number one."
+
+"You did not meet the woman, then?"
+
+"Not to notice her. You've a bad cough, doctor; you'll have to take
+some of your own medicine." He laughed. "Standing here is enough to
+freeze one."
+
+"I am sorry I troubled you," said Dr. Spenlove, hurt by the tone in
+which Mr. Moss spoke. "Good-night."
+
+He was moving away, when Mr. Moss detained him.
+
+"But look here, doctor, you're not fit to be tramping the streets in
+this storm; you ought to be snuggled up between the blankets. Come
+home with me, and Mrs. Moss shall make you a hot grog."
+
+Dr. Spenlove shook his head, and passed on. Mr. Moss gazed at the
+retreating figure, his thoughts commingling.
+
+"A charitable man, the good doctor, a large-hearted gentleman....
+
+
+ 'Tardi si fa ahdio!
+ Ah! ti scongiuro invan.'
+
+
+And poor as a church mouse. What woman is he running after? Mrs. Moss
+would give her a piece of her mind for taking out a baby on such a
+night.
+
+
+ 'Notte d'amor, tutta splendor,
+ Begli astra d'oro.
+ O celeste voluttà!
+ Udir si, t'amo, t'adoro!'
+
+
+Too bad to let him go alone, such a good fellow as he is; but Mrs.
+Moss will be waiting up for me.... She won't mind when I tell
+her.... I've a good mind to--yes, I will."
+
+And after the doctor went Mr. Moss, and caught up to him.
+
+"Doctor, can I be of any assistance to you?"
+
+"I shall be glad of your help," said Dr. Spenlove, eagerly. "I'm
+rather worn out; I have had a hard day."
+
+"It's a trying life, the' life of a doctor," said Mr. Moss,
+sympathetically, as they walked slowly on, side by side. "We were
+talking of it at home only a month ago, when we were discussing what
+we should put Michael to, our eldest boy, doctor."
+
+"You have a large family," observed Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"Not too large," said Mr. Moss, cheerfully. "Only eleven. My mother
+had twenty-five, and I've a sister with eighteen. Our youngest--what a
+rogue he is, doctor!--is eight months; our eldest, Michael, is
+seventeen next birthday. School days over, he buckles to for work. We
+had a family council to decide what he should be. We discussed all the
+professions, and reduced them to two--doctor, stockbroker. Michael had
+a leaning to be a doctor--that's why we kept it in for discussion--but
+we succeeded in arguing him out of it. Your time's not your own, you
+see. Called up at all hours of the night, and in all weathers; go
+to a dinner-party, and dragged away before it's half over, obliged to
+leave the best behind you; can't enjoy a game of cards or billiards.
+You've got a little bet on, perhaps; or you're playing for points and
+have got a winning hand, when it's 'Doctor, you must come at once;
+so-and-so's dying.' What's the consequence? You make a miscue, or you
+revoke, and you lose your money. If you're married, you're worse off
+than if you're single; you haven't any comfort of your life. 'No, no,
+Michael,' says I, 'no doctoring. Stockbroking--that's what you'll go
+for.' And that's what he _is_ going for. Most of our people, doctor,
+are lucky in their children. They don't forget to honour their father
+and their mother, that their days may be long in the land, and so on.
+There's big fish on the Stock Exchange, and they're worth trying for.
+What's the use of sprats? It takes a hundred to fill a dish. Catch one
+salmon, and your dish is filled. A grand fish, doctor, a grand fish!
+What to do with your sons? Why, put them where they can make money;
+don't make scavengers or coal-heavers of them. _We_ know what we're
+about. There's no brain in the world to compare with ours, and that's
+no boast, let me tell you. Take your strikes, now. A strike of
+bricklayers for a rise of twopence a day in their wages. How many of
+our race among the strikers? Not one. Did you ever see a Jewish
+bricklayer carrying a hod up a hundred-foot ladder, and risking his
+neck for bread, cheese, and beer? No, and you never will. We did our
+share of that kind of work in old Egypt; we made all the bricks we
+wanted to, and now we're taking a rest. A strike of bootmakers. How
+many of our race among the cobblers? One in a thousand, and he's an
+addlepate. We deal in boots wholesale; but we don't make them
+ourselves. Not likely. We send consignments of them to the colonies,
+and open a dozen shops in every large city, with fine plate-glass
+windows. We build houses with _our_ money and _your_ bricks and
+mortar. When we're after birds we don't care for sparrows: we aim at
+eagles, and we bring them down; we bring them down." He beat his
+gloved hands together, and chuckled. "What's your opinion, doctor?"
+
+"You are right, quite right," said Dr. Spenlove, upon whose ears his
+companion's words had fallen like the buzzing of insects.
+
+"Should say I was," said Mr. Moss. "I ought to have gone on the Stock
+Exchange myself; but when I was a young man I fancied I had a voice;
+so I went in for music, studied Italian and all the famous operas till
+I knew them by heart almost, and found out in the end that my voice
+wasn't good enough. It was a great disappointment, because I had
+dreamt of making a fortune as a tenor. Signor Mossini--that was to be
+my name. My money being all spent, I had to take what was offered to
+me, a situation with a pawnbroker. That is how I became one, and I've
+no reason to regret it. Eh? Why are you running away?"
+
+For Dr. Spenlove suddenly left his companion, and hurried forward.
+
+During the time that Mr. Moss was unbosoming himself they had not met
+a soul, and Dr. Spenlove had seen nothing to sustain his hope of
+finding Mrs. Turner. But now his observant eyes detected a movement in
+the snow-laden road which thrilled him with apprehension, and caused
+him to hasten to the spot. It was as if some living creature were
+striving feebly to release itself from the fatal white shroud. Mr.
+Moss hurried after him, and they reached the spot at the same moment.
+In a fever of anxiety Dr. Spenlove knelt and pushed the snow aside,
+and then there came into view a baby's hand and arm.
+
+"Good God!" he murmured, and gently lifted the babe from the cold bed.
+
+"Is it alive? is it alive?" cried Mr. Moss, all his nerves tingling
+with excitement. "Give it to me--quick! there's some one else there."
+
+He saw portions of female clothing in the snow which Dr. Spenlove was
+pushing frantically away. He snatched up the babe, and, opening his
+fur coat, clasped the little one to his breast, and enveloped it in
+its warm folds. Meanwhile Dr. Spenlove was working at fever-heat. To
+release Mrs. Turner from her perilous position, to raise her to her
+feet, to put his mouth to her mouth, his ear to her heart, to assure
+himself there was a faint pulsation in her body--all this was the work
+of a few moments.
+
+"Does she breathe, doctor?" asked Mr. Moss.
+
+"She does," replied Dr. Spenlove; and added, in deep distress, "but
+she may die in my arms."
+
+"Not if we can save her. Here, help me off with this thick coat. Easy,
+easy; I have only one arm free. Now let us get her into it. That's
+capitally done. Put the baby inside as well; it will hold them both
+comfortably. Button it over them. There, that will keep them nice and
+warm. Do you know her? Does she live far from here? Is she the woman
+you are looking for?"
+
+"Yes, and her lodging is a mile away. How can we get her home?"
+
+"We'll manage it. Ah, we're in luck. Here's a cab coming towards us.
+Hold on to them while I speak to the driver."
+
+He was off and back again with the cab--with the driver of which he
+had made a rapid bargain--in a wonderfully short space of time. The
+mother and her babe were lifted tenderly in, the address was given to
+the driver, the two kind-hearted men took their seats, the windows
+were pulled up, and the cab crawled slowly on towards Mrs. Turner's
+lodging. Dr. Spenlove's skilful hands were busy over the woman,
+restoring animation to her frozen limbs, and Mr. Moss was doing the
+same to the child.
+
+"How are you getting along, doctor? I am progressing famously,
+famously. The child is warming up, and is beginning to breathe quite
+nicely."
+
+He was handling the babe as tenderly as if it were a child of his own.
+
+"She will recover, I trust," said Dr. Spenlove; "but we were only just
+in time. It is fortunate that I met you, Mr. Moss; you have been the
+means of saving two helpless, unfortunate beings."
+
+"Nonsense, nonsense," answered Mr. Moss. "I have only done what any
+man would do. It is you who have saved them, doctor, not I. I am proud
+to know you, and I shall be glad to hear of your getting along in the
+world. You haven't done very well up to now, I fear. Go for the big
+fish and the big birds, doctor."
+
+"If that were the universal law of life," asked Dr. Spenlove, in a
+tone of exquisite compassion, with a motion of his hands towards Mrs.
+Turner and her child, "what would become of these?"
+
+"Ah, yes, yes," responded Mr. Moss, gravely; "but I mean in a general
+way, you know. To be sure, there are millions more little fish and
+birds than there are big ones, but it's a selfish world, doctor."
+
+"You are not an exemplification of it," said Dr. Spenlove, his eyes
+brightening. "The milk of human kindness will never be frozen, even on
+such bitter nights as this, while men like you are in it."
+
+"You make me ashamed of myself," cried Mr. Moss, violently, but
+instantly sobered down. "And now, as I see we are close to the poor
+woman's house, perhaps you will tell me what more I can do."
+
+Dr. Spenlove took from his pocket the money with which he had intended
+to pay his fare to London, and held it out to Mr. Moss. "Pay the
+cabman for me, and assist me to carry the woman up to her room."
+
+Mr. Moss thrust the money back. "I will pay him myself; it is my cab,
+not yours. I don't allow any one to get the better of me if I can help
+it."
+
+When the cab stopped he jumped out and settled with the driver, and
+then he and Dr. Spenlove carried Mrs. Turner and her babe to the top
+of the house. The room was dark and cold, and Mr. Moss shivered. He
+struck a match, and held it while Dr. Spenlove laid the mother and
+child upon their wretched bed.
+
+"Kindly stop here a moment," said the doctor.
+
+He went into the passage, and called to the lodger on the same floor
+of whom he had made inquiries earlier in the night. She soon appeared,
+and after they had exchanged a few words, accompanied him, but
+partially dressed, to Mrs. Turner's room. She brought a lighted candle
+with her, and upon Mr. Moss taking it from her, devoted herself, with
+Dr. Spenlove, to her fellow-lodger and the babe.
+
+"Dear, dear, dear!" she said, piteously. "Poor soul, poor soul!"
+
+Mr. Moss was not idle. All the finer qualities of his nature were
+stirred to action by the adventures of the night. He knelt before the
+grate; it was empty; not a cinder had been left; some grey ashes on
+the hearth--that was all. He looked into the broken coal scuttle; it
+had been scraped bare. Rising to his feet he stepped to the cupboard;
+a cracked cup and saucer were there, a chipped plate or two, a
+mouthless jug, but not a vestige of food. Without a word he left the
+room, and sped downstairs.
+
+He was absent fifteen or twenty minutes, and when he returned it was
+in the company of a man who carried a hundredweight of coals upon his
+shoulders. Mr. Moss himself was loaded: under his armpits two bundles
+of wood and a loaf of bread; in one hand tea and butter; in his other
+hand a can of milk.
+
+"God bless you, sir!" said the woman, who was assisting Dr. Spenlove.
+
+Mr. Moss knelt again before the grate, and made a fire. Kettle in hand
+he searched for water.
+
+"You will find some in my room, sir," said the woman.
+
+Mrs. Turner and her babe were now in bed, the child still craving for
+food, the mother still unconscious, but breathing heavily. The fire
+lit, and the kettle on, Mr. Moss put on his fur overcoat, whispered a
+good-night to Dr. Spenlove, received a grateful pressure of the hand
+in reply, slipped out of the house, and took his way home, humming--
+
+
+ "O del ciel angeli immortal,
+ Deh mi guidate con voi lassù!
+ Dio giusto, a te m'abbandono,
+ Buon Dio, m'accorda il tuo perdono!"
+
+
+He looked at his hands, which were black from contact with the coals.
+
+"What will Mrs. Moss say?" he murmured.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER VII.
+
+ DR. SPENLOVE ADVISES.
+
+
+An hour after Mr. Moss's departure Mrs. Turner opened her eyes. It was
+a moment for which Dr. Spenlove had anxiously waited. He had satisfied
+himself that both of his patients were in a fair way of recovery, and
+thus far his heart was relieved. The woman who had assisted him had
+also taken her departure after having given the babe some warm milk.
+Her hunger appeased, the little one was sleeping calmly and peacefully
+by her mother's side.
+
+The room was now warm and cheerful. A bright fire was blazing, the
+kettle was simmering, and a pot of hot tea was standing on the hearth.
+
+Mrs. Turner gazed around in bewilderment. The one candle in the room
+but dimly lighted it up, and the flickering flames of the fire threw
+fantastic shadows on walls and ceiling; but so bright was the blaze
+that there was nothing distressful in these shadowy phantasmagoria. At
+a little distance from the bed stood Dr. Spenlove, his pale face
+turned to the waking woman. She looked at him long and steadily, and
+did not answer him when he smiled encouragingly at her and spoke a few
+gentle words. She passed her hand over the form of her sleeping child,
+and then across her forehead, in the effort to recall what had passed.
+But her mind was confused; bewildering images of the stages of her
+desperate resolve presented themselves--blinding snow, shrieking wind,
+the sea which she had not reached, the phantoms she had conjured up
+when her senses were deserting her in the white streets.
+
+"Am I alive?" she muttered.
+
+"Happily, dear Mrs. Turner," said Dr. Spenlove. "You are in your own
+room, and you will soon be well."
+
+"Who brought me here?"
+
+"I, and a good friend I was fortunate enough to meet when I was
+seeking you."
+
+"Why did you seek me?"
+
+"To save you."
+
+"To save me! You knew, then----"
+
+She paused.
+
+"I knew nothing except that you were in trouble."
+
+"Where did you find me?"
+
+"In the snow, you and your child. A few minutes longer, and it would
+have been too late. But an angel directed my steps."
+
+"No angel directed you: a devil led you on. Why did you not leave me
+to die? It was what I went out for. I confess it!" she cried,
+recklessly. "It was my purpose not to live; it was my purpose not to
+allow my child to live! I was justified. Is not a quick death better
+than a slow, lingering torture which must end in death? Why did you
+save me? Why did you not leave me to die?"
+
+"It would have been a crime."
+
+"It would have been a mercy. You have brought me back to misery. I do
+not thank you, doctor."
+
+"You may live to thank me. Drink this tea; it will do you good."
+
+She shook her head rebelliously.
+
+"What is the use? You have done me an ill turn. Had it not been for
+you I should have been at peace. There would have been no more hunger,
+no more privation. There would have been an end to my shame and
+degradation."
+
+"You would have taken it with you to the Judgment Seat," said Dr.
+Spenlove, with solemn tenderness. "There would have been worse than
+hunger and privation. What answer could you have made to the Eternal
+when you presented yourself before the Throne with the crime of murder
+on your soul?"
+
+"Murder!" she gasped.
+
+"Murder," he gently repeated. "If you went out to-night with an
+intention so appalling, it was not only your own life you would have
+taken, it was the life of the innocent babe now slumbering by your
+side. Can you have forgotten that?"
+
+"No," she answered, in a tone of faint defiance, "I have not forgotten
+it, I do not forget it. God would have forgiven me."
+
+"He would not have forgiven you."
+
+"He would. What has she to live for? What have I to live for--a lost
+and abandoned woman, a mother whose association would bring
+degradation upon her child? How should I meet her reproaches when
+she grew to be a woman herself? I am not ungrateful for what you
+have done for me"--she glanced at the fire and the tea he held in his
+hand--"but it cannot continue. To-morrow will come. There is always a
+to-morrow to strike terror to the hearts of such as I. Do you know
+what I have suffered? Do you see the future that lies before us? What
+hope is there in this world for me and my child?"
+
+"There is hope. You brought her into the world."
+
+"God help me, I did!" she moaned.
+
+"By what right, having given her life, would you rob her of the
+happiness which may be in store for her?"
+
+"Happiness!" she exclaimed, bitterly. "You speak to me of happiness!"
+
+"I do, in truth and sincerity, if you are willing to make a sacrifice,
+if you are willing to perform a duty."
+
+"What would I not be willing to do," she cried, despairingly; "what
+would I not cheerfully do, to make her life innocent and happy--not
+like mine--oh, not like mine! But you are mocking me with empty
+words."
+
+"Indeed I am not," said Dr. Spenlove, earnestly. "Since I left you
+some hours ago, not expecting to see you again, something has occurred
+of which I came to speak to you. I found your room deserted, and
+feared--what we will not mention again. I searched, and discovered you
+in time to save you; and with all my heart I thank God for it! Now,
+drink this tea. I have much to say to you, and you need strength to
+consider it. If you can eat a little bread and butter--ah, you can!
+Let me fill your cup again. That is right. Now I recognise the lady it
+was my pleasure to be able to assist, not to the extent I would have
+wished, because of my own circumstances."
+
+His reference to her as a lady, no less than the respectful
+consideration of his manner towards her, brought a flush to her cheeks
+as she ate. And, indeed, she ate ravenously. Defiant and rebellious as
+may be our moods, nature's demands are imperative, and no mortal is
+strong enough to resist them.
+
+When she had finished he sat by her side, and was silent awhile,
+debating with himself how he should approach the task which Mr. Gordon
+had imposed upon him.
+
+She saved him the trouble of commencing. "Are you acquainted with the
+story of my life?" she asked.
+
+"It has been imparted to me," he replied, "by one to whom I was a
+stranger till within the last few hours."
+
+"Do I know him?"
+
+"You know him well."
+
+For a moment she thought of the man who had brought her to this gulf
+of shame, but she dismissed the thought. It was impossible. He was too
+heartless and base to send a messenger to her on an errand of
+friendship, and Dr. Spenlove would have undertaken no errand of an
+opposite nature.
+
+"Will you tell me his name?"
+
+"Mr. Gordon."
+
+She trembled, and her face grew white. She had wronged this man; the
+law might say that she had robbed him. Oh! why had her fatal design
+been frustrated? why was not this torturing existence ended?
+
+"You need be under no apprehension," continued Dr. Spenlove; "he comes
+as a friend."
+
+She tossed her head in scorn of herself as one unworthy of friendship.
+
+"He has but lately arrived in England from the Colonies, and he came
+with the hope of taking you back with him as his wife. It is from him
+I learned the sad particulars of your life. Believe me when I say that
+he is desirous to befriend you."
+
+"In what way? Does he offer me money? I have cost him enough already.
+My father tricked him, and I have shamefully deceived him. To receive
+more from him would fill me with shame; but for the sake of my child I
+will submit to any sacrifice, to any humiliation--I will do anything,
+anything! It would well become me to show pride when charity is
+offered to me!"
+
+"Do not forget those words--'for the sake of your child you will
+submit to any sacrifice.' It is your duty, for her sake, to accept any
+honourable proposition, and Mr. Gordon offers nothing that is not
+honourable." (He sighed as he said this, for he thought of the
+sacredness of a mother's love for her first-born.) "He will not give
+you money apart from himself. United to him, all he has is yours. He
+wishes to marry you."
+
+She stared at him in amazement.
+
+"Are you mad!" she cried, "or do you think that I am?"
+
+"I am speaking the sober truth. Mr. Gordon has followed you here
+because he wishes to marry you."
+
+"Knowing me for what I am!" she said, still incredulous. "Knowing that
+I am in the lowest depths of degradation; knowing this"--she touched
+her child with a gentle hand--"he wishes to marry me!"
+
+"He knows all. There is not an incident in your career with which he
+does not seem to be acquainted, and in the errand with which he has
+charged me he is sincerely in earnest."
+
+"Dr. Spenlove," she said, slowly, "what is your opinion of a man who
+comes forward to pluck from shame and poverty a woman who has behaved
+as I have to Mr. Gordon?"
+
+"His actions speak for him," replied Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"He must have a noble nature," she said. "I never regarded him in that
+light. I took him to be a hard, conscientious, fair-dealing man, who
+thought I would make him a good wife, but I never believed that he
+loved me. I did him the injustice of supposing him incapable of love.
+Ah, how I misjudged this man! I am not worthy of him, I am not worthy
+of him!"
+
+"Set your mind not upon the past, but upon the future. Think of
+yourself and of your child in the years to come, and remember the fear
+and horror by which you have been oppressed in your contemplation of
+them. I have something further to disclose to you. Mr. Gordon imposes
+a condition from which he will not swerve, and to which I beg you to
+listen with calmness. When you have heard all, do not answer hastily.
+Reflect upon the consequences which hang on your decision, and bear in
+mind that you have to make that decision before I leave you. I am to
+bear your answer to him to-night; he is waiting in my rooms to receive
+it."
+
+Then, softening down all that was harsh in the proposal and magnifying
+all its better points, Dr. Spenlove related to her what had passed
+between Mr. Gordon and himself. She listened in silence, and he could
+not judge from her demeanour whether he was to succeed or to fail.
+Frequently she turned her face from his tenderly-searching gaze, as
+though more effectually to conceal her thoughts from him. When he
+finished speaking she showed that she had taken to heart his counsel
+not to decide hastily, for she did not speak for several minutes. Then
+she said plaintively,--
+
+"There is no appeal, doctor?"
+
+"None," he answered, in a decisive tone.
+
+"He sought you out and made you his messenger, because of his
+impression that you had influence with me, and would advise me for my
+good?"
+
+"As I have told you, in his own words, as nearly as I have been able
+to recall them."
+
+"He was right. There is no man in the world I honour more than I
+honour you. I would accept what you say against my own convictions,
+against my own feelings. Advise me, doctor. My mind is distracted; I
+cannot be guided by it. You know what I am, you know what I have been,
+you foresee the future that lies before me. Advise me."
+
+The moment he had dreaded had arrived. The issue was with him. He felt
+that this woman's fate was in his hands.
+
+"My advice is," he said, in a low tone, "that you accept Mr. Gordon's
+offer."
+
+"And cast aside a mother's duty?"
+
+"What did you cast aside," he asked, sadly, "when you went with your
+child on such a night as this towards the sea?"
+
+She shuddered. She would not look at her child; with stern resolution
+she kept her eyes from wandering to the spot upon which the infant
+lay; she even moved away from the little body so that she should not
+come in contact with it.
+
+A long silence ensued, which Dr. Spenlove dared not break.
+
+"I cannot blame him," she then said, her voice, now and again, broken
+by a sob, "for making conditions. It is his respectability that is at
+stake, and he is noble and generous for taking such a risk upon
+himself. There is a law for the man and a law for the woman. Oh, I
+know what I am saying, doctor; the lesson has been driven into my
+soul, and I have learnt it with tears of blood. One of these laws is
+white, the other black, and justice says it is right. It is our
+misfortune that we bear the children, and that their little fingers
+clutch our heart-strings. It would be mockery for me to say that I
+love my child with a love equal to that I should have felt if she had
+come into the world without the mark of shame with which I have
+branded her. With my love for her is mingled a loathing of myself, a
+terror of the living evidence of my fall. But I love her, doctor, I
+love her--and never yet so much as now when I am asked to part with
+her! What I did a while ago was done in a frenzy of despair. I had no
+food, you see, and she was crying for it; and the horror and the
+anguish of that hour may overpower me again if I am left as I am. I
+will accept Mr. Gordon's offer, and I will be as good a wife to him as
+it is in my power to be; but I, also, have a condition to make. Mr.
+Gordon is much older than I, and it may be that I shall outlive him.
+The condition I make is--and whatever the consequences I am determined
+to abide by it--that in the event of my husband's death, and of there
+being no children of our union, I shall be free to seek the child I am
+called upon to desert. In everything else I will perform my part of
+the contract faithfully. Take my decision to Mr. Gordon, and if it is
+possible for you to return here to-night with his answer, I implore
+you to do so. I cannot close my eyes, I cannot rest, until I hear the
+worst. God alone knows on which side lies the right, on which the
+wrong!"
+
+"I will return with his answer," said Dr. Spenlove, "to-night."
+
+"There is still something more," she said, in an imploring tone, "and
+it must be a secret sacredly kept between you and me. It may happen
+that you will become acquainted with the name of the guardian of my
+child. I have a small memorial which I desire he shall retain until
+she is of age, say until she is twenty-one, or until, in the event of
+my husband's death, I am free to seek her in years to come. If you do
+not discover who the guardian is, I ask you to keep this memorial for
+me until I reclaim it; which may be, never! Will you do this for me?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"Thank you for all your goodness to me. But I have nothing to put the
+memorial in. Could you add to your many kindnesses by giving me a
+small box which I can lock and secure? Dear Dr. Spenlove, it is a
+mother who will presently be torn from her child who implores you!"
+
+He bethought him of a small iron box he had at home, which contained
+some private papers of his own. He could spare this box without
+inconvenience to himself, and he promised to bring it to her; and so,
+with sincere words of consolation, he left her.
+
+In the course of an hour he returned. Mr. Gordon had consented to the
+condition she imposed.
+
+"Should I be thankful or not?" she asked, wistfully.
+
+"You should be thankful," he replied. "Your child, rest assured, will
+have a comfortable and happy home. Here is the box and the key. It is
+a patent lock; no other key can open it. I will show you how to use
+it. Yes, that is the way." He paused a moment, his hand in his pocket.
+"You will be ready to meet Mr. Gordon at two to-morrow?"
+
+"And my child?" she asked, with tears in her voice. "When will she be
+taken from me?"
+
+"At twelve." His hand was still fumbling in his pocket, and he
+suddenly shook his head, as if indignant with himself. "You may want
+to purchase one or two little things in the morning. Here are a few
+shillings. Pray accept them."
+
+He laid on the table the money with which he had intended to pay his
+fare to London.
+
+"Heaven reward you," said the grateful woman, "and make your life
+bright and prosperous."
+
+Her tears bedewed his hand as she kissed it humbly, and Dr. Spenlove
+walked wearily home, once more penniless, but not entirely unhappy.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER VIII.
+
+ WHAT WAS PUT IN THE IRON BOX.
+
+
+The mother's vigil with her child on this last night was fraught with
+conflicting emotions of agony and rebellion. Upon Dr. Spenlove's
+departure she rose and dressed herself completely, all her thoughts
+and feelings being so engrossed by the impending separation that she
+took no heed of her damp clothes. She entertained no doubt that the
+renunciation was imperative and in the interest of her babe; nor did
+she doubt that the man who had dictated it was acting in simple
+justice to himself and in a spirit of mercy towards her; but she was
+in no mood to regard with gratitude one who in the most dread crisis
+in her life had saved her from destruction. The cause of this
+injustice lay in the fact that until this moment the true maternal
+instinct had not been awakened within her breast. As she had
+faithfully expressed it to Dr. Spenlove, the birth of her babe had
+filled her with terror and with a loathing of herself. Had there been
+no consequences of her error apparent to the world she would have
+struggled on and might have been able to preserve her good name; her
+dishonour would not have been made clear to censorious eyes; but the
+living evidence of her shame was by her side, and, left to her own
+resources, she had conceived the idea that death was her only refuge.
+Her acceptance of the better course that had been opened for her
+loosened the floodgates of tenderness for the child who was soon to be
+torn from her arms. Love and remorse shone in her eyes as she knelt by
+the bedside and fondled the little hands and kissed the innocent lips.
+
+"Will you not wake, darling," she murmured, "and let me see your dear
+eyes? Wake, darling, wake! Do you not know what is going to happen?
+They are going to take you from me. Perhaps we shall never meet again;
+and if we do, you have not even a name by which I can call you. But
+perhaps that will not matter. Surely you will know your mother, surely
+I shall know my child, and we shall fly to each other's arms. I want
+to tell you all this--I want you to hear it. Wake, sweet, wake!"
+
+The child slept on. Presently she murmured, "It is hard, it is hard!
+How can God permit such cruelty?"
+
+Half an hour passed in this way, and then she became more composed.
+Her mind, which had been unbalanced by her misfortunes, recovered its
+equilibrium, and she could reason with comparative calmness upon the
+future. In sorrow and pain she mentally mapped out the years to come.
+She saw her future, as she believed, a joyless life, a life of cold
+duty. She would not entertain the possibility of a brighter side, the
+possibility of her becoming reconciled to her fate, of her growing to
+love her husband, of her having other children who would be as dear to
+her as this one was. In the state of her feelings it seemed to her
+monstrous to entertain such ideas, a wrong perpetrated upon the babe
+she was deserting. In dogged rebellion she hugged misery to her
+breast, and dwelt upon it as part of the punishment she had brought
+upon herself. There was no hope of happiness for her in the future,
+there was no ray of light to illumine her path. For ever would she be
+thinking of the child for whom now, for the first time since its
+birth, she felt a mother's love, and who was henceforth to find a home
+among strangers.
+
+In this hopeless fashion did she muse for some time, and then a star
+appeared in her dark sky. She might, as she had suggested to Dr.
+Spenlove, survive her husband; it was more than possible, it was
+probable, and, though there was in the contemplation a touch of
+treason towards the man who had come to her rescue, she derived
+satisfaction from it. In the event of his death she must adopt some
+steps to prove that the child was hers, and that she, and she alone,
+had the sole right to her. No stranger should keep her darling from
+her, should rob her of her reward for the sufferings she had
+undergone. It was for this reason that she had asked Dr. Spenlove for
+the iron box.
+
+It was a compact, well-made box, and very heavy for its size. Any
+person receiving it as a precious deposit, under the conditions she
+imposed, might, when it was in his possession, reasonably believe that
+it contained mementoes of price, valuable jewels, perhaps, which she
+wished her child to wear when she grew to womanhood. She had no such
+treasure. Unlocking the box she took from her pocket a packet of
+letters, which she read with a bitterness which displayed itself
+strongly in her face, which made her quiver with passionate
+indignation.
+
+"The villain!" she muttered. "If he stood before me now, I would
+strike him dead at my feet."
+
+There was no lingering accent of tenderness in her voice. The love she
+had for him but yesterday was dead, and for the father of her child
+she had now only feelings of hatred and scorn. Clearly she was a woman
+of strong passions, a woman who could love and hate with ardour.
+
+The letters were four in number, and had been written, at intervals of
+two or three weeks, by the man who had betrayed and deserted her. The
+language was such as would have deceived any girl who had given him
+her heart. The false fervour, the protestations of undying love, the
+passionate appeals to put full trust in his honour, were sufficient to
+stamp the writer as a heartless villain, and, if he aped
+respectability, to ruin him in the eyes of the world. Cunning he must
+have been to a certain extent, but it was evident that, in thus
+incriminating himself and supplying proofs of his perfidy, he had
+forgotten his usual caution. Perhaps he had been for a short time
+under a delusion that in his pursuit of the girl he was acting
+honourably and sincerely, or perhaps (which is more likely), finding
+that she held back, he was so eager to win her that he addressed her
+in the only way by which he could compass his desire. The last of the
+four letters contained a solemn promise of marriage if she would leave
+her home, and place herself under his protection. It even went so far
+as to state that he had the license ready, and that it was only her
+presence that was needed to ratify their union. There was a reference
+in this letter to the engagement between her and Mr. Gordon, and the
+writer declared that it would bring misery upon her. "Release yourself
+from this man," he continued, "at once and for ever. It would be a
+living death. Rely upon my love. All my life shall be devoted to the
+task of making you happy, and you shall never have occasion for one
+moment's regret that you have consented to be guided by me." She read
+these words with a smile of bitter contempt on her lips, and a burning
+desire in her heart for revenge.
+
+"If there is justice in heaven," she muttered, "a day will come!"
+
+Then she brought forward a photograph of the betrayer, which, with the
+letters, she deposited in the box. This done, she locked the box, and
+tying the key to a bit of string, hung it round her neck, and allowed
+it to fall, hidden, in her bosom.
+
+Seating herself by the bedside, she gazed upon the babe from whom she
+was soon to be torn. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her sad
+thoughts, shaped in words, ran somewhat in this fashion:
+
+"In a few hours she will be taken from me; in a few short hours we
+shall be separated, and then, and then--ah, how can I know it and
+live!--an ocean of waters will divide us. She will not miss me; she
+does not know me. She will receive another woman's endearments; she
+will never bestow a thought upon me, her wretched mother, and I--I
+shall be for ever thinking of her! She is all my own now; presently I
+shall have no claim upon her. Would it not be better to end it as I
+had intended--to end it now, this moment!" She rose to her feet, and
+stood with her lips tightly pressed and her hands convulsively
+clenched; and then she cried in horror, "No, no! I dare not--I dare
+not! It would be murder, and he said that God would not forgive me.
+Oh, my darling, my darling, it is merciful that you are a baby, and do
+not know what is passing in my mind! If you do not love me now, you
+may in the future, when I shall be free, and then you shall feel how
+different is a mother's love from the love of a strange woman. But how
+shall I recognise you if you are a woman before we meet again--how
+shall I prove to you, to the world, that you are truly mine? Your eyes
+will be black, as mine are, and your hair, I hope, will be as dark,
+but there are thousands like that. I am grateful that you resemble me,
+and not your base father, whom I pray God to strike and punish. Oh,
+that it were ever in my power to repay him for his treachery, to say
+to him, 'As you dragged me down, so do I drag you down! As you ruined
+my life, so do I ruin yours!' But I cannot hope for that. The woman
+weeps, the man laughs. Never mind, child, never mind. If in future
+years we are reunited, it will be happiness enough. Dark hair, black
+eyes, small hands and feet. Oh, darling, darling!" She covered the
+little hands and feet with kisses. "And yes, yes"--with feverish
+eagerness she gazed at the child's neck--"these two tiny moles, like
+those on my neck. I shall know you, I shall know you, I shall be able
+to prove that you are my daughter!"
+
+With a lighter heart she resumed her seat, and set to work mending the
+infant's scanty clothing, which she fondled and kissed as though it
+had sense and feeling. A church clock in the distance tolled five. She
+had been listening for the hour, hoping it was earlier.
+
+"Five o'clock!" she muttered. "I thought it was not later than three.
+I am being robbed. Oh, if time would only stand still! Five o'clock!
+In seven hours she will be taken from me. Seven hours--seven short
+hours! I will not close my eyes."
+
+But after awhile her lids drooped, and she was not conscious of it.
+The abnormal fatigues of the day and night, the relaxing of the
+overstrung nerves, the warmth of the room, produced their effect; her
+head sank upon the bed, and she fell into a dreamful sleep.
+
+It was merciful that her dreaming fancies were not drawn from the
+past. The psychological cause of her slumbers being beguiled by bright
+visions may be found in the circumstance that, despite the conflicting
+passions by which she had been agitated, the worldly ease which was
+secured to her and her child by Mr. Gordon's offer had removed a heavy
+weight from her heart. In her visions she saw her baby grow into a
+happy girlhood; she had glimpses of holiday times, when they were
+together in the fields or by the seaside, or walking in the glow of
+lovely sunsets, gathering flowers in the hush of the woods, or winding
+their way through the golden corn. In these fair dreams her baby
+passed from girlhood to womanhood, and happy smiles wreathed the lips
+of the woe-worn woman as she lay in her poor garments on the humble
+bed by the side of her child.
+
+"Do you love me, darling?" asked the sleeping mother.
+
+"Dearly, dearly," answered the dream-child. "With my whole heart,
+mother."
+
+"Call me mother again. It is like the music of the angels."
+
+"Mother, mother!"
+
+"You will love me always, darling?"
+
+"Always, mother; for ever and ever and ever."
+
+"Say that you will never love me less, that you will never forget me."
+
+"I will never love you less; I will never forget you."
+
+"Darling child, how beautiful you are! There is not in the world a
+lovelier woman. It is for me to protect and guard you. I can do so: I
+have had experience. Come, let us rest."
+
+They sat upon a mossy bank, and the mother folded her arms around her
+child, who lay slumbering on her breast.
+
+There had been a few blissful days in this woman's life, during which
+she had believed in man's faithfulness and God's goodness, but the
+dreaming hours she was now enjoying were fraught with a heavenly
+gladness. Nature and dreams are the fairies of the poor and the
+afflicted.
+
+She awoke as the church clock chimed eight. Again had she to face the
+stern realities of life. The sad moment of separation was fast
+approaching.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER IX.
+
+ MR. MOSS PLAYS HIS PART.
+
+
+At five o'clock on the afternoon of that day Dr. Spenlove returned to
+his apartments. Having given away the money with which he had intended
+to pay his fare to London, he had bethought him of a gentleman living
+in Southsea of whom he thought he could borrow a sovereign or two for
+a few weeks. He had walked the distance, and had met with
+disappointment; the gentleman was absent on business, and might be
+absent several days.
+
+"Upon my word," said the good doctor, as he drearily retraced his
+steps, "it is almost as bad as being shipwrecked; worse, because there
+are no railways on desert islands. What on earth am I to do? Get to
+London I must, by hook or by crook, and there is absolutely nothing I
+can turn into money."
+
+Then he bethought himself of Mr. Moss, and in his extremity determined
+to make an appeal in that quarter. Had it not been for what had
+occurred last night, he would not have dreamed of going to this
+gentleman, of whose goodness of heart he had had no previous
+experience, and upon whose kindness he had not the slightest claim.
+Arriving at Mr. Moss's establishment, another disappointment attended
+him. Mr. Moss was not at home, and they could not say when he would
+return. So Dr. Spenlove, greatly depressed, walked slowly on, his mind
+distressed with troubles and perplexities.
+
+He had seen nothing more of Mr. Gordon, who had left him in the early
+morning with a simple acknowledgment in words of the service he had
+rendered; nor had he seen anything further of Mrs. Turner. On his road
+home he called at her lodgings, and heard from her fellow-lodger that
+she had left the house.
+
+"We don't know where she's gone to, sir," the woman said; "but the
+rent has been paid up, and a sovereign was slipped under my door. If
+it wasn't that she was so hard up I should have thought it came from
+her."
+
+"I have no doubt it did," Dr. Spenlove answered. "She has friends who
+are well-to-do, and I know that one of these friends, discovering her
+position, was anxious to assist her."
+
+"I am glad to hear it," said the woman; "and it was more than kind of
+her to remember me. I always had an idea that she was above us."
+
+As he was entering his room his landlady ran up from the kitchen.
+
+"Oh, doctor, there's a parcel and two letters for you in your room,
+and Mr. Moss has been here to see you. He said he would come again."
+
+"Very well, Mrs. Radcliffe," said Dr. Spenlove; and, cheered by the
+news of the promised visit, he passed into his apartment. On the table
+were the letters and the parcel. The latter, carefully wrapped in
+thick brown paper, was the iron box he had given to Mrs. Turner. One
+of the letters was in her handwriting, and it informed him that her
+child had been taken away and that she was on the point of leaving
+Portsmouth.
+
+"I am not permitted," the letter ran, "to inform you where I am going,
+and I am under the obligation of not writing to you personally after I
+leave this place. This letter is sent without the knowledge of the
+gentleman for whom you acted, and I do not consider myself bound to
+tell him that I have written it. What I have promised to do I will do
+faithfully, but nothing further. You, who of all men in the world
+perhaps know me best, will understand what I am suffering as I pen
+these lines. I send with my letter the box you were kind enough to
+give me last night. It contains the memorial of which I spoke to you.
+Dear Dr. Spenlove, I rely upon you to carry out my wishes with respect
+to it. If you are acquainted with the guardian of my child, convey it
+to him, and beg him to retain it until my darling is of age, or until
+I am free to seek her. It is not in your nature to refuse the petition
+of a heartbroken mother; it is not in your nature to violate a
+promise. For all the kindnesses you have shown me receive my grateful
+and humble thanks. That you will be happy and successful, and that God
+will prosper you in all your undertakings, will be my constant prayer.
+Farewell."
+
+Laying this letter aside he opened the second, which was in a
+handwriting strange to him:--
+
+
+"Dear Sir,--
+
+"All my arrangements are made, and the business upon which we spoke
+together is satisfactorily concluded. You will find enclosed a
+practical expression of my thanks. I do not give you my address for
+two reasons. First, I desire no acknowledgment of the enclosure;
+second, I desire that there shall be no correspondence between us upon
+any subject. Feeling perfectly satisfied that the confidence I reposed
+in you will be respected,
+
+ "I am,
+
+ "Your obedient servant,
+
+ "G. Gordon."
+
+The enclosure consisted of five Bank of England notes for £20 each.
+
+Dr. Spenlove was very much astonished and very much relieved. At this
+juncture the money was a fortune to him; there was a likelihood of its
+proving the turning-point in his career; and, although it had not been
+earned in the exercise of his profession, he had no scruple in
+accepting it. The generosity of the donor was, moreover, in some sense
+an assurance that he was sincere in all the professions he had made.
+
+"Mr. Moss, sir," said Mrs. Radcliffe, opening the door, and that
+gentleman entered the room.
+
+As usual, he was humming an operatic air; but he ceased as he closed
+the door, which, after a momentary pause, he reopened, to convince
+himself that the landlady was not listening in the passage.
+
+"Can't be too careful, doctor," he observed, with a wink, "when you
+have something you want to keep to yourself. You have been running
+after me, and I have been running after you. Did you wish to see me
+particularly?"
+
+"To tell you the truth," replied Dr. Spenlove, "I had a special reason
+for calling upon you; but," he added, with a smile, "as it no longer
+exists, I need not trouble you."
+
+"No trouble, no trouble at all. I am at your service, doctor. Anything
+I could have done, or can do now, to oblige, you may safely reckon
+upon. Within limits, you know, within limits."
+
+"Of course; but the necessity is obviated. I intended to ask you to
+lend me a small sum of money without security, Mr. Moss."
+
+"I guessed as much. You should have had it, doctor, and no inquiries
+made, though it isn't the way I usually conduct my business; but there
+are men you can trust and are inclined to trust, and there are men you
+wouldn't trust without binding them down hard and fast. Now, if you
+still need the money, don't be afraid to ask."
+
+"I should not be afraid, but I am in funds. I am not the less indebted
+to you, Mr. Moss."
+
+"All right; I am glad you don't want a loan. Now for another
+affair--_my_ affair, I suppose I must call it till I have shifted it
+to other shoulders, which will soon be done."
+
+He paused a moment.
+
+"Dr. Spenlove, that was a strange adventure last night."
+
+"It was; a strange and sad adventure. You behaved very kindly, and I
+should like to repay what you expended on behalf of the poor lady."
+
+"No, no, doctor; let it rest where it is. I don't acknowledge your
+right to repay what you don't owe, and perhaps I am none the worse off
+for what I did. Throw your bread on the waters, you know. My present
+visit has reference to the lady--as you call her one, I will do the
+same--we picked out of the snow last night. Did you ever notice that
+things go in runs?"
+
+"I don't quite follow you."
+
+"A run of rainy weather, a run of fine weather, a run of good fortune,
+a run of ill fortune."
+
+"Yes, I have observed it."
+
+"You meet a person to-day you have never seen or heard of before. The
+odds are that you will meet that person to-morrow, and probably the
+next day as well. You begin to have bad cards, you go on having bad
+cards; you begin to make money, you go on making money."
+
+"You infer that there are seasons of circumstances, as of weather. No
+doubt you are right."
+
+"I know I am right. Making the acquaintance of your friend, Mrs.
+Turner, last night, in a very extraordinary manner, I am not at all
+surprised that I have business in hand in which she is concerned. You
+look astonished; but it is true. You gave her a good character,
+doctor."
+
+"Which she deserves. It happens in life to the best of us that we find
+ourselves unexpectedly in trouble. Misfortune is a visitor that does
+not knock at the door; it enters unannounced."
+
+"We have unlocked the door ourselves, perhaps," suggested Mr. Moss,
+sagely.
+
+"Quite likely, but we have done so in a moment of trustfulness,
+deceived by specious professions. The weak and confiding become the
+victims."
+
+"It is the way of the world, doctor. Hawks and pigeons, you know."
+
+"There are some who are neither," said Dr. Spenlove, who was not
+disposed to hurry his visitor.
+
+His mind was easy as to his departure from Portsmouth, and he divined
+from the course the conversation was taking that Mr. Moss had news of
+a special nature to communicate. He deemed it wisest to allow him to
+break it in his own way.
+
+"They are the best off," responded Mr. Moss; "brains well balanced--an
+even scale, doctor--then you can steer straight and to your own
+advantage. Women are the weakest, as you say; too much heart, too much
+sentiment. All very well in its proper place, but it weighs one side
+of the scale down. Mrs. Moss isn't much better than other women in
+that respect. She has her whims and crotchets, and doesn't always take
+the business view."
+
+"Implying that you do, Mr. Moss?"
+
+"Of course I do; should be ashamed of myself if I didn't. What do I
+live for? Business. What do I live by? Business. What do I enjoy most?
+Business, and plenty of it!"
+
+He rubbed his hands together joyously.
+
+"I should have no objection to paint on my shop door, 'Mr. Moss,
+Business Man.' People would know it would be no use trying to get the
+best of me. They don't get it as it is."
+
+"You are unjust to yourself. Was it business last night that made you
+pay the cabman, and sent you out to buy coals and food for an
+unfortunate creature you had never seen before?"
+
+"That was a little luxury," said Mr. Moss, with a sly chuckle, "which
+we business men indulge in occasionally to sharpen up our faculties.
+It is an investment, and it pays; it puts us on good terms with
+ourselves. If you think I have a bit of sentiment in me you are
+mistaken."
+
+"I paint your portrait for myself," protested Dr. Spenlove, "and I
+shall not allow you to disfigure it. Granted that you keep as a rule
+to the main road--Business Road, we will call it, if you like----"
+
+"Very good, doctor, very good."
+
+"You walk along, driving bargains, and making money honestly----"
+
+"Thank you, doctor," interposed Mr. Moss, rather gravely. "There are
+people who don't do us so much justice."
+
+"When unexpectedly," continued Dr. Spenlove, with tender gaiety, "you
+chance upon a little narrow path to the right or the left of you, and,
+your eye lighting on it, you observe a stretch of woodland, a touch of
+bright colour, a picture of human suffering, that appeals to your
+poetical instinct, to your musical tastes, or to your humanity. Down
+you plunge towards it, to the confusion, for the time being, of
+Business Road and its business attractions."
+
+"Sir," said Mr. Moss, bending his head with a dignity which did not
+sit ill on him, "if all men were of your mind the narrow prejudices of
+creed would stand a bad chance of making themselves felt. But we are
+wandering from the main road of the purpose which brought me here. I
+have not said a word to Mrs. Moss of the adventure of last night; I
+don't quite know why, because a better creature doesn't breathe; but I
+gathered from you in some way that you would prefer we should keep it
+to ourselves. Mrs. Moss never complains of my being out late; she
+rather encourages me, and that will give you an idea of the good wife
+she is. 'Enjoyed yourself, Moss?' she asked when I got home. 'Very
+much,' I answered, and that was all. Now, doctor, a business man
+wouldn't be worth his salt if he wasn't a thinking man as well. After
+I was dressed this morning I thought a good deal of the lady and her
+child, and I came to the conclusion that you took more than an
+ordinary interest in them."
+
+"You were right," said Dr. Spenlove.
+
+"Following your lead, which is a good thing to do if you've confidence
+in your partner, I found myself taking more than an ordinary interest
+in them; but as it wasn't a game of whist we were playing, I had no
+clue to the cards you held. You will see presently what I am leading
+up to. While I was thinking and going over some stock which I am
+compelled by law to put up to auction, I received a message that a
+gentleman wished to see me on very particular private business. It was
+then about half-past nine, and the gentleman remained with me about an
+hour. When he went away he made an appointment with me to meet him at
+a certain place at twelve o'clock. I met him there; he had a carriage
+waiting. I got in, and where do you think he drove me?"
+
+"I would rather you answered the question yourself," said Dr.
+Spenlove, his interest in the conversation receiving an exciting
+stimulus.
+
+"The carriage, doctor, stopped at the house to which we conveyed your
+lady friend and her child last night. I opened my eyes, I can tell
+you. Now, not to beat about the bush, I will make you acquainted with
+the precise nature of the business the gentleman had with me."
+
+"Pardon me a moment," said Dr. Spenlove. "Was Mr. Gordon the
+gentleman?"
+
+"You have named him," said Mr. Moss, and perceiving that Dr. Spenlove
+was about to speak again, he contented himself with answering the
+question. But the doctor did not proceed; his first intention had been
+to inquire whether the business was confidential, and if so to decline
+to listen to the disclosure which his visitor desired to make. A
+little consideration, however, inclined him to the opinion that this
+might be carrying delicacy too far. He was in the confidence of both
+Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Turner, and it might be prejudicial to the mother
+and her child if he closed his ears to the issue of the strange
+adventure. He waved his hand, thereby inviting Mr. Moss to continue.
+
+"Just so, doctor," said Mr. Moss, in the tone of a man who had
+disposed of an objection. "It is a singular business, but I have been
+mixed up with all kinds of queer transactions in my time, and I always
+give a man the length of his rope. What induced Mr. Gordon to apply to
+me is his concern, not mine. Perhaps he had heard a good report of me,
+and I am much obliged to those who gave it; perhaps he thought I was a
+tradesman who would take anything in pledge, from a flat iron to a
+flesh and blood baby. Any way, if I choose to regard his visit as a
+compliment, it is because I am not thin-skinned. Mr. Gordon informed
+me that he wished to find a home and to provide for a young baby whose
+mother could not look after it, being imperatively called away to a
+distant part of the world. Had it not been that the terms he proposed
+were extraordinarily liberal, and that he gave me the names of an
+eminent firm of lawyers in London who had undertaken the financial
+part of the business, and had it not been, also, that as he spoke to
+me I thought of a friend whom it might be in my power to serve, I
+should have shut him up at once by saying that I was not a baby
+farmer, and by requesting him to take his leave. Interrupting myself,
+and as it was you who first mentioned the name of Mr. Gordon, I think
+I am entitled to ask if you are acquainted with him?"
+
+"You are entitled to ask the question. I am acquainted with him."
+
+"Since when, doctor?"
+
+"Since last night only."
+
+"Before we met?"
+
+"Yes, before we met."
+
+"May I inquire if you were then acting for Mr. Gordon?"
+
+"To some extent. Had it not been for him I should not have gone in
+search of Mrs. Turner."
+
+"In which case," said Mr. Moss, in a grave tone, "she and her child
+would have been found dead in the snow. That is coming to first
+causes, doctor. I have not been setting a trap for you in putting
+these questions; I have been testing Mr. Gordon's veracity. When I
+asked him whether I was the only person in Portsmouth whom he had
+consulted, he frankly answered I was not. Upon this I insisted upon
+his telling me who this other person was. After some hesitation he
+said, 'Dr. Spenlove.' Any scruples I may have had were instantly
+dispelled, for I knew that it was impossible you could be mixed up in
+a business which had not a good end."
+
+"I thank you."
+
+"Hearing your name I thought at once of the lady and her child whom we
+were instrumental in saving. Am I right in my impression that you are
+in possession of the conditions and terms Mr. Gordon imposes?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Then I need not go into them. I take it, Dr. Spenlove, that you do
+not consider the business disreputable."
+
+"It is not disreputable. Mr. Gordon is a peculiar man, and his story
+in connection with the lady in question is a singular one. He is not
+the father of the child, and the action he has taken is not prompted
+by a desire to rid himself of a responsibility. On the contrary, out
+of regard for the lady he has voluntarily incurred a very heavy
+responsibility, which I have little doubt--none, indeed--that he will
+honourably discharge."
+
+"I will continue. Having heard what Mr. Gordon had to say--thinking
+all the time of the friend who might be induced to adopt the child,
+and that I might be able to serve him--I put the gentleman to the
+test. Admitting that his terms were liberal, I said that a sum of
+money ought to be paid down at once, in proof of his good faith. 'How
+much?' he asked. 'Fifty pounds,' I answered. He instantly produced the
+sum, in bank-notes. Then it occurred to me that it would make things
+still safer if I had an assurance from the eminent firm of London
+lawyers that the business was honourable and met with their approval;
+and if I also had a notification from them that they were prepared to
+pay the money regularly. 'Send them a telegram,' suggested Mr. Gordon,
+'and make it full and complete. I will write a shorter one, which you
+can send at the same time. Let the answers be addressed here, and open
+them both yourself when they arrive, which should be before twelve
+o'clock.' The telegrams written, I took them to the office; and before
+twelve came the replies, which were perfectly satisfactory. Everything
+appeared to be so straightforward that I undertook the business. A
+singular feature in it is that Mr. Gordon does not wish to know with
+whom the child is placed. 'My lawyers will make inquiries,' he said,
+'and they will be content if the people are respectable.' Dr.
+Spenlove, I thought it right that you should be informed of what I
+have done; you have expressed your approval, and I am satisfied. Don't
+you run away with the idea that I have acted philanthropically.
+Nothing of the kind, sir; I have been paid for my trouble. And now, if
+you would like to ask any questions, fire away."
+
+"Were no conditions of secrecy imposed upon you?"
+
+"Yes; but I said that I was bound to confide in one person. He may
+have thought I meant Mrs. Moss, but it was you I had in my mind. I
+promised that it should go no further, and I do not intend that it
+shall. Mrs. Moss will be none the worse for not being let into the
+secret."
+
+"Where is the child now?"
+
+"In the temporary care of a respectable woman, who is providing
+suitable clothing for it, Mr. Gordon having given me money for the
+purpose."
+
+"He has not spared his purse. When do you propose taking the child to
+her new home?"
+
+"To-night."
+
+"They are good people?"
+
+"The best in the world. I would trust my own children with them. She
+cannot help being happy with them."
+
+"Do they live in Portsmouth?"
+
+"No; in Gosport. I think this is as much as I have the right to
+disclose."
+
+"I agree with you. Mr. Moss, you can render me an obligation, and you
+can do a kindness to the poor child's mother. She has implored me to
+endeavour to place this small iron box in the care of the guardians of
+her child, to be retained by them for twenty-one years, or until the
+mother claims it, which she will be free to do in the event of her
+husband dying during her lifetime. I do not know what it contains, and
+I understand that it is to be given up to no other person than the
+child or her mother. Will you do this for me or for her?"
+
+"For both of you, doctor," replied Mr. Moss, lifting the box from the
+table. "It shall be given into their care, as the mother desires. And
+now I must be off; I have a busy night before me. Do you go to London
+to-morrow?"
+
+"A train leaves in a couple of hours; I shall travel by that."
+
+"Well, good-night, and good luck to you. If you want to write to me,
+you know my address."
+
+They parted with cordiality, and each took his separate way, Dr.
+Spenlove to the City of Unrest, and Mr. Moss to the peaceful town of
+Gosport, humming as he went, among other snatches from his favourite
+opera,--
+
+
+ "Dio dell' or del mondo signor,
+ Sei possente risplendente,
+ Sei possente resplendente,
+ Culto hai tu maggior guaggiù.
+ Non v'ha un uom che non t'incensi
+ Stan prostati innanzi a te;
+ Ed i popolied i re;
+ I bei scudi tu dispensi,
+ Del la terra il Dio sei tu."
+
+
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE SECOND.
+
+ _RACHEL_.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER X.
+
+ THE VISION IN THE CHURCHYARD.
+
+
+Some twelve months before the occurrence of the events recorded in the
+preceding chapters, a Jew, bearing the name of Aaron Cohen, had come
+to reside in the ancient town of Gosport. He was accompanied by his
+wife, Rachel. They had no family, and their home was a home of love.
+
+They were comparatively young, Aaron being twenty-eight and Rachel
+twenty-three, and they had been married five years. Hitherto they had
+lived in London, and the cause of their taking up their residence in
+Gosport was that Aaron had conceived the idea that he could establish
+himself there in a good way of business. One child had blessed their
+union, whom they called Benjamin. There was great rejoicing at his
+birth, and it would have been difficult to calculate how many
+macaroons and almond and butter cakes, and cups of chocolate and
+glasses of anise-seed, were sacrificed upon the altar of hospitality
+in the happy father's house for several days after the birth of his
+firstborn. "Aaron Cohen does it in style," said the neighbours; and as
+both he and Rachel were held in genuine respect by all who knew them,
+the encomium was not mere empty praise. Seldom even in the locality in
+which the Cohens then resided--the East End of London, where charity
+and hospitality are proverbial--had such feasting been seen at the
+celebration of a circumcision. "If he lived in Bayswater," said the
+company, "he couldn't have treated us better." And when the father
+lifted up his voice and said, "Blessed art Thou, the Eternal, our God,
+King of the universe, who hath sanctified us with His commandments,
+and commanded us to introduce our sons into the covenant of our father
+Abraham," there was more than usual sincerity in the response, "Even
+as this child has now entered this covenant, so may he be initiated
+into the covenant of the law, of marriage, and of good works." Perhaps
+among those assembled there were some who could not have translated
+into English the Hebrews' prayers they read so glibly; but this
+reproach did not apply to Aaron, who was an erudite as well as an
+orthodox Jew, and understood every word he uttered. On this memorable
+day the feasting, commenced in the morning, was continued during the
+whole day. "I wish you joy, Cohen, I wish you joy;" this was the
+formula, a hundred and a hundred times repeated to the proud father,
+who really believed that a prince had been born among Israel; while
+the pale-faced mother, pressing her infant tenderly to her breast, and
+who in her maidenhood had never looked so beautiful as now, received
+in her bedroom the congratulations of her intimate female friends. The
+poorest people in the neighbourhood were welcomed; and if the seed of
+good wishes could have blossomed into flower, a rose-strewn path of
+life lay before the child. "He shall be the son of my right hand,"
+said Aaron Cohen; and Rachel, as she kissed her child's mouth and
+tasted its sweet breath, believed that Heaven had descended upon
+earth, and that no mother had ever been blessed as she was blessed.
+This precious treasure was the crowning of their love, and they laid
+schemes for baby's youth and manhood before the child was out of long
+clothes--schemes destined not to be realised. For sixteen months
+Benjamin filled the hearts of his parents with ineffable joy, and then
+the Angel of Death entered their house and bore the young soul away.
+How they mourned for the dear one who was nevermore on earth to
+rejoice them with his beautiful ways need not here be related; all
+parents who have lost their firstborn will realise the bitterness of
+their grief. But not for long was this grief bitter. In the wise and
+reverent interpretation of Aaron Cohen, their loss became a source of
+consolation to them. "Let us not rebel," he said to his wife, "against
+the inevitable and Divine will. Give praise unto the Lord, who has
+ordained that we shall have a child in heaven waiting to receive us."
+Fraught with tenderness and wisdom were his words, and his counsel
+instilled comfort into Rachel's heart. Benjamin was waiting for them,
+and would meet them at the gates. Beautiful was the thought, radiant
+the hope it raised, never, never to fade, nay, to grow brighter even
+to her dying hour. Their little child, dead and in his grave, brought
+them nearer to God. Heaven and earth were linked by the spirit of
+their beloved, who had gone before them: thus was sorrow sweetened and
+happiness chastened by faith. Sitting on their low stools during the
+days of mourning, they spoke, when they were alone, of the peace and
+joy of the eternal life, and thereby were drawn spiritually closer to
+each other. The lesson they learned in the darkened room was more
+precious than jewels and gold; it is a lesson which comes to all, high
+and low alike, and rich indeed are they who learn it aright. For some
+time thereafter, when the mother opened the drawer in which her most
+precious possessions were kept, and kissed the little shoes her child
+had worn, she would murmur amid her tears,--
+
+"My darling is waiting for me, my darling is waiting for me!"
+
+God send to all sorrowing mothers a comfort so sweet!
+
+Aaron Cohen had selected a curious spot in Gosport for his habitation.
+The windows of the house he had taken overlooked the quaint, peaceful
+churchyard of the market town. So small and pretty was this
+resting-place for the dead, that one might almost have imagined it to
+be a burial ground for children's broken toys. The headless wooden
+soldiers, the battered dolls, the maimed contents of cheap Noah's
+arks, the thousand and one treasures of childhood might have been
+interred there, glad to be at rest after the ruthless mutilations they
+had undergone. For really, in the dawning white light of a frosty
+morning, when every object for miles around sharply outlined itself in
+the clear air and seemed to have lost its rotund proportions, it was
+hard to realise that, in this tiny churchyard, men and women, whose
+breasts once throbbed with the passions and sorrows of life, were
+crumbling to that dust to which we must all return. No, no; it could
+be nothing but the last home of plain and painted shepherds, and
+bald-headed pets, and lambs devoid of fleece, and mayhap--a higher
+flight which we all hope to take when the time comes for us to claim
+our birthright of the grave--of a dead bullfinch or canary, carried
+thither on its back, with its legs sticking heavenwards, and buried
+with grown-up solemnity, and very often with all the genuineness of
+grief for a mortal bereavement. Have you not attended such a funeral,
+and has not your overcharged heart caused you to sob in your dreams as
+you lay in your cot close to mamma's bed?
+
+But these fantastic fancies will not serve. It was a real human
+churchyard, and Rachel Cohen knew it to be so as she stood looking out
+upon it from the window of her bedroom on the first floor. It was from
+no feeling of unhappiness that her sight became dimmed as she gazed
+upon the tombstones. Shadows of children rose before her, the
+pattering of whose little feet was once the sweetest music that ever
+fell on parents' ears, the touch of whose little hands carried with it
+an influence as powerful as a heart-stirring prayer; children with
+golden curls, children with laughing eyes, children with wistful
+faces; but there was one, ah! there was one that shone as a star amid
+the shadows, and that rose up, up, till it was lost in the solemn
+clouds, sending therefrom a Divine message down to the mother's heart,
+"Mamma, mamma, I am waiting for thee!"
+
+Quiet as was everything around her, Rachel heard the words; in the
+midst of the darkness a heavenly light was shining on her.
+
+She wiped the tears from her eyes, and stole down to the room in which
+her husband was sitting.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XI.
+
+ MR. WHIMPOLE INTRODUCES HIMSELF.
+
+
+It was the front room of the house, on the ground floor, which Aaron
+Cohen had converted into a shop. The small parlour windows had been
+replaced by larger ones, a counter had been put up, behind which were
+shelves fitted into the walls. These shelves at present were bare, but
+Aaron Cohen hoped to see them filled. Under the counter were other
+shelves, as empty as those on the walls.
+
+When Rachel entered her husband was engaged counting out his money,
+like the king in his counting house. There was a studious expression
+on his face, which was instantly replaced by one of deep tenderness as
+he looked up and saw traces of tears in her eyes. He gathered his
+money together, banknotes, silver, gold, and coppers, and motioned her
+into the room at the rear of the shop. This was their living-room; but
+a large iron safe in a corner denoted that it was not to be devoted
+entirely to domestic affairs. In another corner was the symbol of his
+business, which was to be affixed to the front of the premises, over
+the shop door, the familiar device of three golden balls.
+
+Letting his money fall upon the table, he drew his wife to his side,
+and passed his arm around her.
+
+"The house," he said, "is almost in order."
+
+"Yes, Aaron; there is very little left to do."
+
+"I am also ready for business. I have the license, and to-morrow those
+glittering balls will be put up and the name painted over the shop
+window. They are rather large for so small a shop, but they will
+attract all the more attention." He gazed at her anxiously. "Do you
+think you will be contented and happy here?"
+
+"Contented and happy anywhere with you," she replied, in a tone of the
+deepest affection.
+
+"In this town especially, Rachel?"
+
+"Yes, in this town especially. It is so peaceful."
+
+"But," he said, touching her eyes with his fingers "these?"
+
+"Not because I am unhappy," she said; and her voice was low and sweet.
+"I was looking out upon the churchyard from our bedroom window."
+
+"Ah!" he said, and he kissed her eyes.
+
+He divined the cause of her tears, and there was much tenderness in
+his utterance of the monosyllable and in the kisses he gave her. Man
+and wife for five years, they were still the fondest of lovers.
+
+"My dear," said Aaron presently, "the spirit of prophecy is upon me.
+We shall lead a comfortable life in this town; we shall prosper in
+this house. It was a piece of real good fortune my hitting upon it.
+When I heard by chance that the man who lived here owned the lease and
+wished to dispose of it, I hesitated before parting with so large a
+sum as a hundred pounds for the purchase. It was nearly half my
+capital, but I liked the look of the place, and a little bird
+whispered that we should be lucky in it, so I made the venture. I am
+certain we shall not regret it. Here shall be laid the foundation
+stones of a fortune which shall enable us to set up our carriage. I
+know what you would say, my life, that we can be happy without a
+carriage. Yes, yes; but a carriage is not a bad thing to have. People
+will say, 'See what a clever man that Aaron Cohen is. He commenced
+with nothing, and he rides in his own carriage already. How grand he
+looks!' I should like to hear people say that. There is a knock at the
+street door."
+
+"Who can it be?" asked Rachel. "We know no one in Gosport, and it is
+night."
+
+"Which is no excuse for our not opening the door," said Aaron Cohen,
+sweeping the money off the table into a small chamois leather bag,
+which he tied carefully at the neck, and put into his pocket. "True,
+we believe we are not known here, but there may, nevertheless, be an
+old acquaintance in Gosport who has heard of our arrival, and comes to
+welcome us; or Judah Belasco may have told a friend of his we are
+here; or it may be an enterprising baker or grocer who wishes to
+secure our custom. No," he added, as the knock was repeated, "that is
+not the knock of a tradesman. It is a knock of self-importance, and
+you may depend upon it that it proceeds from Somebody with a large S.
+Let us see who it is that announces himself so grandly."
+
+Aaron went to the street door, and Rachel followed him into the
+passage, carrying a candle. The night was dark, and Rachel stood a
+little in the rear, so that Aaron could not distinguish the features
+of his visitor. He was a big man, and that was all that was apparent
+to the Cohens.
+
+"Mr. Cohen?" queried the visitor
+
+"Yes," said Aaron.
+
+"Mr. Aaron Cohen?"
+
+"That is my name"
+
+"Can I speak with you?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+And Aaron waited to hear what the stranger had to say.
+
+"I am not accustomed to be kept waiting on the doorstep. I should
+prefer to speak to you in the house."
+
+Rachel, who was naturally timid, moved closer to her husband, who took
+the candle from her hand, and held it up in order to see the face of
+the stranger.
+
+"Step inside," he said.
+
+The stranger followed Aaron and Rachel into the little parlour, and
+without taking off his hat, looked at Aaron, then at Rachel, and then
+into every corner of the room; the last object upon which his eyes
+rested was the device of the three golden balls, and a frown gathered
+on his features as he gazed. Aaron noted these movements and signs
+with attention and amusement.
+
+"Do you detect any blemish in them?" he asked.
+
+"I do not understand you," said the stranger.
+
+"In those balls. There was an expression of disapproval on your face
+as you gazed at them."
+
+"I disapprove of them altogether," said the stranger.
+
+"I am sorry, but we cannot please everybody. I am not responsible for
+the insignia; you will find the origin in the armorial bearings of the
+Medici. That is a beautiful hat you have on your head." The stranger
+stared at him. "Really," continued Aaron, blandly, "a beautiful hat;
+it must have cost a guinea. A hat is a fine protection against the hot
+rays of the sun; a protection, also, against the wind and the rain.
+But in this room, as you may observe, we have neither wind, nor rain,
+nor sun; and you may also observe that there is a lady present." The
+stranger, reddening slightly, removed his hat, and placed it on the
+table. "My wife," then said Aaron.
+
+The stranger inclined his head, with the air of a man acknowledging an
+introduction to one of a lower station. The manner of this
+acknowledgment was not lost upon Aaron.
+
+"My wife," he repeated courteously, "Mrs. Cohen."
+
+"I see," said the stranger, glancing again at Rachel with
+condescension. "With your permission I will take a seat."
+
+It was distinctly at variance with the hospitable instincts of Aaron
+Cohen that he did not immediately respond to this request.
+
+"You have the advantage of us," he said. "I have had the pleasure of
+introducing my wife to you. Afford me the pleasure of introducing you
+to my wife."
+
+With an ungracious air the stranger handed Aaron a visiting card, upon
+which was inscribed the name of Mr. Edward Whimpole, and in a corner
+the word "Churchwarden." Mr. Whimpole's movements were slow, and
+intended to be dignified, but Aaron exhibited no impatience.
+
+"My dear, Mr. Edward Whimpole, churchwarden."
+
+Rachel bowed gracefully, and Aaron, with an easy motion of his hand,
+invited Mr. Whimpole to a chair, in which he seated himself. Then
+Aaron placed a chair for his wife, and took one himself, and prepared
+to listen to what Mr. Whimpole had to say.
+
+Mr. Whimpole was a large-framed man with a great deal of flesh on his
+face; his eyes were light, and he had no eyebrows worth speaking of.
+The best feature in his face was his mouth, and the most insignificant
+his nose, which was really not a fair nose for a man of his bulk. It
+was an added injury inflicted upon him by nature that it was very thin
+at the end, as though it had been planed on both sides. But then, as
+Aaron had occasion to remark, we don't make our own noses. A distinct
+contrast presented itself in the two noses which, if the figure of
+speech may be allowed, now faced each other.
+
+Mr. Whimpole had not disclosed the purpose of his visit, but he had
+already made it clear that he was not graciously disposed towards the
+Jew. Aaron was quite aware of this, but the only effect it had upon
+him was to render him exceedingly affable. Perhaps he scented a
+bargain, and was aware that mental irritation would interfere with the
+calm exercise of his judgment in a matter of buying and selling.
+
+"May I inquire," he said, pointing to the word "churchwarden" on the
+card, "whether this is your business or profession?"
+
+"I am a corn-chandler," said Mr. Whimpole.
+
+"Churchwarden, my dear," said Aaron, addressing his wife in a pleasant
+tone, "_and_ corn-chandler."
+
+For the life of him Mr. Whimpole could not have explained to the
+satisfaction of persons not directly interested, why he was angry at
+the reception he was meeting. That Aaron Cohen was not the kind of man
+he had expected to meet would not have been accepted as a sufficient
+reason.
+
+"I am not mistaken," said Mr. Whimpole, with a flush of resentment,
+"in believing you to be a Jew?"
+
+"You are not mistaken," replied Aaron, with exceeding urbanity. "I am
+a Jew. If I were not proud of the fact, it would be folly to attempt
+to disguise it, for at least one feature in my face would betray me."
+
+"It would," said Mr. Whimpole, dealing a blow which had the effect of
+causing Aaron to lean back in his chair, and laugh gently to himself
+for fully thirty seconds.
+
+"When you have quite finished," said Mr. Whimpole, coldly, "we will
+proceed."
+
+"Excuse me," said Aaron, drawing a deep breath of enjoyment. "I beg
+you will not consider me wanting in politeness, but I have the
+instincts of my race, and I never waste the smallest trifle, not even
+a joke." A little tuft of hair which ran down the centre of Mr.
+Whimpole's head--the right and left banks of which were devoid of
+verdure--quivered in sympathy with the proprietor's astonishment. That
+a man should make a joke out of that which was generally considered to
+be a reproach and a humiliation was, indeed, matter for amazement;
+nay, in this instance for indignation, for in Aaron Cohen's laughter
+he, Mr. Whimpole himself, was made to occupy a ridiculous place. "We
+are loth," continued Aaron, "to waste even the thinnest joke. We are
+at once, my dear sir, both thrifty and liberal."
+
+"We!" exclaimed Mr. Whimpole, in hot repudiation.
+
+"We Jews I mean. No person in the world could possibly mistake you for
+one of the chosen."
+
+"I should hope not. The idea is too absurd."
+
+"Make your mind easy, sir; you would not pass muster in a synagogue
+without exciting remark. Yes, we are both thrifty and liberal, wasting
+nothing, and in the free spending of our money seeing that we get good
+value for it. That is not a reproach, nor is it a reproach that we
+thoroughly enjoy an agreeable thing when we get it for nothing. There
+are so many things in life to vex us that the opportunity of a good
+laugh should never be neglected. Proceed, my dear sir, proceed; you
+were saying that you believed you were not mistaken in taking me for a
+Jew."
+
+"Is it your intention," asked Mr. Whimpole, coming now straight to the
+point, "to reside in Gosport?"
+
+"If I am permitted," replied Aaron, meekly. "We have not always been
+allowed to select our place of residence. I am thankful that we live
+in an enlightened age and in a free country."
+
+"I hear, Mr. Cohen, that you have purchased the lease of this house."
+
+"It is true, sir. The purchase money has been paid, and the lease is
+mine."
+
+"It has twenty-seven years to run."
+
+"Twenty-seven years and three months. Who can tell where we shall be,
+and how we shall be situated, at the end of that time?"
+
+Mr. Whimpole waved the contemplation aside.
+
+"You gave a hundred pounds for the lease."
+
+"The precise sum; your information is correct."
+
+"I had some intention, Mr. Cohen, of buying it myself."
+
+"Indeed! Why did you not do so?"
+
+"There were reasons. Not pecuniary, I beg to say. I delayed too long,
+and you stepped in before me."
+
+"A case of the early bird catching the worm," Aaron observed, with a
+smile.
+
+"If it gratifies you to put it that way. I have, therefore, no option
+but to purchase the lease of you."
+
+"Mr. Whimpole," said Aaron, after a slight pause, "I am agreeable to
+sell you the lease."
+
+"I thought as much." And Mr. Whimpole disposed himself comfortably in
+his chair.
+
+Rachel's eyes dilated in surprise. Their settlement in Gosport had not
+been made in haste, and all arrangements for commencing the business
+were made. She could not understand her husband's willingness to give
+up the house.
+
+"I do not expect you to take what you gave for it," said Mr. Whimpole.
+"I am prepared to give you a profit; and," he added, jocosely, "you
+will not be backward in accepting it."
+
+"Not at all backward. You speak like a man of sense."
+
+"How much do you ask for your bargain? How much, Mr. Cohen? Don't open
+your mouth too wide."
+
+"If you will permit me," said Aaron, and he proceeded to pencil down a
+calculation. "It is not an undesirable house, Mr. Whimpole."
+
+"No, no; I don't say it is."
+
+"It is compact and convenient."
+
+"Fairly so, fairly so."
+
+"I will accept," said Aaron, having finished his calculation, "five
+hundred pounds."
+
+"You cannot be in earnest!" gasped Mr. Whimpole, his breath fairly
+taken away.
+
+"I am quite in earnest. Are you aware what it is you would buy of me?"
+
+"Of course I am aware; the lease of this house."
+
+"Not that alone. You would buy my hopes for the next twenty-seven
+years; for I declare to you there is not to my knowledge in all
+England a spot in which I so desire to pass my days as in this
+peaceful town; and there is not in all Gosport a house in which I
+believe I shall be so happy as in this. You see, you propose to
+purchase of me something more than a parchment lease."
+
+"But the--the things you mention are of no value to me."
+
+"I do not say they are. I am speaking from my point of view, as men
+generally do. It is a failing we all have, Mr. Whimpole. There is no
+reason why we should bandy words. I am not anxious to sell the lease.
+Wait till it is in the market."
+
+"A most unhealthy situation," observed Mr. Whimpole.
+
+"It concerns ourselves, and we are contented."
+
+"I cannot imagine a more unpleasant, not to say obnoxious, view."
+
+"The view of the churchyard? The spot has already acquired an
+inestimable value in my eyes. God rest the souls of those who lie in
+it! The contemplation of the peaceful ground will serve to remind me
+of the vanity of life, and will be a constant warning to me to be fair
+and straightforward in my dealings. The warning may be needed, for in
+the business I intend to carry on, there are--I do not deny it--many
+dangerous temptations."
+
+"Tush, tush!" exclaimed Mr. Whimpole, petulantly. "Straightforward
+dealings, indeed! The vanity of life, indeed!"
+
+Aaron Cohen smiled.
+
+Only once before in his life had Mr. Whimpole felt so thoroughly
+uncomfortable as at the present moment, and that was when he was a
+little boy and fell into a bed of nettles from which he was unable to
+extricate himself until he was covered with stings. It was just the
+same now; he was smarting all over from contact with Aaron Cohen, who
+was like a porcupine with sharp-pointed quills. But he would not
+tamely submit to such treatment; he would show Aaron that he could
+sting in return; he knew well enough where to plant his poisoned
+arrow.
+
+It is due to Mr. Whimpole to state that he was not aware that the
+manner in which he was conducting himself during this interview was
+not commendable. Being a narrow-minded man, he could not take a wide
+and generous view of abstract matters, which, by a perversion of
+reasoning, he generally regarded from a purely personal standpoint.
+Such men as he, in their jealous regard for their own feelings, are
+apt to overlook the feelings of others, and, indeed, to behave
+occasionally as if they did not possess any. This was Mr. Whimpole's
+predicament, and, having met a ready-witted man, he was made to suffer
+for his misconduct. He sent forth his sting in this wise:
+
+"You speak, Mr. Cohen, of being fair and straightforward in your
+dealings; but, for the matter of that, we all know what we may expect
+from a----"
+
+And having got thus far in his ungenerously-prompted speech, he felt
+himself unable, in the presence of Rachel, and with her reproachful
+eyes raised to his face, to conclude the sentence. Aaron Cohen
+finished it for him.
+
+"For the matter of that," he said, gently, "you all know what you may
+expect from a Jew. That is what you were going to say. And with this
+thought in your mind you came to trade with me. Well, sir, it may be
+that we both have something to learn."
+
+"Mr. Cohen," said Mr. Whimpole, slightly abashed, "I am sorry if I
+have said anything to hurt your feelings."
+
+"The offence, sir, is atoned for by the expression of your sorrow."
+
+This was taking high ground, and Mr. Whimpole's choler was ready to
+rise again; but he mastered it, and said, in a conciliatory tone,--
+
+"I will disguise nothing from you; I was born in this house."
+
+"The circumstance will make it all the more valuable to us. My
+dear,"--impressing it upon Rachel with pleasant emphasis--"Mr.
+Whimpole was born in this house. A fortunate omen. Good luck will come
+to us, as it has come to him. It is a low-rented house, and those who
+have been born in it must have been poor men's children. When they
+rise in the world as Mr. Whimpole has done, it is better than a
+horseshoe over the door. In which room were you born, Mr. Whimpole?"
+
+"In the room on the back of the first floor," replied Mr. Whimpole,
+making a wild guess.
+
+"Our bedroom. There should be a record on the walls; there should,
+indeed, be a record, such as is placed outside those houses in London
+which have been inhabited by famous people. Failing that, it is in the
+power of every man, assuredly every rich man, to make for himself a
+record that shall be unperishable--far better, my dear sir, than the
+mere fixing of a plate on a cold stone wall."
+
+Mr. Whimpole gazed at Aaron Cohen to discover if there was any trace
+of mockery in his face; but Aaron was perfectly grave and serious.
+
+"A man's humility," said Mr. Whimpole, raising his eyes to the
+ceiling, "his sense of humbleness, would prevent him from making this
+record for himself. It has to be left to others to do it when they
+have found him out."
+
+"Aha! my dear sir," said Aaron, softly, "when they have found him out.
+True, true; but how few of us are! How few of us receive our just
+reward! How few of us when we are in our graves receive or deserve the
+tribute, 'Here lies a perfect man!' But the record I speak of will
+never be lost by a rich man's humility, by his humbleness; for it can
+be written unostentatiously in the hearts of the poor by the aid of
+silver and gold."
+
+"I understand you, Mr. Cohen,"--inwardly confounding Aaron's flow of
+ideas--"by means of charity."
+
+"Yes, sir, by means of charity, whereby the name of a man becomes
+sweet in the mouth. A good name is better than precious oil, and the
+day of one's death better than the day of his birth. There is an old
+legend that a man's actions in life are marked in the air above him,
+in the places in which they are performed. There, in invisible space,
+are inscribed the records of his good and bad deeds, of his virtues,
+of his crimes; and when he dies his soul visits those places, and
+views the immortal writing, which is visible to all the angels in
+heaven and which covers him with shame or glory. Gosport doubtless has
+many such records of your charity."
+
+"I do my best," said Mr. Whimpole, very much confused and mystified;
+"I hope I do my best. I said I would disguise nothing from you; I will
+therefore be quite frank, with no intention of wounding you. I am
+strictly a religious man, Mr. Cohen, and it hurts me that one whose
+religious belief is opposed to my own should inhabit the house in
+which I was born. I will give you a hundred and twenty pounds for the
+lease; that will leave you a profit of twenty pounds. Come, now!"
+
+"I will not accept less for it, sir, than the sum I named."
+
+"Is that your last word?"
+
+"It is my last word."
+
+Mr. Whimpole rose with a face of scarlet, and clapped his hat on his
+head. "You are a--a----"
+
+"A Jew. Leave it at that. Can you call me anything worse?" asked
+Aaron, with no show of anger.
+
+"No, I cannot. You are a Jew."
+
+"I regret," said Aaron, calmly, "that I cannot retort by calling you a
+Christian. May our next meeting be more agreeable! Good-evening, Mr.
+Whimpole."
+
+"You do not know the gentleman you have insulted," said Mr. Whimpole,
+as he walked towards the door; "you do not know my position in this
+town. I am in the expectation of being made a justice of the peace.
+You will live to repent this."
+
+"I think not," said Aaron, taking the candle to show his visitor out.
+"I trust you may."
+
+"You may find your residence in Gosport, where I am universally
+respected, not as agreeable as you would wish it to be."
+
+"We shall see, we shall see," said Aaron, still smiling. "I may also
+make myself respected here."
+
+"There is a prejudice against your race----"
+
+"Am I not aware of it? Is not every Jew aware of it? Is it not thrown
+in our teeth by the bigoted and narrow-minded upon every possible
+occasion? We will live it down, sir. We have already done much; we
+will yet do more. Your use of the word 'prejudice' is appropriate;
+for, as I understand its meaning, it represents a judgment formed
+without proper knowledge. Yes, sir, it is not to be disputed that
+there exists a prejudice against our race."
+
+"Which, without putting any false meaning upon it, will make this
+ancient and respectable town"--here Mr. Whimpole found himself at a
+loss, and he was compelled to wind up with the vulgar figure of
+speech--"too hot to hold you."
+
+"This ancient town," said Aaron, with a deeper seriousness in his
+voice, "is known to modern men as Gosport."
+
+"A clever discovery," sneered Mr. Whimpole. "Are you going to put
+another of your false constructions on it?"
+
+"No, sir. I am about to tell you a plain and beautiful truth. When in
+olden times a name was given to this place, it was not Gosport: it was
+God's Port; and what Gods port is there throughout the civilised world
+in which Jew and Christian alike have not an equal right to live,
+despite prejudice, despite bigotry, and despite the unreasonable anger
+of large corn-chandlers and respected churchwardens? I wish you, sir,
+good-night."
+
+And having by this time reached the street door, Aaron Cohen opened it
+for Mr. Whimpole, and bowed him politely out.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XII.
+
+ THE COURSE OF THE SEASONS.
+
+
+Upon Aaron's return to the little parlour he saw that Rachel was
+greatly disturbed.
+
+"My life!" he said, and he folded her in his arms and tenderly
+embraced her. "Don't allow such a little thing as this to distress
+you; it will all come right in the end."
+
+"But how you kept your temper," she said; "that is what surprised me."
+
+"It gave me the advantage of him, Rachel. I was really amused."
+
+He pinched her cheeks to bring the colour back to them.
+
+"Some men must be managed one way, some another. And now for
+our game of bezique. Mr. Whimpole's visit"--he laughed at the
+recollection--"will make me enjoy it all the more."
+
+There was no resisting his light-heartedness, and he won a smile from
+her, despite her anxiety.
+
+Rachel was not clever enough to discover that it was only by the
+cunning of her husband that she won the rub of bezique. He was a keen
+judge of human nature, and he knew that this small victory would help
+to soothe her.
+
+The next day was Friday, and the three golden balls were put up, and
+the name of Aaron Cohen painted over the shop door. A great many
+people came to look, and departed to circulate the news.
+
+At one o'clock the painting was done, and then Aaron said to his wife,
+"I shall be out till the evening. Have you found any one to attend to
+the lights and the fire?"
+
+They were not rich enough to keep a regular servant, and neither of
+them ever touched fire on the Sabbath.
+
+"I have heard of a woman," said Rachel; "she is coming this afternoon
+to see me."
+
+"Good," said Aaron, and, kissing Rachel, went away with a light heart.
+
+In the afternoon the woman, Mrs. Hawkins, called, and Rachel explained
+the nature of the services she required. Mrs. Hawkins was to come to
+the house every Friday night to put coals on the fire and extinguish
+the lights, and four times on Saturday to perform the same duties.
+Rachel proposed eightpence a week, but Mrs. Hawkins stuck out for
+tenpence, and this being acceded to, she departed, leaving a strong
+flavour of gin behind her.
+
+When Aaron returned, the two Sabbath candles were alight upon the
+snow-white tablecloth, and on the table a supper was spread--fried
+fish, white bread, and fresh butter, and in the fender a steaming
+coffeepot. Rachel was an excellent cook, and had always been famous
+for her fried and stewed fish, which her husband declared were dishes
+fit for kings; and, indeed, no one in the land could have desired
+tastier or more succulent cooking.
+
+Aaron washed and said his prayers, and then they sat down to their
+meal in a state of perfect contentment. The head of the modest
+household broke two small pieces of bread from the loaf, and dipping
+them in salt, besought the customary blessing on the bread they were
+about to eat; then praised the fish, praised the butter, praised the
+coffee, praised his wife, and after a full meal praised the Lord, in a
+Song of Degrees, for blessings received: "When the Eternal restored
+the captivity of Zion, we were as those who dream. Our mouths were
+then filled with laughter, and our tongues with song."
+
+He had-a rich baritone voice, and Rachel listened in pious delight to
+his intoning of the prayer. The supper things were cleared away, the
+white tablecloth being allowed to remain because of the lighted
+candles on it, which it would have been breaking the Sabbath to lift,
+and then there came a knock at the street door.
+
+"That is the woman I engaged," said Rachel, hurrying into the passage.
+
+There entered, not Mrs. Hawkins, but a very small girl, carrying a
+very large baby. The baby might have been eighteen months old, and the
+girl ten years; and of the twain the baby was the plumper.
+
+Without "With your leave" or "By your leave," the small girl pushed
+past Rachel before the astonished woman could stop her, and presented
+herself before the no less astonished Aaron Cohen. Her sharp eyes took
+in the lighted candles, the cheerful fire, and the master of the house
+in one comprehensive flash. With some persons what is known as making
+up one's mind is a slow and complicated process, with the small girl
+it was electrical. She deposited the large baby in Aaron's lap,
+admonishing the infant "to keep quiet, or she'd ketch it," blew out
+the candles in two swift puffs, and, kneeling before the grate,
+proceeded to rake out the coals. So rapid were her movements that the
+fender was half filled with cinders and blazing coals before Rachel
+had time to reach the room.
+
+"In Heaven's name," cried Aaron, "what is the meaning of this?"
+
+"It's all right, sir," said the small girl, in the dark; "I've come
+for aunty."
+
+"Put down the poker instantly!" exclaimed Aaron. "Your aunty, whoever
+she may be, is not here."
+
+"Tell me somethink I don't know," requested the small girl. "This is
+Mr. Cohen's, the Jew, ain't it?"
+
+"It is," replied Aaron, with despairing gestures, for the baby was
+dabbing his face with hands sticky with remnants of sugarstuff.
+
+"Well, wot are yer 'ollering for? I'm only doing wot aunty told me."
+
+"And who _is_ your aunty?"
+
+"Mrs. 'Orkins. Pretend not to know 'er--do! Oh yes, jest you try it
+on. Aunty's up to yer, she is. She sed yer'd try to do 'er out of 'er
+money, and want 'er to take fippence instid of tenpence."
+
+"Did she? You have come here by her orders, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, I 'ave; to poke out the fire and blow out the candles, and I've
+done it."
+
+"You have," said Aaron, ruefully. "And now, little girl, you will do
+as _I_ tell you. Put down that poker. Get up. Feel on the mantelshelf
+for a box of matches. I beg your pardon, you are too short to reach.
+Here is the box. Take out a match. Strike it. Light the candles. Thank
+you. Last, but not least, relieve me of this baby with the sticky
+hands."
+
+The small girl snatched the baby from his arms and stood before him in
+an attitude of defiance. For the first time he had a clear view of
+her.
+
+"Heaven save us!" he cried, falling back in his chair.
+
+Her appearance was a sufficient explanation of his astonishment. To
+say that she was ragged, and dirty, and forlorn, and as utterly unlike
+a little girl living in civilised society as any little girl could
+possibly be, would be but a poor description of her. Her face
+suggested that she had been lying with her head in a coal scuttle; she
+wore no hat or bonnet; her hair was matted; her frock reached just
+below her knees, and might have been picked out of a dust-heap; she
+had no stockings; on her feet were two odd boots, several sizes too
+large for her and quite worn out, one tied to her ankle with a piece
+of grey list, the other similarly secured with a piece of knotted
+twine. Her eyes glittered with preternatural sharpness; her cheek
+bones stuck out; her elbows were pointed and red; she was all
+bone--literally all bone; there was not an ounce of flesh upon her,
+not any part of her body that could be pinched with a sense of
+satisfaction. But the baby! What a contrast! Her head was round and
+chubby, and was covered with a mass of light curls; her hands were
+full of dimples; her face was puffed out with superabundant flesh; the
+calves of her legs were a picture. In respect of clothes she was no
+better off than Mrs. Hawkins's niece.
+
+"Wot are yer staring at?" demanded the girl. "At you, my child,"
+replied Aaron, with compassion in his voice.
+
+"Let's know when yer done," retorted the girl, "and I'll tell yer 'wot
+I charge for it."
+
+"And at baby," added Aaron.
+
+"That'll be hextra. Don't say I didn't warn yer."
+
+There were conflicting elements in the situation; its humour was
+undeniable, but it had its pathetic side. Aaron Cohen was swayed now
+by one emotion, now by another.
+
+"So you are Mrs. Hawkins's niece," he said, with a twinkle in his
+eyes.
+
+"Yes, I am. Wot 'ave yer got to say agin it?"
+
+"Nothing. Is baby also Mrs. Hawkins's niece, or nephew?"
+
+"If you've no objections," said the girl, with excessive politeness,
+"she's Mrs. Pond's little gal, and I nusses 'er."
+
+"I have no objection. What is your name?"
+
+"Wot it may be, my lordship," replied the girl, her politeness
+becoming Arctic, "is one thing--wot it is, is another."
+
+"You are a clever little girl," said Aaron, smiling and rubbing his
+hands, "a sharp, clever little girl."
+
+"Thank yer for nothink," said the girl. She had reached the North
+Pole; it was necessary to thaw her.
+
+"Upon the mantelshelf," said Aaron, "just behind that beautiful blue
+vase, are two penny pieces. Step on a chair--not that cane one, you'll
+go through it; the wooden one--and see if you can find them."
+
+"I see 'em," said the girl, looking down upon Aaron in more senses
+than one.
+
+"They are yours. Put them in your pocket."
+
+The girl clutched the pennies, jumped from the chair--whereat the baby
+crowed, supposing it to be a game provided for her amusement--and
+having no pocket, held the money tight in her hand. Visions of
+sweetstuff rose before her. The pennies getting warm, the ice in the
+North Pole began to melt. But there was a doubt in the girl's mind;
+the adventure was almost too good to be true.
+
+"Yer don't get 'em back," she said; "stow larks, yer know."
+
+"I don't want them back. And now, perhaps, you will tell me your
+name."
+
+"Prissy. That's the short 'un."
+
+"The long one is----"
+
+"Priscilla."
+
+"A grand name. You ought to have a silk gown, and satin shoes, and a
+gold comb." Prissy opened her eyes very wide. The ice was melting
+quickly, and the buds were coming on the trees. "And baby's name?"
+
+"Wictoria Rejiner. That's grander, ain't it?"
+
+"Much grander. Victoria Regina--a little queen!" Prissy gave baby a
+kiss, with pride and love in her glittering eyes. "What makes your
+face so black, Prissy?"
+
+"Coals. Aunty deals in 'em, and ginger-beer, and bundles of wood, and
+cabbages, and taters, and oranges, and lemons. And she takes in
+washing."
+
+"You look, Prissy, as if you had very little to eat."
+
+So genial was Aaron Cohen's voice that spring was coming on fast.
+
+"I don't 'ave much," said Prissy, with a longing sigh. "I could eat
+all day and night if I 'ad the chance."
+
+"My dear," said Aaron to his wife, "there is some coffee left in the
+pot. Do you like coffee, Prissy?"
+
+"Do I like corfey? Don't I like corfey! Oh no--not me! Jest you try
+me!"
+
+"I will. Give me Victoria Regina. Poke the fire. That's right; you are
+the quickest, sharpest little girl in my acquaintance. Pour some water
+from the kettle into the coffee-pot. Set it on the fire. Rachel, my
+dear, take Prissy and baby into the kitchen and let them wash
+themselves, and afterwards they shall have some supper."
+
+The buds were breaking into blossom; it really was a lovely spring.
+
+In a few minutes Rachel and the children re-entered the room from
+the kitchen, baby with a clean face, and Prissy with a painfully red
+and shining skin. Following her husband's instructions, Rachel cut
+half-a-dozen slices of bread, upon which she spread the butter with a
+liberal hand. Prissy, hugging Victoria Regina, watched the proceedings
+in silence. By this time the coffee was bubbling in the pot.
+
+"Take it off the fire, Prissy," said Aaron Cohen; and in another
+minute the little girl, with baby in her lap, was sitting at the table
+with a cup of smoking hot coffee, well sugared and milked, which she
+was so eager to drink that she scalded her throat. The bread and
+butter was perhaps the sweetest that Prissy had ever eaten, and the
+coffee was nectar. The baby ate more than Prissy; indeed, she ate so
+much and so quickly that she occasionally choked and had to be
+violently shaken and patted on the back, but she became tired out at
+last, and before Prissy had finished her bounteous meal she was fast
+asleep in her nurse's arms.
+
+Aaron Cohen leaned back in his chair, and gazed with benevolent eyes
+upon the picture before him; and as he gazed the sweetest of smiles
+came to his lips, and did not leave them. Rachel, stealing to the back
+of his chair, put her arms round his neck, and nestled her face to
+his.
+
+It was a most beautiful summer, and all the trees were in flower.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIII.
+
+ AARON COHEN PREACHES A SERMON ON LARGE NOSES.
+
+
+The fire was burning brightly, and the old cat which they had brought
+with them to Gosport was stretched at full length upon the hearthrug.
+The children were gone, and Prissy had received instructions to come
+again at ten o'clock to extinguish the candles. It may be said of
+Prissy, in respect of her first visit to the house, that she came in
+like a lion and went out like a lamb.
+
+It was a habit on Sabbath eve for Aaron to read to his wife something
+from the general literature of the times, or from the newspapers, and
+to accompany his reading with shrewd or sympathetic remarks, to which
+Rachel always listened in delight. Occasionally he read from a book of
+Hebrew prayers, and commented upon them, throwing a light upon poem
+and allegory which made their meaning clear to Rachel's understanding.
+Invariably, also, he blessed her as Jewish fathers who have not
+wandered from the paths of orthodoxy bless their children on the
+Sabbath. Now, as she stood before him, he placed his hand on her head,
+and said,--
+
+"God make thee like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. May the Eternal
+bless and preserve thee! May the Eternal cause His face to shine upon
+thee, and be gracious unto thee! May the Eternal lift up His
+countenance towards thee, and grant thee peace!"
+
+It was something more than a blessing; it was a prayer of heartfelt
+love. Rachel raised her face to his, and they tenderly kissed each
+other. Then he took his seat on one side of the fire, and she on the
+other. A prayer-book and one of Charles Dickens's stories were on the
+table, but he did not open them; he had matter for thought, and he was
+in the mood for conversation. He was in a light humour, which
+exhibited itself in a quiet laugh, which presently deepened in volume.
+
+"I am thinking of the little girl," he explained to Rachel. "It
+was amazing the way she puffed out the candles and poked out the
+fire--quick as lightning. It was the most comical thing! And her black
+face--and Victoria Regina's sticky fingers! Ha, ha, ha!"
+
+His merriment was contagious, and it drew forth Rachel's; the room was
+filled with pleasant sound.
+
+"I saw Mr. Whimpole to-day," said Aaron, "and I made him a bow, which
+he did not return. My Jewish nose offends him. How unfortunate! Yes,
+my life, no one can dispute that the Jew has a big nose. It proclaims
+itself; it is a mark and a sign. He himself often despises it; he
+himself often looks at it in the glass with aversion. 'Why, why,
+have I been compelled to endure this affliction?' he murmurs,
+and he reflects with envy upon the elegant nose of the Christian.
+Short-sighted mortal, not to understand that he owes everything to his
+big nose! A great writer--a learned man, who passed the whole of his
+life in the study of these matters--proclaims the nose to be the
+foundation, or abutment, of the brain. What follows? That the larger
+is the nose of a man, the better off for it is the man. Listen, my
+dear." He took a book from a little nest of bookshelves, and turned
+over the pages. "'Whoever,' says this learned writer, 'is acquainted
+with the Gothic arch will perfectly understand what I mean by this
+abutment; for upon this the whole power of the arch of the forehead
+rests, and without it the mouth and cheeks would be oppressed by
+miserable ruins.' He lays down exact laws, which govern the beautiful
+(and therefore the large) nose. Its length should equal the length of
+the forehead, the back should be broad, its outline remarkably
+definite, the sides well defined, and, near the eye, it must be at
+least half an inch in breadth. Such a nose, this great authority
+declares, is of more worth than a kingdom. It imparts solidity and
+unity to the whole countenance; it is the mountain--bear in mind, my
+dear, the mountain--that shelters the fair vales beneath. How proud,
+then, should I be of my nose, which in some respects answers to this
+description! Not in all, no, not in all. I am not so vain as to
+believe that my nose is worth more than a kingdom; but when I am told
+that a large nose is a sign of sensibility, and of good nature and
+good humour, I cannot help a glow of conceited satisfaction stealing
+over me. How many great men have you known with small noses? There
+are, of course, exceptions, but I speak of the general rule. Our
+co-religionist, Benjamin Disraeli--look at his nose; look at the noses
+of all our great Jewish musicians and composers--it is because they
+are of a proper size that they have become famous. Some time since in
+London I had the opportunity of looking over a wonderful Bible--six
+enormous volumes published by Mr. Thomas Macklin nearly a century
+ago--embellished with grand pictures by the most eminent English
+artists; and there I saw the figures of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,
+and other ancestors of ours. There is not a small nose on one of the
+faces of these great patriarchs and prophets. The great painters who
+drew them had learned from their studies how to delineate the biblical
+heroes. Moses the law-giver--what an administrator, what a grand
+general was that hero, my dear! How thoroughly he understood men and
+human nature! Aaron, the high priest; King Solomon, the man of wisdom;
+Isaiah, the prophet and poet--they all had tremendous noses. A big
+nose is a grand decoration, and I would sooner possess it than a bit
+of red ribbon in my button-hole, or a star on my breast. Indeed, my
+life, I have it--the nose of my forefathers!" Aaron made this
+declaration in a tone of comic despair. "And, having it, I will not
+part with it except with life."
+
+There was so much playful humour in the dissertation that Rachel
+laughed outright. Her laugh was the sweetest in the world, and it fell
+like music on Aaron's heart. He smiled, and there was a gleam in his
+eyes, and presently he spoke again.
+
+"I am not aware whether you have ever observed the attraction a big
+nose has for children. Take the most popular drama of all ages, 'Punch
+and Judy.' Where is the artist who would venture to present Punch
+with any but an enormous nose? Are the children frightened at it? No,
+they revel in it. Do they sympathise with Judy when she is slain? Not
+at all; every whack Punch gives her is greeted with shrieks of
+laughter--because of his enormous nose. Introduce two strangers to a
+baby, one with a very small nose, the other with a very big nose. Let
+them both hold out their arms. Instinctively the baby flies to the man
+with the large nose. It is nature's silent voice that instructs the
+child. He or she--the sex is not material--instinctively knows which
+is the better nose of the two, which is the most promising nose, the
+most suggestive of kisses, and jumps in the air, and cakes, and songs,
+and all that is dear to a child's heart. The test is infallible.
+Nothing will convince me that you did not marry me because of my big
+nose."
+
+"Indeed, dear," said Rachel, still laughing, "I hardly think I would
+have married you without it."
+
+"Then the fact is established. I am about to make a confession to
+you, Rachel; I am going to tell you the true reason for my choosing
+this place to reside in, where I am separated by a long distance from
+the friends of my youth and manhood, and where you, too, my dear
+child"--in his moments of tenderness he occasionally addressed her
+thus--"will, I fear, be for a time without friends to whom you can
+unbosom yourself."
+
+"I have you, my dear husband," said Rachel, in a tone of deep
+affection, drawing closer to him, and slipping her little hand into
+his great hand. A fine, large, nervous hand was Aaron Cohen's; a
+palmister would have seen great possibilities in it. Rachel's hand,
+despite her domestic work, was the hand of a lady; she took a proper
+pride in preserving its delicacy and beauty. "I have you, my dear
+husband," she said.
+
+"Yes, my' life, but you used to kiss at least a dozen female friends a
+day."
+
+"I kissed Prissy and the baby to-night."
+
+"When their faces were washed, I hope. Listen to my confession.
+Pride and hard-heartedness drove me from the neighbourhood in which we
+were married. A thousand pounds did my dear father--God rest his
+soul!--bequeath to me. It dwindled and dwindled--my own fault; I could
+not say No. One came to me with a melancholy tale which led to a
+little loan; another came, and another, and another. I did not make
+you acquainted with the extent of my transgressions. My dear, I
+encouraged the needy ones; I even went out of my way to lend, thinking
+myself a fine fellow, and flapping my wings in praise of my stupidity.
+Not half I lent came back to me. Then business began to fall off, and
+I saw that I was in the wrong groove. I had grown into bad ways; and
+had I remained much longer in the old neighbourhood I should have been
+left without a penny. I thought of our future, of the injustice I was
+inflicting upon you. 'I will go,' said I, 'where I am not known, while
+I still have a little to earn a living with, among strangers who, when
+they borrow, will give me value in return, and where I shall not have
+to say to poor friends, "Come to me no more; I am poorer than
+yourselves." I have been foolish and weak; I will be wise and strong.
+I will grow rich and hard-hearted.' Yes, my dear, that is what I
+intend, and my heart will not be oppressed by the sight of suffering
+it is out of my power to relieve. Rachel, I am not so clever as I
+pretend to be; to speak the truth, I am afraid I am rather given to
+crowing; and when it is not alone my own welfare, but the welfare of
+one so dear to me as you are, that is concerned, I tremble, I begin to
+doubt whether I have done right. Give me your opinion of the step I
+have taken."
+
+She gazed at him with serious, loving, trustful eyes. "It is a wise
+step, Aaron, I am sure it is. Whatever you do is right, and I am
+satisfied."
+
+Ten o'clock struck, and a knock at the door announced the faithful
+Prissy, come to put the fire out. She entered with the baby in her
+arms, sound asleep. She was flushed and excited, and she held her hand
+over the right side of her face.
+
+"Victoria ought to be a-bed," said Rachel, taking a peep at baby.
+
+"She can't go," retorted Prissy, "afore 'er mother's ready to take
+'er."
+
+"Where is her mother?" asked Aaron.
+
+"At the Jolly Sailor Boy, enjying of 'erself."
+
+"Ah! And where is your aunt?"
+
+"At the Jolly Sailor Boy, too, 'aving a 'arf-quartern. There's been a
+reg'lar row there about Mrs. Macrory's flannin peddicut."
+
+"What happened to it?"
+
+"It went wrong. Yes, it did. Yer needn't larf. Call me a story, do! I
+would if I was you!"
+
+"No, no, Prissy," said Aaron, in a soothing tone. "How did the flannel
+petticoat go wrong?"
+
+"Nobody knowed at fust. Aunty does Mrs. Macrory's washing, and a lot
+more besides, and the things gits mixed sometimes. Aunty can't 'elp
+that--'ow can she? So Mrs. Macrory's things was took 'ome without the
+peddicut. Mrs. Macrory she meets aunty at the Jolly Sailor Boy, and
+she begins to kick up about it. 'Where's my flannin peddicut?' she
+ses. ''Ow should I know?' ses aunty. Then wot d'yer think? Mrs.
+Macrory sees somethink sticking out of aunty's dress be'ind, and she
+pulls at it. 'Why,' she ses, 'you've got it on!' That's wot the row
+was about. Aunty didn't know 'ow it come on 'er--she's ready to take
+'er oath on that. Ain't it rum?"
+
+"Very rum. Put out the fire, Prissy. It is time for all good people to
+get to bed."
+
+In the performance of this duty Prissy was compelled to remove her
+hand from her face, and when she rose from the floor it was seen that
+her right eye was sadly discoloured, and that she was in pain.
+
+"Oh, Prissy, poor child!" exclaimed Rachel; "you have been hurt!"
+
+"Yes, mum," said Prissy. "Mrs. Macrory's gal--she's twice as big as
+me; you should see 'er legs!--she ses, 'You're in that job,' she ses,
+meaning the peddicut; and she lets fly and gives me a one-er on
+account."
+
+Rachel ran upstairs, and brought down a bottle of gillard water, with
+which she bathed the bruise, and tied one of her clean white
+handkerchiefs over it. Prissy stood quite still, her lips quivering;
+it may have been the gillard water that filled the girl's unbandaged
+eye with tears.
+
+"That will make you feel easier," said Rachel. "Blow out the candles
+now, and be here at half-past eight in the morning."
+
+"I'll be sure to be," said Prissy, with a shake in her voice.
+
+In the dark Aaron Cohen heard the sound of a kiss.
+
+"Good-night, sir," said the girl.
+
+"Good-night, Prissy," said Aaron.
+
+The chain of the street door was put up, and the shutters securely
+fastened, and then Aaron and Rachel, hand in hand, went up the dark
+stairs to their room.
+
+"My dear," said Aaron, drowsily, a few minutes after he and his wife
+were in bed, "are you asleep?"
+
+"No, Aaron," murmured Rachel, who was on the border-land of dreams.
+
+"I've been thinking,"--he dozed off for a moment or two--"I've been
+thinking----"
+
+"Yes, my dear?"
+
+--"That I wouldn't give Prissy's aunt any flannel petticoats to wash."
+
+Almost before the words had passed his lips sleep claimed him for its
+own.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ A PROCLAMATION OF WAR.
+
+
+On Monday morning Aaron commenced business. In the shop window was a
+display of miscellaneous articles ticketed at low prices, and Aaron
+took his place behind his counter, ready to dispose of them, ready to
+argue and bargain, and to advance money on any other articles on which
+a temporary loan was required. He did not expect a rush of customers,
+being aware that pawnbroking was a tree of very small beginnings, a
+seed which needed time before it put forth flourishing branches. The
+security was sure, the profits accumulative. He was confident of the
+result. Human necessity, even human frailty, was on his side; all he
+had to do was to be fair in his dealings.
+
+In the course of the day he had a good many callers; some to make
+inquiries, some to offer various articles for pledge. Of these latter
+the majority were children, with whom he declined to negotiate. "Who
+sent you?" "Mother." "Go home and tell her she must come herself." He
+would only do business with grown-up people. Setting before himself a
+straight and honest rule of life, he was not the man to wander from it
+for the sake of a little profit. Of the other description of callers a
+fair proportion entered the shop out of idle curiosity. He had
+pleasant words for all, and gave change for sixpences and shillings
+with as much courtesy as if each transaction was a gain to him; as,
+indeed, it was, for no man or woman who entered with an unfavourable
+opinion of him (influenced by certain rumours to his discredit which
+had been circulated by Mr. Whimpole) departed without having their
+minds disturbed by his urbanity and genial manners. "I don't see any
+harm in him," was the general verdict from personal evidence; "he's as
+nice a spoken man as I ever set eyes on." Many of his visitors went
+away laughing at the humorous remarks he had made, which they passed
+on from one to another. On the evening of this first day he expressed
+his satisfaction at the business he had done.
+
+"Our venture will turn out well," he said to Rachel. "The flag of
+fortune is waving over us."
+
+It was eight o'clock, and, although he scarcely expected further
+custom, he kept the gas burning in the shop window.
+
+"Light is an attraction," he observed. "It is better than an
+advertisement in the papers."
+
+The evening was fine. He and Rachel were sitting in the parlour,
+with the intermediate door open. Aaron was smoking a handsome
+silver-mounted pipe and making up his accounts, while his wife was
+busy with her needle. Satan could never have put anything in the shape
+of mischief in the way of these two pairs of industrious hands, for
+they were never idle, except during the Sabbath and the fasts and
+holydays, and then it was not idleness, but rest, Divinely ordained.
+The silver-mounted pipe was one of Aaron's most precious possessions,
+it being his beloved wife's gift to him on his last birthday. He would
+not have sold it for ten times its weight in gold. Rachel often held a
+light to it after it was filled, and Aaron, with an affectionate
+smile, would kiss her white hand in acknowledgment of the service.
+There are trifling memorials which are almost human in their
+influence, and in the tender thoughts they inspire. At peace with the
+world and with themselves, Aaron and his wife conversed happily as
+they worked; but malignant influences were at work, of which they were
+soon to feel the shock.
+
+Aaron had put his account books in the safe, and was turning the key,
+when the sound of loud voices outside his shop reached their ears. The
+voices were those of children, male and female, who were exercising
+their lungs in bass, treble, and falsetto. Only one word did they
+utter.
+
+"Jew! Jew! Jew!"
+
+Rachel started up in alarm, her hand at her heart. Her face was white,
+her limbs were trembling.
+
+"Jew! Jew! Jew!"
+
+Aaron put the key of the safe in his pocket, and laid down his pipe.
+His countenance was not troubled, but his brows were puckered.
+
+"Jew! Jew! Jew!"
+
+"It is wicked! it is wicked!" cried Rachel, wringing her hands. "Oh,
+how can they be so cruel!"
+
+Aaron's countenance instantly cleared. He had to think, to act, for
+her as well as for himself. With fond endearments he endeavoured to
+soothe her; but her agitation was profound, and while these cries of
+implied opprobrium continued she could not school herself to calmness.
+Not for herself did she fear; it was against her dear, her honoured
+husband that this wicked demonstration was made, and she dreaded that
+he would be subjected to violence. Stories of past oppressions,
+accounts she had read in the newspapers of Jew-baiting in other
+countries, flashed into her mind. To her perturbed senses the voices
+seemed to proceed from men and women; to Aaron's clearer senses they
+were the voices of children, and he divined the source of the insult.
+Rachel sobbed upon his breast, and clasped him close to protect him.
+
+"Rachel, my love, my life!" he said, in a tone of tender firmness. "Be
+calm, I entreat you. There is nothing to fear. Have you lost
+confidence in your husband? Would you increase my troubles, and make
+the task before me more difficult than it is? On my word as a man, on
+my faith as a Jew, I will make friends of these foolish children, in
+whose outcries there is no deep-seated venom--I declare it, none. They
+do not know what they are doing. From my heart I pity them, the young
+rascals, and I will wage a peaceful war with them--yes, my life, a
+peaceful war--which will confound them and fill them with wonder. I
+will make them respect me; I will enrich them with a memory which,
+when they are men and women, will make them think of the past with
+shame. I will make all my enemies respect me. If you will help me by
+your silence and patience, I will turn their bitterness into
+thistledown, which I can blow away with a breath. Take heart, my
+beloved, dear life of my life! Trust to me, and in the course of a few
+days you shall see a wonder. There, let me kiss your tears away. That
+is my own Rachel, whose little finger is more precious to me than all
+the world beside. Good, good, my own dear wife! Do you think it is a
+tragedy that is being enacted by those youngsters? No, no; it is a
+comedy. You shall see, you shall see!"
+
+She was comforted by his words; she drew strength from his strength;
+she looked at him in wonder, as he began to laugh even while he was
+caressing her, and her wonder increased when she saw that his eyes
+fairly shone with humour.
+
+"Have no fear, my heart," he said; "have not the slightest fear. I am
+going to meet them--not with javelin and spear, but with something
+still more powerful, and with good temper for my shield."
+
+"Aaron," she whispered, "are you sure there is no danger?"
+
+"If I were not sure," he answered, merrily, "I would remain snug in
+this room. I am not a man of war; I am a man of peace, and with
+peaceful weapons will I scatter the enemy. For your dear sake I would
+not expose myself to peril, for do I not know that if I were hurt your
+pain would be greater than mine? It is my joy to know it. You will
+remain quietly here?"
+
+"I will, my dear husband. But you will not go into the street?"
+
+"I shall go no farther than the street door. I shall not need to go
+farther."
+
+He stopped to fill his pipe, and to light it; and then, with loving
+kisses and a smile on his lips, he left her.
+
+When he made his appearance at the shop door there was a sudden hush,
+and a sudden scuttling away of the twenty or thirty children who had
+congregated to revile him. He remained stationary at the door, smoking
+his pipe, and gazing benignantly at them.
+
+Their fears of chastisement dispelled by his peaceful attitude, they
+stopped, looked over their shoulders, and slowly and warily came back,
+keeping, however, at a safe distance from him. They found their voices
+again; again the reviling cries went forth.
+
+"Jew! Jew! Jew!"
+
+"Good children! good children!" said Aaron, in a clear, mellifluous
+voice. Then he put his pipe to his mouth again, and continued to
+smoke, smiling and nodding his head as if in approval.
+
+"Jew! Jew! Jew!"
+
+"Good little boys and girls," said Aaron. "Bravo! bravo! You deserve a
+reward. Every labourer is worthy of his hire."
+
+He drew from his pocket three or four pennies, which, with smiling
+nods of his head, he threw among them.
+
+Instantly came into play other passions--greed, avarice, the
+determination not to be defrauded of their due. Falling upon the
+money, they scrambled and fought for it. Aaron threw among them two or
+three more pennies, and their ardour increased. They scratched, they
+kicked, they tumbled over each other; blows were given and returned.
+Those who had secured pennies scampered away with them, and, with loud
+and vengeful cries, the penniless scampered after them. In a very
+little while they had all disappeared. To the victors the spoils, it
+is said; but in this instance it really appeared as if victory had
+ranged itself on Aaron's side.
+
+Shaking with internal laughter, he remained on his steps awhile,
+puffing at his pipe; then he put up the shutters, locked the street
+door, put out the shop lights, and rejoined his wife.
+
+"My dear," he said, and his voice was so gay that her heart beat with
+joy, "that is the end of the first act. They will not come back
+to-night."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XV.
+
+ THE BATTLE IS FOUGHT AND WON.
+
+
+"The personal affections by which we are governed," said Aaron Cohen,
+seating himself comfortably in his chair, "are, like all orders of
+beings to which they come, of various degrees and qualities, and the
+smaller become merged and lost in the larger, as the serpents of
+Pharaoh's magicians were swallowed up by Aaron's rod. Wisdom is better
+than an inheritance, and anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
+Moreover, as is observed by Rabbi Chanina, 'Wise men promote peace in
+the world.' Such, my dear Rachel, is my aim, and so long as the means
+within my reach are harmless, so long will I follow the learned
+rabbi's precept. If the human heart were not full of envy and deceit,
+what I have done should bring joy to our persecutors; but I will not
+pledge myself that it has done so in this instance. On the contrary,
+on the contrary. They have something else to think of than calling me
+what I am proud to be called--a Jew. How they scratched and fought and
+ran!" Aaron paused here to laugh. "The opprobrious cries ceased
+suddenly, did they not, Rachel?"
+
+"They did, and I was very much surprised."
+
+"You will be more surprised when you hear that I rewarded with modern
+shekels the labours of the young rascals who would make our lives a
+torment to us."
+
+"You gave them money!" exclaimed Rachel, in amazement. "Is it possible
+you rewarded them for their bad work?"
+
+"I threw among them seven penny pieces. Yes, yes, I rewarded them. Why
+not?"
+
+"But why?"
+
+"Ah, why, why? Had I thrown among them seven cannon balls they would
+scarcely have been more effective. The truth of this will be made
+manifest to our benefit before many days are gone, or Cohen is not my
+name. Wife of my soul, I went forth, not with a lion's, but with a
+fox's skin. Have I not studied the law? Are not the Cohanim priests,
+and are not priests supposed to be men of intelligence and resource?
+We read in Proverbs, 'Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I have
+understanding, I have strength.' Rabbi Meyer says that the study of
+the law endows a man with sovereignty, dominion, and ratiocination. He
+is slow to anger, ready to forgive an injury, has a good heart,
+receives chastisement with resignation, loves virtue, correction, and
+admonition. This, perhaps, is going a little too far, and is endowing
+a human being with qualities too transcendent; but it is true to a
+certain extent, and I have profited by the learned rabbi's words. Ill
+fitted should I be to engage in the battle of life if I were not able
+to cope with the young rascals who made the night hideous outside our
+door, and who, if I am not mistaken; will repeat their performance
+to-morrow evening at the same hour."
+
+"They will come again!" cried Rachel, clasping her hands in despair.
+
+"They will come again, and again, and yet again, and then--well, then
+we shall see what we shall see."
+
+"You gave them money to-night," said Rachel, sadly, "and they will
+return for more."
+
+"And they will return for more," said Aaron, with complacency. "At
+the present moment I should judge that they are engaged in a fierce
+contest. When that look comes into your face, my dear, it is an
+indication that I have said something you do not exactly understand.
+I threw to them seven apples of discord, which the nimblest and the
+strongest seized and fled with. But each soldier conceived he
+had a right to at least one of the apples, and those who were left
+empty-handed laboured under a sense of wrong. They had been robbed by
+their comrades. After them they rushed to obtain their portion of the
+spoils of war. Then ensued a grand scrimmage in which noses have been
+injured and eyes discoloured. Even as we converse the battle is
+continued. I am not there, but I see the scene clearly with my mind's
+eye." He took a sovereign from his pocket, and regarded it
+contemplatively. "Ah, thou root of much evil and of much good, what
+have you not to answer for? What blessings is it not in your power to
+bestow, what evil passions do you not bring into play? Rachel, my
+love, take heart of courage, and when you hear those boys shouting
+outside tomorrow night do not be alarmed. Trust in me; everything will
+come right in the end."
+
+The scene which Aaron had drawn from his imagination was as near as
+possible to the truth. There had been a battle royal between the boys
+and girls for possession of the pennies; noses were put out of joint,
+black eyes were given, words of injurious import exchanged, and much
+bad blood engendered. The sevenpence for which they fought would have
+gone but a little way to pay for the repairs to the clothes which were
+torn and rent during the fray. The end of it was that the robbers,
+after being kicked and cuffed ignominiously, were not allowed to join
+in a compact made by the penniless, to the effect that they would
+assemble outside Aaron Cohen's shop to-morrow night and repeat the
+tactics which had been so well rewarded, and that all moneys received
+should be equally divided between the warriors engaged. One Ted Kite
+was appointed commander, to organise the expedition and to see fair
+play.
+
+Accordingly, on Tuesday night a score or so of boys and girls
+presented themselves in front of the shop, and commenced shouting,
+"Jew! Jew! Jew!" the fugleman being Ted Kite, who proved himself well
+fitted for the task.
+
+"There he is, there he is!" said the youngsters eagerly, as Aaron made
+his appearance on the doorstep; and, inspired by their captain, they
+continued to fire.
+
+"Good children, good children," said Aaron, with good-humoured smiles,
+and continuing to smoke his silver-mounted pipe. "Very well done, very
+well done indeed!"
+
+"Ain't he going to throw us nothink?" they asked each other anxiously,
+their greedy eyes watching Aaron's movements. They were kept rather
+long in suspense, but at length Aaron's hand sought his pocket, and
+half a dozen pennies rattled on the stones. Despite their compact down
+they pounced, and fought and scratched for them as on the previous
+night, the fortunate ones scudding away as on the first occasion,
+followed by their angry comrades. They were caught, and compelled to
+disgorge; the pennies were changed into farthings, and each soldier
+received one for his pay; the two or three that were left were spent
+in sweetstuff.
+
+"What a game!" the children exclaimed, and appointed to meet on the
+following night to continue the pastime.
+
+On this third night they were kept waiting still longer. Aaron Cohen
+did not make his appearance so quickly, and several minutes elapsed
+before the pennies were thrown to them. On the first night he had
+disbursed seven, on the second night six, on this third only four.
+There was the usual fighting for them, and the usual scampering away;
+but when the sum-total was placed in the hands of Ted Kite a great
+deal of dissatisfaction was expressed. Only fourpence! They doubted
+the correctness of the sum; they were sure that more had been thrown;
+one girl said she counted eight, and others supported her statement.
+Who had stolen the missing pennies? They quarrelled and fought again;
+they regarded each other with suspicion; doubts were thrown upon the
+honesty of the captain. Off went his coat instantly; off went the
+coats of other boys; the girls, having no coats to throw off, tucked
+up their sleeves; and presently six or seven couples were hitting,
+scratching, and kicking each other. Much personal damage was done, and
+more bad blood engendered. The warfare was not by any means of a
+heroic nature.
+
+Nevertheless they assembled on the fourth night, and were kept waiting
+still longer before they were paid. Aaron did not show his liberality,
+however, until he had had a conference with the captain. His keen eyes
+had singled out Ted Kite, and he beckoned to him. Ted hesitated; he
+was only a small boy; Aaron Cohen was a big man, and in a personal
+contest could have disposed of him comfortably.
+
+"Yah, yer coward!" cried the rank and file to their captain. "What are
+yer frightened at? What did we make yer captain for?"
+
+Thus taunted, Ted Kite ventured to approach the smiling foe.
+
+"Come a little nearer," said Aaron; "I am not going to hurt you. I
+wish you to do me a favour."
+
+Ted, with a sidelong look over his shoulders at his army, as if
+appealing to it to rush to his rescue in case he was seized, shuffled
+forward. Aaron Cohen held out his hand; Ted Kite timidly responded,
+and was surprised at the friendly grip he received.
+
+"You are the leader," said Aaron, in his most genial voice.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Cohen," replied Ted, growing bold, "I'm the captain."
+
+"Clever lad, clever captain! Here's a penny for you. Don't let them
+see you take it. It is for you alone. They will do as you tell them,
+of course."
+
+"I'll let 'em know it if they don't."
+
+"It's right you should. I think it is very kind of you to come here as
+you do, but I want you to oblige me and not come to-morrow night It is
+Friday, and the shop will be closed; so you would be wasting your
+time. That would be foolish, would it not?"
+
+"Yes, it would," said Ted, somewhat bewildered. "Shall we come on
+Saturday night?"
+
+"Certainly, if you think proper. Then you will not be here to-morrow?"
+
+"We won't, as you'd rather not, Mr. Cohen."
+
+"Thank you, I am really obliged to you. Now go and join your army."
+
+Ted Kite turned away, walked a step or two, and returned.
+
+"But I say, Mr. Cohen----"
+
+"Well, my lad?"
+
+"Do you like it?"
+
+"Do I like it?" echoed Aaron, With a sly chuckle. "Should I speak to
+you as I am doing if I didn't? I think it is very nice of you; very
+nice, very nice indeed!"
+
+"Oh!" said Ted, in a crest-fallen tone. As Aaron took pleasure in the
+persecution, it was not half such good fun as it had been. "He says he
+likes it," he said to his comrades, when he was among them.
+
+"How much did he give yer?" they inquired, feeling as he did in
+respect of the fun of their proceedings.
+
+"He didn't give me nothink."
+
+"We sor him hold out his hand to yer," they protested.
+
+"You sor us shake hands, that's what yer saw. Let's get on with the
+game; we don't want to be kept waiting here all night."
+
+They went on with the game, calling "Jew! Jew! Jew!" half-heartedly.
+Putting the pecuniary reward out of the question, it was a game that
+was becoming rather monotonous. They had to call for quite a quarter
+of an hour before Aaron paid them; and this time he paid them with two
+pennies only. The children fell on the ground, and scraped the stones
+for more, but found none; and they retired grumbling, discontented,
+and suspicious of each other's honesty.
+
+On Friday night, the Sabbath eve, Aaron and Rachel had peace; and on
+Saturday night the children made their appearance again and gave forth
+their chorus. Aaron came to the door, and stood there, smoking his
+pipe, and smiling at them; but he did not throw any pennies to them.
+They did not know what to make of it. Their voices grew weaker and
+weaker, they wandered about discontentedly, they declared it was not
+fair on Mr. Cohen's part. "We'll try him agin on Monday night," they
+said.
+
+They tried him again on Monday night, and he stood on his steps,
+commending them, but he gave them no more pennies. There was no heart
+whatever now in their invectives. They were not philosophers, and did,
+not know that the course Aaron had pursued had taken the sting out of
+their tails. "He likes it," they said to one another, as they strolled
+off moodily, "and he wants us to come here and scream our throats dry
+without being paid for it. Well, we ain't going to do it. We won't
+call him Jew any more, if he wants us ever so much. It ain't likely,
+now, is it? What does he mean by treating us so shabby?" These young
+rapscallions thought the world was out of joint.
+
+On this Monday night an incident occurred which never came to Aaron's
+ears. Prissy, hearing of the annoyance to which the Cohens were
+subjected, made her appearance as the boys were wandering
+disconsolately away, and without wasting time in asking questions,
+darted like a tiger-cat upon the biggest of them, and fixed her
+fingers in his hair. She had left Victoria Regina asleep on the coals
+in her aunt's shop, and had, so to speak, girded up her loins for the
+contest, by pinning up her ragged skirts and tucking up her sleeves to
+the shoulder. "What's that for?" cried the boy, struggling to get
+free. Prissy vouchsafed no explanation; the only words she uttered
+were addressed to the other boys. "Fair play. One at a time. I'm only
+a gal." Chivalry was not dead. They stood round the combatants, and
+witnessed the fight without interfering. It was a desperate encounter.
+Many an ugly blow did Prissy receive; but she depended upon her
+talons, and pulled such quantities of hair out of the big boy's head,
+and scratched his face so dreadfully, that he was at length driven to
+tears and entreaties to her to leave off. "Do yer want any more?"
+screamed Prissy, whose breath was almost gone. The big boy's answer
+was to run away, whimpering, and the other boys hooted him as he fled.
+"Would any other boy like to come on?" demanded the panting Prissy.
+Not one accepted the challenge, and Prissy, glaring at them as they
+followed their vanquished comrade, went back to Victoria Regina, and
+shed copious tears of indignant satisfaction over the sleeping babe.
+
+In this way it was that Aaron Cohen fought the battle and gained a
+bloodless victory. He laughed in his sleeve as he thought of it, and
+laughed aloud in his cosy little parlour when he related the whole
+affair to Rachel.
+
+"One shilling and eightpence has it cost me, my love," he said, "and I
+do not grudge the money. Show 'me the battle that has been won for
+less."
+
+Rachel was greatly relieved; but her dominant feeling was admiration
+for her husband's wisdom.
+
+"I do not believe any other man in the world would have thought of
+it," she said; and though Aaron shook his head in modest deprecation,
+he was justified in inwardly congratulating himself upon his astute
+tactics.
+
+The story got about, and the townspeople were much amused by it. "Mr.
+Cohen's a clever fellow," they said. He grew to be respected by them,
+and as the weeks passed by and it was seen that he was not only a
+fair-dealing but a kindly-hearted man, the innuendoes which Mr.
+Whimpole continued to circulate about him produced a very small
+effect. Mr. Whimpole was not pleased; where is the man who would have
+been in his position? Talking one night with Rachel over the animosity
+the corn-chandler bore towards the Jews, Aaron said,--
+
+"I have no doubt, my dear, that he is quite conscientious, and that he
+considers his prejudices to be the outcome of a just conviction.
+Doubtless his parents had the same conviction, and he imbibed it from
+them. There are thousands of people who agree with him, and there are
+worse persecutions than that to which we have been subjected. Look at
+that infamously-governed country, Russia, which, in the maps, ought to
+be stamped blood-red, with a heavy mourning border around it! The
+wretches who inflict incredible sufferings upon countless innocent
+beings call themselves Christians. They are not Christians, they are
+fiends, and a judgment will fall upon them. Spain, once the greatest
+of nations, fell into decay when the Jews deserted it. So will it be
+with other nations that oppress the Jew. Let Germany look to it. It is
+easy to arouse the evil passions of human beings, but a brand of fire
+shall fall upon the heads of those who are employed in work so vile."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ JOY AND SORROW.
+
+
+Perhaps, however, to Rachel may chiefly be ascribed the general esteem
+in which the Cohens were held by the townsfolk. Charitable, kind, and
+gentle by nature, she was instinctively drawn to all poor people who
+had fallen into misfortune. Here there was no question of Jew and
+Christian. A human being was in trouble; that was sufficient for this
+dear woman, whose heart bled at the sight of suffering. Upon her
+sympathetic ears no tale of distress could fall without bearing fruit.
+Now it was a basin of nourishing soup, now a mould of jelly, now part
+of a chicken, cooked by herself, and paid for out of her housekeeping
+money. She won friends everywhere, and her sweet face was like a ray
+of sunshine in the homes of the poor. It was not at all uncommon to
+hear that her timely assistance had been the means of restoring to
+health those who had been stricken down. She walked through life as an
+angel of mercy might have done, and spiritual flowers grew about her
+feet.
+
+Of all the friends who sounded her praises none were more enthusiastic
+than little Prissy, who came now regularly to the house to do domestic
+work.
+
+Anxious to increase his trade, Aaron had stocked his shop with such
+articles of wear and adornment which were most in request. He had not
+the means to pay ready money for the stock, but through a friend in
+Portsmouth, Mr. Moss, with whom the readers of this story have already
+become acquainted, he obtained credit from wholesale dealers who would
+have been chary to trust him without a sufficient recommendation.
+Apart from the pleasures which his modest success in business afforded
+him, there was a happiness in store for him to which he looked forward
+with a sense of profound gratitude. Rachel was about to become a
+mother. To this fond couple, who lived only for each other, there
+could be no greater joy than this. They had lost their firstborn, and
+God was sending another child to bless their days. They never closed
+their eyes at night, they never rose in the morning, without offering
+a prayer of thanks to the Most High for His goodness to them. They saw
+no cloud gathering to darken their happiness.
+
+It was an ordinary event, for which Aaron could hardly have been
+prepared.
+
+They had been eleven months in Gosport when one morning Aaron, rising
+first and going down to his shop, found that burglars had been at
+work. They had effected an entrance at the back of the house, and had
+carried away the most valuable articles in the window. The loss, Aaron
+calculated, would not be less than a hundred pounds.
+
+It was, to him, a serious loss; he had commenced with a very small
+capital, and his earnings during the year had left only a small margin
+over his household and trade expenses. His business was growing, it is
+true, but for the first six months he had barely paid his way; it was
+to the future he looked to firmly establish himself, and now in one
+night all his profits were swept away. More than this; if he were
+called upon to pay his debts he would have but a few pounds left.
+Rachel, whose health the last week or two had been delicate, her
+confinement being so near, was in bed by his directions; he had
+forbidden her to rise till ten o'clock. It was a matter to be thankful
+for; he could keep the shock of the loss from her; in her condition
+bad news might have a serious effect upon her.
+
+He set everything in order, spoke no word of what had occurred to his
+wife, re-arranged the shop window, and took down the shutters. In the
+course of the day he told Rachel that he intended to close a couple of
+hours earlier than usual; he had to go to Portsmouth upon business in
+the evening, and should be absent probably till near midnight.
+
+"You will not mind being alone, my love?" he said.
+
+"Oh no," she answered, with a tender smile; "I have plenty to occupy
+me."
+
+She had been for some time busy with her needle preparing for her
+unborn child.
+
+"But you must go to bed at ten," said Aaron. "I shall lock the shop,
+and take the key of the back door with me, so that I can let myself
+in."
+
+She promised to do as he bade her, and in the evening he left her to
+transact his business. He had no fear that she would be intruded upon;
+it was not likely that the house would be broken into two nights in
+succession; besides, with the exception of some pledges of small value
+which he kept in the safe, where they were secure from burglars, there
+was little now to tempt thieves to repeat their knavish doings. So
+with fond kisses he bade her goodnight.
+
+They stood facing each other, looking into each other's eyes. Rachel's
+eyes were of a tender grey, with a light so sweet in them that he
+never looked into them unmoved. He kissed them now with a strange
+yearning at his heart.
+
+"I hope baby's eyes will be like yours, dear love," he said; "the soul
+of sweetness and goodness shines in them."
+
+She smiled happily, and pressed him fondly to her. Ah, if he had
+known!
+
+His first business was with the police. He went to the station, and
+telling the inspector of his loss, said that he wished it to be kept
+private, because of his fear that it might reach his wife's ears. The
+inspector replied that it would be advisable under any circumstances.
+Leaving in the officer's hands a list of the articles that had been
+stolen, he proceeded to Portsmouth to consult his friend Mr. Moss.
+That good-hearted gentleman was deeply concerned at the news.
+
+"It is a serious thing, Cohen," he said.
+
+"A very serious thing," replied Aaron, gravely; "but I shall overcome
+it, Only I require time. I promised to pay some bills to-morrow, and
+as I shall need a little stock to replace what I have lost, it will
+cramp me to do so now."
+
+He mentioned the names of the tradesmen to whom he had given the
+promise, and asked Mr. Moss to call upon them in the morning and
+explain the matter to them.
+
+"They will not lose their money," he said; "it will not take me very
+long to make everything right."
+
+"I will see them," said Mr. Moss, "and I am sure they will give you
+time. Aaron Cohen's name is a sufficient guarantee."
+
+"I hope it will always be," replied Aaron. "It is very unfortunate
+just now, because I have extra expenses coming on me. The nurse, the
+doctor----"
+
+"I know, I know. How is Mrs. Cohen?"
+
+"Fairly well, I am glad to say. She knows nothing of what has
+occurred."
+
+"Of course not. How could you tell her while she is like that? When
+Mrs. Moss is in the same way I am always singing and laughing and
+saying cheerful things to her. Between you and me, we expect an
+addition ourselves in about four months."
+
+"Indeed! That will make----"
+
+"Twelve," said Mr. Moss, rubbing his hands briskly together. "Increase
+and multiply. It's our bounden duty; eh, Cohen?"
+
+"Yes," said Aaron, rather absently. "And now I must go; it will be
+late before I reach home, and for all Rachel's promises I expect she
+will keep awake for me. Good-night, and thank you."
+
+"Nothing to thank me for. Good-night, and good luck."
+
+When Aaron returned to Gosport it was midnight. Winter was coming on,
+and it was cold and dark. Buttoning his coat close up to his neck, he
+hastened his steps.
+
+He was not despondent. Misfortune had fallen upon him, but he had
+confidence in himself; and, despite the practical common sense which
+showed itself in all his actions, there was in his nature an
+underlying current of spiritual belief in Divine assistance towards
+the successful accomplishment of just and worthy endeavour. That it is
+man's duty to do right, to work, to pray, to be considerate to his
+neighbours, to make his home cheerful, to be as charitable as his
+means will allow--this was his creed; and it was strengthened by his
+conviction that God made Himself manifest even upon earth in matters
+of right and wrong. He did not relegate the expiation of transgression
+to the future; he did not believe that a man could wipe out the sins
+of the past year by fasting, and praying, and beating his breast on
+the Day of Atonement. Wrong-doing was not to be set aside and
+forgotten until a convenient hour for repentance arrived. That was the
+conduct of a man who tried to cheat his conscience, who deluded
+himself with the hope that the Eternal sometimes slept. Daily, hourly,
+a man must keep watch over himself and his actions. This had been his
+rule of life; and it contributed to his happiness, and to the
+happiness of those around him.
+
+He was within a quarter of a mile of his residence when he was
+conscious of an unseen disturbance in the air; and presently he saw a
+distant glare in the sky, and the faint echoes of loud voices stole
+upon his senses. Agitated as he had been by what had transpired during
+this long unfortunate day, he could not at first be certain whether
+these signs were real or imaginary; but he soon discovered that they
+did not spring from his imagination. The glare in the sky became
+plainly visible, the loud voices reached his cars. There was a fire in
+the town, and he was proceeding towards it. Instantly his thoughts,
+his fears, centred upon Rachel. He ran forward quickly, and found
+himself struggling through an excited crowd. Flames shot upwards; the
+air was filled with floating sparks of fire. Great God! It was his own
+house that was being destroyed by the devouring element. He did not
+heed that; the destruction of his worldly goods did not affect him.
+
+"My wife!" he screamed. "Where is my wife?"
+
+By main force they held him back, for he was rushing into the flames.
+
+"Let me go!" he screamed. "Where is my wife?"
+
+"It is all right, Mr. Cohen," a number of voices replied. "She is
+saved!"
+
+"Thank God, oh, thank God!" he cried. "Take me to her. Where is she?"
+
+He cared not for the ruin that had overtaken him; like cool water to a
+parched throat had come the joyful news.
+
+"Take me to her. In the name of Heaven, tell me where she is!"
+
+She was in a house, at a safe distance from the fire, and thither he
+was led. Rachel was lying on a couch in her nightdress; sympathising
+people were about her.
+
+"Rachel, Rachel!" he cried, and fell upon his knees by her side.
+
+She did not answer him; she was insensible.
+
+"Do not agitate yourself," said a voice. It was that of a physician
+who had been attending to her. "Be thankful that she lives."
+
+"O Lord, I thank Thee!" murmured the stricken man. "My Rachel lives!"
+
+What mattered all the rest? What mattered worldly ruin and
+destruction? The beloved of his heart was spared to him.
+
+"You are a sensible man, Mr. Cohen," said the physician, "and you must
+be calm for her sake. In her condition there will be danger if she
+witnesses your agitation when she recovers."
+
+"I will be calm, sir," said Aaron, humbly. "She is all I have in the
+world."
+
+He made no inquiries as to the cause of the fire; he did not stir from
+Rachel's side, but sat with his eyes fixed upon her pallid face. The
+physician remained with them an hour, and then took his departure,
+saying he would return early in the morning, and leaving instructions
+to Aaron what to do.
+
+At sunrise Rachel awoke. Passing one hand over her eyes, she held out
+the other in a groping, uncertain way. Aaron took it in his, and held
+it fondly; the pallor left her cheeks.
+
+"It is you, my dear?" she murmured.
+
+"Yes, it is I, my life!" he said, in a low and gentle tone.
+
+"You are well--you are safe?"
+
+"I am well; I am safe," he replied. "And you, Rachel, how do you
+feel?"
+
+"I have a slight headache. It will soon pass away. Oh, my dear
+husband, how thankful I am! When did you return?"
+
+"Not till you were taken from the house. Do not talk now. Rest, rest,
+my beloved!"
+
+The endearing words brought a glad smile to her lips.
+
+"I will sleep presently, Aaron. Is the doctor here?"
+
+"No, but he will come soon. Shall I go for him?"
+
+"I can wait, dear; when he comes I should like to speak to him alone."
+
+"You are hurt!" he said, alarmed. "Tell me!"
+
+"I am not hurt, dear; it is only that my head aches a little. He will
+give me something to relieve me. Have no fear for me, Aaron; I am in
+no danger; indeed, indeed, I am not!"
+
+"God be praised!"
+
+She drew his head to her breast, and they lay in silence awhile,
+fondly embracing.
+
+"Let me tell you, dear, and then I will go to sleep again. I went to
+bed at ten, as you bade me, and though I had it in my mind to keep
+awake for you I could not do so. I do not know how long I slept, but I
+awoke in confusion, and there was a strong glare in my eyes. I hardly
+remember what followed. I heard voices calling to me--Prissy's voice
+was the loudest, I think--and then I felt that strong arms were around
+me, and I was being carried from the house. That is all, my dear, till
+I heard your voice, here. Where am I?"
+
+He informed her; and then, holding him close to her, she fell asleep
+again. As the clock struck nine the physician entered the room, and
+Aaron told him what had passed.
+
+"I can spare half an hour," said the physician. "Go and see after your
+affairs. I will not leave her till you return."
+
+Kissing Rachel tenderly, and smoothing the hair from her forehead,
+Aaron left the house, and went to his own. Before he departed he
+learned from the kind neighbours, who had given Rachel shelter, that
+they were not in a position to keep her and Aaron with them, and he
+said that he would make arrangements to remove her in the course of
+the day, if the doctor thought it would be safe to do so. His own
+house, he found, was completely destroyed, but he heard of another at
+no great distance, which was to be let furnished for a few weeks; and
+this he took at once, and installed Prissy therein, to light fires and
+get the rooms warm. The arrangement completed, he hastened back to
+Rachel, between whom and the physician a long consultation had taken
+place during his absence. At the conclusion of their conversation she
+had asked him one question,--
+
+"Shall I be so all my life, doctor?"
+
+"I fear so," was his reply.
+
+"My poor husband!" she murmured. "My poor, dear husband! Say nothing
+to him, doctor, I implore you. Let him hear the truth from my lips."
+
+He consented, not sorry to be spared a painful duty. "She is
+surprisingly well," he said to Aaron, "and in a few days will be able
+to get about a little, though you must not expect her to be quite
+strong till her child is born."
+
+The news was so much better than Aaron expected, that he drew a deep
+breath of exquisite relief.
+
+"Can she be removed to-day with safety?" he asked.
+
+"I think so. She will be happier with you alone. Give me your new
+address; I will call and see her there this evening."
+
+At noon she was taken in a cab to her new abode and Aaron carried her
+in, and laid her on the sofa before a bright fire. In the evening the
+physician called according to his promise. "She is progressing
+famously," he said to Aaron. "Get her to bed early, and it may be
+advisable that she should keep there a few days. But I shall speak
+more definitely about this later on. Mr. Cohen, you have my best
+wishes. You are blessed with a noble wife." Tears shone in Aaron's
+eyes. "Let me impress upon you," continued the doctor, "to be strong
+as she is strong; but at present, with the birth of her child so near,
+it is scarcely physical power that sustains her. She is supported by a
+spiritual strength drawn from her love for you and her unborn babe."
+
+With these words the physician left them together. Prissy was gone,
+and Aaron and Rachel were alone.
+
+They exchanged but few words. Rachel still occupied the couch before
+the fire, and as she seemed to be dozing Aaron would not disturb her.
+Thus an hour passed by, and then Rachel said,--
+
+"The doctor advises me to go to bed early. Will you help me up, dear?"
+
+She stood on her feet before him, and as his eyes rested on her face a
+strange fear entered his heart.
+
+"Come, my life!" he said.
+
+"A moment, dear husband," she said. "I have something to tell you,
+something that will grieve you. I do not know how it happened, nor
+does the good doctor know. He has heard of only one such case before.
+I am not in pain; I do not suffer. It is much to be grateful for, and
+I am humbly, humbly grateful. It might have been so much worse!"
+
+"Rachel, my beloved!" said Aaron, placing his hands on her shoulders.
+
+"Keep your arms about me, my honoured husband. Let me feel your dear
+hands, your dear face. Kiss me, Aaron. May I tell you now?"
+
+"Tell me now, my beloved."
+
+"Look into my eyes, dear. I cannot look into yours. Dear husband, I am
+blind!"
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ DIVINE CONSOLATION.
+
+
+The shock of this revelation was so overwhelming that for a few
+moments Aaron was unable to speak. In the words of the prophet, "His
+tongue clave to the roof of his mouth." His soul was plunged in
+darkness, and a feeling of passionate rebellion racked his heart. That
+upon his sweet and innocent wife should have fallen an infliction so
+awful seemed to blot all brightness out of the world. Nay, more--it
+seemed to be so opposed to the principle of justice as to render it a
+mockery and a snare. The sentiment which animated him was one of
+horror and indignation, and he yielded to it unresistingly. What had
+Rachel done to deserve the cruel blow? Her life had been a life of
+purity and innocence; her religious obligations had been zealously
+fulfilled; in her home her duties had been faithfully and cheerfully
+performed; to the poor she had been a ministering angel; she had
+walked truly in the ways of God. Not with a crown of sorrow, but with
+a crown of glory should she have been crowned And was it not natural
+that he should rebel against it? He was her champion, her protector,
+her defender; she had no one else. Should he stand tamely by and show
+no sense of the injustice which had been inflicted upon her?
+
+Very, very rarely had Aaron been dominated by so stubborn a mood;
+very, very rarely had he allowed it to take possession of him; and
+never in a single instance on his own account. Mere worldly
+misfortune, however disastrous in its effect, he had invariably met
+with philosophic calm and fortitude. Many reverses had attended him,
+and he had borne them bravely, as a man should, as it was a man's duty
+to do. With a courage which may be said to be heroic had he accepted
+each successive stroke, and had immediately applied himself to the
+task of repairing the breach. No fainthearted soldier he, sitting down
+and weeping by the roadside when he received a wound. To be up and
+doing, that was his creed. These were but ordinary checks, which a man
+must be prepared to encounter in his course through life; weak indeed
+would he prove himself to be who did not at once set to work manfully
+and energetically to make the best, instead of the worst, of each
+rebuff. Aaron's keen gift of humour and his talent for justifiable
+device were of immense assistance to him in these encounters, and in
+his conversations with Rachel he was in the habit of throwing so droll
+a light upon the difficulties with which he was contending, that he
+lifted from her heart and from his own a weight which otherwise would
+have remained there and impeded his efforts. He treated every personal
+ailment which visited him, and every little accident he met with, in
+the same fashion, laughing away Rachel's distress, and bearing his
+pain without the least symptom of querulousness. "You seem almost to
+like pain, my dear," she had said. "There is pleasure in pain," he had
+answered; "think of the relief." Thus did he make the pack upon his
+shoulders easy to carry, and thus did he contribute to Rachel's
+enjoyment of life.
+
+Over and above these lesser features in his character reigned the
+great factors truth and justice. Temptations he had had, as all men
+have, but he was, happily, so constituted that he had not to fight
+them down; they were destroyed in their suggestion. It was with him an
+impossibility to advance his own interests by deceit and subterfuge,
+to make money by cheating his neighbour. He took no credit to himself
+that he was never guilty of a meanness; it was simply that it was not
+in his nature to fall so low, and that he walked instinctively in the
+right path. He had a soul of pity for misfortune, and had frequently
+conversed with Rachel upon the doctrine of responsibility, arguing
+that children born of vicious parents should not be made accountable
+for their evil acts to the fullest extent. "It is an inheritance," he
+argued, "and it is not they who are wholly guilty. My parents gave me
+an inheritance of cheerfulness and good temper, and I am more grateful
+for it than I should be if they had left me a large bag of gold." Upon
+questions of right and wrong his good sense and his rectitude led him
+unerringly to the just side, and when he had a stake in a decision he
+was called upon to make in such or such an issue he never for a moment
+hesitated. To have benefited himself at the expense of justice would
+have been in his eyes a sin which was not to be forgiven. A sin of
+unconscious omission could be expiated, but a sin of deliberate
+commission would have weighed for ever on his soul. Could such a man
+as this, a devout and conscientious Jew, faithful every day of his
+life in the observances of his religion, with a firm belief in the
+mercy and goodness of the Eternal God, and with the principles of
+truth and justice shining ever before him, be guilty of such a sin? It
+will be presently seen.
+
+So far himself, considered as an entity. Had he been alone in life,
+with no other life so welded into his own as to be inseparable from
+it, it is scarcely possible that he could have been guilty of a
+conscious wrong, for his soul would have risen in revolt against the
+suggestion. Had he been alone, misfortunes might have fallen upon him
+unceasingly, poverty might have been his lot through all his days,
+disease might have racked his bones--he would have borne all with
+tranquillity and resignation, and would have lifted up his voice in
+praise of the Most High to his last hour. Of such stuff are martyrs
+made; from such elements springs the lofty ideal into which, once in a
+generation, is breathed the breath of life, the self-sacrificing hero
+who sheds his blood and dies with a glad light on his face in the
+battle of right against might, in the battle of weak innocence against
+the ruthless hand of power. But Aaron was not alone; Rachel was by his
+side, leaning upon his heart, looking to him for joy, for peace, for
+happiness. And when he suffered, it was through her he suffered; and
+when he was oppressed with sorrow, it was through her he sorrowed. So
+keen was his sympathy with her, so intense was his love for her, that
+if only her finger ached he was in pain. We are but human after all,
+and no man can go beyond a man's strength. Legends are handed down to
+us of Divine inspiration falling upon a man who, thus spiritually
+directed and inspired, becomes a leader, a hero, a prophet; but in
+that man's heartstrings are not entwined the tender fingers of wife
+and children. He communes with nature, he hears voices in the forest,
+the rustling leaves whisper to him, the solemn trees, rearing their
+stately forms to the dark skies, bear a message to his soul, he sees
+visions in the dead of night; but he hears not the voice of his
+beloved, he beholds not the angelic face of his sleeping child in its
+crib. As blades of grass, which we can rub into nothingness between
+our fingers, force their upward way to air and sunshine through
+adamantine stones, as rocks are worn away by the trickling of drops of
+water, so may a man's sublimest qualities, so may a man's heart and
+soul, be pierced and reft by human love.
+
+It was this absorbing sentiment that agitated Aaron when Rachel
+revealed to him that she was blind, it was this that struck him dumb.
+
+Meekly and patiently she stood before him--he had fallen back a
+step--and waited for him to speak. He did not utter a word.
+
+Presently her sweet voice stole upon his senses.
+
+"Aaron, my beloved, why are you silent? why do you not speak to me?"
+
+He lifted his head and groaned.
+
+"Ah, do not groan, dear husband," she continued. "It is for me you
+suffer; but I am not suffering--did I not tell you so? It is, indeed,
+the truth. Look into my face; you will see no pain there. All is well
+with us; all will be well with us; the future is glad and bright. And
+remember, dear, I need you more than ever now. Next to God, you are my
+rock, my salvation. He has cast this affliction upon me out of His
+goodness and wisdom. Humbly, gratefully, I thank Him. Let us lift up
+our voices in His praise."
+
+And from her lips flowed, in the ancient tongue, the sublime prayer:
+
+"Hear, O Israel, the Eternal, our God, the Eternal is One. And thou
+shalt love the Eternal thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
+soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee
+this day shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently
+unto thy children, and shall speak of them when thou sittest in thine
+house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and
+when thou risest up."
+
+An angel's voice could not have been more melodious and sweet, and the
+beauty of the prayer acquired truly a Divine strength through Rachel's
+intoning of the pious words. But it was not only her voice that
+resounded in the room. The moment she commenced to pray rebellion
+against Fate's decree melted out of Aaron's heart, and pity took its
+place. He was restored to his better self. Holding her hand, he joined
+her in the prayer, but not in so loud a voice as usual; she was the
+teacher now, and he the pupil; he followed her, as it were, and was
+led by her; and when the prayer was ended her head sank upon his
+breast, and her arms entwined themselves around his neck.
+
+"You are resigned, my dear?" she whispered.
+
+"I bow my head," he answered. "The Lord's will be done."
+
+"I could not keep it from you any longer. I was blind when I opened my
+eyes in the house of the good people who gave me shelter; I was blind
+when you sat by my side there; but I feared to tell you; I wished to
+speak to the doctor first. It was so strange, so sudden, that I hoped
+it would not last. I awoke with the cry of fire in my ears, and, as I
+leapt from bed, the bright glare of the flames seemed to strike sight
+out of my eyes. I fainted, and remember nothing more, only that when I
+opened my eyes again I could not see. It was merciful that there was
+no pain. Oh, my dear husband, I am so sorry for you; so sorry, so
+sorry!"
+
+"Rachel, dear Rachel, dear life of my life, it is not for me you
+should grieve--it is for yourself."
+
+"No, dear love, I do not grieve for myself. Should I not rather
+rejoice? Because I know, I know,"--she put his hand to her lips and
+kissed it, then held it to her heart--"that you will bear with me,
+that I shall not be a trouble to you."
+
+"A trouble to me, Rachel! You are dearer to me than ever, more
+precious to me than ever. Oh, my dear! I never loved you as I love you
+now!"
+
+"How sweet, how sweet!" she murmured. "How beautiful is life! No woman
+was ever blessed as I am blessed! And soon, dear love, we shall have
+with us another evidence of the Lord's great mercy. Our child, our
+darling, will be here! Ah, what happiness!"
+
+She hid her face upon his breast.
+
+Was there already in her heart the shadow of an abiding sorrow
+springing from the knowledge that she would never see the face of her
+unborn child, that she would never be able to look into the beautiful
+eyes which in a short time would open upon the world? Aaron had hoped
+that baby's eyes would be like hers, but she would never know from
+personal evidence whether they were or not. If such a sorrow was
+making itself felt she kept it to herself and guarded it jealously,
+lest Aaron should participate in it. Her face was radiant as they
+continued to converse, and by her loving words she succeeded in
+thoroughly banishing from Aaron's soul the rebellious promptings by
+which he had first been agitated.
+
+Thus did Rachel, to whom the light of the universe was henceforth as
+night, become the divine consoler in the home.
+
+"I am tired, dear. Will you lead me to our room?"
+
+He took her in his arms and carried her up, as he would have carried a
+child; and this new office of love, and indeed everything he did for
+her, drew them spiritually closer to each other.
+
+When she was in bed she asked him to tell her about the fire, and if
+he would be a great loser by it. He softened the loss, said that he
+was well insured, that they had a good friend in Mr. Moss, and that it
+would not be long before he was On his feet again. Content and
+happiness were expressed on her face as she listened.
+
+"It will be a comfort to you to know," he said, "that no one will lose
+anything by me; every demand will be met, every penny will be paid. In
+my mansion"--his study of the law and his devotion to his faith led
+him occasionally into a biblical phrase--"are three stars. First, the
+Eternal God; next, you, my beloved; next, our good name."
+
+"That is safe in your keeping, dear," she said.
+
+"And will ever be, so far as human endeavour can aid me. You will be
+glad to hear, too, that the townspeople sympathise with us in our
+trouble."
+
+"I am very glad: it was proved by the kindness that was shown to me
+when I was taken out of the fire. Who that lives to know you does not
+learn to honour you?"
+
+She held his hand in a tender clasp, and kissed it repeatedly.
+
+"I will tell you something. I am beginning already to acquire a new
+sense. When you look at me I feel it. You are looking at me now. When
+your eyes are not on my face I know it. I shall learn a good deal very
+soon, very soon! I do not intend to be a burden to you."
+
+This was said with tender gaiety.
+
+"You can never be that." He touched her eyes. "Henceforth I am your
+eyes. It is a poor return; for you, Rachel, are my very life."
+
+"Dear husband! Dear love! Kiss me. I want to fall asleep with those
+words in my ears. You will not stop up long?"
+
+"I will go down and put out the lights and see that all is safe. Then
+I will come up at once. Sleep, my life, sleep!"
+
+He passed his fingers caressingly across her forehead, and she fell
+asleep with a smile on her lips.
+
+He stole softly from the room, and went down and made the house safe;
+then he returned to the bedroom.
+
+The smile had left Rachel's lips; her face was paler, and there was a
+worn look on it. A terrible fear entered his heart.
+
+"O God! if she should die! O God! if I should lose her!"
+
+He took his silk taleth from its bag, and wrapping it around him, put
+on his hat, and stood and prayed, with his face to the east:--
+
+"How precious is Thy mercy, O God! The children of men take refuge
+under the shadow of Thy wing. They are satisfied with the richness of
+Thy house, and Thou causest them to drink of the stream of Thy
+delight. For with Thee is the fountain of life; by Thy light only do
+we see light. O continue Thy mercy unto them who know Thee, and Thy
+righteousness to the upright of heart!"
+
+One line in the prayer he repeated again and again--
+
+"For with Thee is the fountain of life; by Thy light only do we see
+light."
+
+And so he prayed till midnight, and the one supplication into which
+all else was merged was sent forth with touching pathos from his very
+heart of hearts--
+
+"O Lord of the universe, Giver of all good, humbly I beseech Thee to
+spare my beloved! Take her not from me! Let her live, let her live, to
+bless my days! Let not darkness overwhelm me. It is Thy hand that
+directs the fountain of life."
+
+His prayers ended, he sat by the bedside watching his wife's face, and
+listening to her breathing.
+
+And Rachel slept on, and dreamt of the child whose face she was never
+to see on earth.
+
+
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE THIRD.
+
+ _THE TEMPTATION AND THE FALL_.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+ UNTO THEM A CHILD IS BORN.
+
+
+Three weeks of great anxiety followed. Despite the courage with which
+Rachel had borne the sudden visitation of blindness, her physical
+strength did not hold out, and, by the doctor's orders, she kept her
+bed.
+
+During these weeks Aaron had enough to do to put his affairs in order,
+and he had the additional trouble that matters turned out worse than
+he had anticipated. For security's sake, and to set the borrowers at
+ease, he transferred all the pledges that had been saved to another
+pawnbroker; those which were destroyed he considered himself bound in
+honour and common honesty to make good. He made no demur to the claims
+that were brought against him, but settled them promptly, and settled,
+also, all his trade debts. What with all this harassing business and
+his domestic sorrows, he was occupied day and night; but he was
+careful that Rachel should not suspect how bad things were with him.
+
+The doctor came daily, and Rachel's time was very near. At every visit
+Aaron watched his face for hopeful news of Rachel's condition; but the
+doctor volunteered no information, and only gave instructions to do
+this or that. This reticence was torture to Aaron, and one day he
+begged the doctor to conceal nothing from him.
+
+"There is nothing to conceal," said the doctor. "Her state is
+critical; but what else could be expected? Consider what she has
+passed through."
+
+"I think of nothing else, of nothing else!" said Aaron, his fingers
+working convulsively, for a question was trembling on his lips which
+he felt he must ask, but to which he could scarcely give utterance.
+
+At length he found courage.
+
+"Doctor, will she live?"
+
+The doctor bit his lip as he gazed upon Aaron's misery.
+
+"Whatever lies in my power shall be done, but human skill and science
+have their limitations. We are all in God's hands."
+
+And with these words, and a look of compassion, he departed.
+
+Aaron stood motionless awhile. We are all in God's hands! How often
+has that been said, and how terrible is its import! Human science and
+skill have done all it is in their power to do, the rest is with God.
+Aaron reasoned the true meaning away.
+
+"Yes, we are all in God's hands," he murmured; "old and young, rich
+and poor, the strong and the feeble alike. It is so with one and all.
+I thank God he did not tell me to prepare for the worst!"
+
+He drew comfort, not from what was said, but from what was not said.
+He continued to commune with himself.
+
+"How can she be otherwise than weak? And doctors sometimes think it
+their duty not to look on the brightest side. My Rachel will be spared
+to me. God will not take her away."
+
+He went up to her. A nurse he had engaged was in the room; she could
+come for only a week, her services at the end of that time being
+required elsewhere.
+
+She put her fingers to her lips as he entered.
+
+"Is she asleep?" he asked, in a whisper.
+
+She nodded in reply; but when he approached the bed, Rachel held out
+her hand to him.
+
+"Nurse thought you were asleep, dear," he said, bending down to her.
+
+"I may have been," she answered. "I fall off into a doze a dozen times
+an hour, it seems, but I always know when you are near me."
+
+She put her hand to her head.
+
+"Are you in pain, my life?"
+
+"Oh no. I am rather weak, but I shall get strong soon. Whenever I doze
+I see our dear one, the blessing God is sending us. Aaron, dear love,
+do not be anxious for me. I shall hold our darling in my arms."
+
+The nurse gave him a warning look not to encourage her to talk, and,
+understanding the silent monition, he kissed Rachel tenderly, and went
+down to muse and pray.
+
+The settlement of all his debts had left him almost a beggar. He owed
+not a shilling, except to the doctor, who had said nothing about his
+account; the week's money for the nurse was carefully put away: he
+could not have afforded to engage her for a longer term, for all the
+money he had left in the world amounted to barely two pounds. What was
+he to do when that was spent? Commence business again upon borrowed
+capital? That seemed to be the only course open to him. But who would
+lend it to him? It was no small sum that would be required, and all
+his friends, with the exception of Mr. Moss, were poor. Mr. Moss was
+comparatively a new friend, and he could not expect him to render such
+substantial assistance without security. And what security could he
+offer but his own bare word? There were money-lenders; the newspapers
+teemed with their advertisements. It would be folly to apply to any
+one of them for so large a loan as fifty pounds, which sum, he
+calculated, was the least he could begin business again with; he would
+be sure to be met with a refusal. But what was he to do?
+
+He thrust these worldly contemplations aside, and indeed it was
+impossible for him to dwell upon them with a heavier sorrow at his
+door, and with a dread crisis so very near. He trusted in God--yes;
+but he knew that a man must work for his livelihood. Well, he would
+work; he was willing and ready for any honest occupation; but he must
+wait--for what? He became confused. The pressing worldly necessity,
+with its exacting and imperative demands, and the overwhelming human
+sorrow were contending for supremacy. He stepped into the passage, and
+softly ascending the stairs, listened at Rachel's door. As he stood
+there the nurse came out.
+
+"Go for the doctor," she whispered.
+
+He flew. There was no conflict now in his mind between the two
+extremities; his worldly trouble was forgotten; he thought only of his
+beloved wife and their unborn child. The doctor was not in, but was
+expected in a quarter of an hour, and would be sure to come round at
+once. Leaving an urgent entreaty not to delay a moment, Aaron hastened
+back to his house, and on the road found himself intercepted by
+Prissy, who had grown taller but no stouter since the night upon which
+she introduced herself to him. By reason of her increased height she
+looked thinner and scraggier than ever; as usual, Victoria Regina, who
+had grown plumper and rounder, was in the girl's arms.
+
+"Mr. Cohen, Mr. Cohen!" cried Prissy.
+
+"I can't stop now," he replied, passing her quickly.
+
+But Prissy's long legs were as active as his, and though Victoria
+Regina was a heavy weight to carry, she kept pace with him.
+
+"D'yer know wot some people's saying about yer, Mr. Cohen?"
+
+"Never mind, never mind, my good girl; I have no time to listen."
+
+"They're saying, everybody is," persisted Prissy, "that yer as good as
+ruined, and that yer 'aven't got a shilling left to pay yer way with."
+
+"What does it matter what some people say, Prissy? There are good and
+bad, just and unjust. Never listen to tittle-tattle."
+
+"'Ow's it to be 'elped, Mr. Cohen, when it's dinged in yer ears? Mr.
+Whimpole, he ses he sor wot was coming all along, and when I ups and
+gives 'im a bit o' my mind he slaps my face he does, and pushes me
+into the gutter. I don't mind that, but no one's going to speak agin
+yer when I'm by. It ain't likely after all yer've done for me."
+
+"You are a good girl, but take no notice of what Mr. Whimpole says.
+There are many here who still have a good word for me."
+
+"Plenty, sir, and that's wot makes Mr. Whimpole mad; he can't make
+everybody think as he wants 'em to. There's plenty as speaks up for
+yer. You look ill, Mr. Cohen. I 'ope missis is no wus, I do."
+
+"She is still weak and ill, Prissy; but she will get well soon--eh,
+Prissy?--she will get well soon?"
+
+He cast a swift anxious look upon her; even from the lips of this poor
+girl he sought the comfort of a consoling word.
+
+"Yes, sir, she's sure to. Don't you worry yerself, Mr. Cohen. Gawd
+won't let nothink wrong 'appen to 'er. He knows what He's up to, Gawd
+does. Wot did Mrs. Cohen say 'erself to me more nor once? 'Be a good
+gal,' she ses, 'and tell the truth, and be as kind as yer can to
+everybody, and Gawd'll look after yer.' And ain't she good, sir, and
+does she ever say anythink but the truth, and ain't she as kind as
+kind can be to everybody about 'er? Why, it's in everybody's mouth,
+'xcept Mr. Whimpole's! Nobody 'xcept 'im's got a word to say agin
+'_er_. She's sure to get well, Mr. Cohen, and then yer'll let me see
+'er, sir, won't yer?"
+
+"Yes, Prissy, yes," said Aaron, laying his hand for a moment on
+Prissy's tangled hair. He had reached his house, and was unlocking the
+door. "She will get well, please God, and you shall see her. Thank
+you, thank you, my good girl; and now run away."
+
+"I'm off, Mr. Cohen," said Prissy; "this is going to bring yer luck,
+it is." And slipping a large paper parcel into his hand, she scuttled
+away.
+
+He did not know what it was he held until he reached his room, and
+then he examined it. When he removed the paper he saw a horseshoe and
+two penny pieces which had been rubbed bright with sand, so that they
+shone like gold. Something shone in Aaron's eyes as he gazed at the
+humble offering. He smiled wistfully, and muttering, "It is an omen of
+good fortune; God bless you, little Prissy!" put the shoe and the
+pennies carefully aside. Then he stepped softly up the stairs, and
+gently tapped at the bedroom door.
+
+"How is she, nurse?"
+
+"Bearing up wonderfully, sir."
+
+"Thank God! The doctor will be here presently. I will wait for him at
+the street door."
+
+He had not long to wait; in a very short time he saw the welcome form
+turning the corner, and the doctor, with a friendly, smiling nod,
+passed into the house.
+
+Aaron paced to and fro in the room below, and waited for the word that
+was to bring joy or despair to his soul. He had put his slippers on,
+in order that his footsteps should not be heard. In such times of
+tribulation his thoughts were invariably directed to the Divine
+footstool; as with all devout Jews, prayer was part of his life, and
+never, since the day of his birth, had he prayed so earnestly and
+fervently as now. Every few moments he paused in the supplications he
+was sending forth, and went into the passage and listened. He heard no
+sound, not a sob, not a cry; and after remaining in the passage
+several minutes, he returned to his room and resumed his prayers. His
+heart was with Rachel, and he knew that she was thinking of him. In
+the light of the perfect love that existed between them, in the
+anxious expectancy of these lagging minutes, what mattered poverty or
+riches, what mattered mere worldly misfortune? A stout spirit, a
+strong shoulder to the wheel, and all would be well; thus much could a
+right-minded man do with a cheerful spirit. But here and now he was
+helpless, impotent; here and now was impending a graver issue, which
+he was powerless to influence. A life--the life of his beloved--was
+hanging in the balance; and all he could do was to wait, and hope, and
+pray.
+
+Hush! What was that? An infant's wail--the cry of a new-born child!
+With his heart in his ears he stood in the passage, then sank upon the
+stairs, with his face in his hands. His child lived--but Rachel! how
+was it with her? "Lord of the universe," he prayed, inwardly, "spare
+my beloved! With Thee is the fountain of life; by Thy light only do we
+see light. Let Thy light shine upon me and upon her!"
+
+The bedroom door opened and closed, and the doctor came down. The
+passage was dark, for it was now evening, and Aaron could not see the
+doctor's face. Taking Aaron's arm, which shook in his grasp like a
+leaf in a strong wind, the doctor led him into the sitting-room, and
+lit the gas.
+
+"Doctor!" implored Aaron, with clasped hands.
+
+"You have a little girl."
+
+"And Rachel--my wife!"
+
+"Be comforted. She is in no immediate danger. She is a brave and noble
+woman. I will return in a couple of hours. The nurse will tell you
+when you can go up and see her."
+
+Aaron laid his head upon the table and wept.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIX.
+
+ BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
+
+
+"Aaron!"
+
+"My beloved!"
+
+"Is our darling beautiful?"
+
+"Very beautiful--like you."
+
+"You spoil me, dear; you think too much of me."
+
+"It is not possible, Rachel. Without you my life would not be perfect;
+without you I should be a broken man."
+
+"Oh, my dear, my dear!" she said, clasping his hand tight. "It is out
+of my power to repay you for all your goodness to me."
+
+"You repay me every moment of your life. Not for a throne would I
+exchange my place by your side; not for a palace would I exchange my
+humble home, with you to hallow it." Their lips met, and there was
+silence in the room awhile.
+
+"Dear husband, you are not disappointed that our child is a girl?"
+
+"I am rejoiced that we have with us a daughter in Israel. What greater
+happiness could I desire? When you are strong, when I hear your
+footsteps about the house again, all will be well."
+
+A holy joy dwelt in her face. "My darling, my darling!" she murmured,
+as she held the sleeping babe to her breast. "I had a fear, but it is
+gone, a fear that our precious one would be deprived of sight. What
+happiness entered my heart when the doctor told me that her eyes were
+bright and beautiful, and that she could see! I was fearful that my
+affliction might be visited upon her. It would have broken my heart.
+But I am blessed--I am happy; our child can see the light, the green
+fields, the flowers. If only the gracious Lord will not take her, if
+only He will spare her to live to an honoured old age!"
+
+"He will, He will, my beloved! We must not talk any more. Sleep and
+grow strong."
+
+He sat by her bedside in silence, gazing upon her face, which was as
+the face of an angel, and then he stole softly downstairs. He had much
+to occupy his thoughts; Rachel's danger happily passed, as he hoped,
+he could turn his attention to his worldly affairs, which, indeed,
+being at a desperate pass, would have forced themselves to the front
+under any circumstances. By the doctor's orders he had been compelled
+to make certain purchases which had not only emptied his purse, but
+had driven him to the necessity of parting with two or three articles
+of jewellery which he and Rachel possessed. These proceeds gone he was
+an absolute beggar.
+
+Never in his life had he been placed in so serious a position.
+Difficulties had been encountered and confronted with courage and
+success, times of embarrassment had been tided over, losses had been
+made good, and he had fought his way cheerfully; but now his heart
+sank within him at the prospect that was opening out. Rachel needed
+not only care and unremitting attention, but delicacies in the shape
+of food, to keep up her strength. Nourishing soups, a glass of port
+wine, a chicken--these were no trifles to a man in Aaron's position;
+and, unable to afford the regular services of a servant, he had to
+look after these matters himself, to perform domestic work, to cook,
+and to keep the whole house in order. The nurse's attention was
+devoted solely to the sick-room, and he could not therefore look to
+assistance from her. Prissy made her appearance daily, but Aaron
+dismissed her quickly, feeling the injustice of accepting services for
+which he could not pay. It was no easy matter to get rid of Prissy,
+who was not only willing but anxious to remain, and she feebly
+protested against being turned away so unceremoniously. Her protests
+would have been more vigorous had she not entertained a certain awe of
+Aaron's strength of character, before which she, as it were, was
+compelled to prostrate herself. Thus Aaron, from force of circumstance
+and from his inherent sense of justice, was thrown entirely upon his
+own resources.
+
+Counting the money in his purse he calculated that it was sufficient
+to last for nine or ten days. In four days the nurse would take her
+departure, and then he and Rachel and their babe would be left alone
+in the house. At the expiration of less than a week after that he must
+be prepared to face the most serious difficulties. He had friends in
+London, to whom he had already written, and had received replies of
+regret that they were unable to assist him. Mr. Moss had been so good
+a friend that he hardly dared appeal again to him, and he resolved to
+leave it to the last moment. With a troubled heart, and hardly having
+the strength to hope against hope, he went about the house and
+attended to his duties. The four days passed, the nurse, having taken
+her leave of Rachel, came down to Aaron to receive her wages, and bid
+him good-bye. He paid her with a sad smile, and thanked her for her
+services. The "good-day" exchanged, she lingered a moment. With quick
+apprehension he divined why she delayed.
+
+"You have something to say to me, nurse, about my wife."
+
+"Yes, Mr. Cohen, I have," she replied; "and I am glad you have
+mentioned it, as I did not know how to bring it out." She paused
+again.
+
+"Well, nurse?"
+
+"I think you ought to know, Mr. Cohen, that your wife is not so well
+as you suppose."
+
+"Nurse!"
+
+"She keeps it from you, sir, and has begged me not to alarm you, but
+it is my duty. I should never forgive myself if I went away without
+speaking. No, sir, she is far from well, and is not getting on as she
+ought. She grows weaker and weaker--and baby, too, is not thriving. It
+is that which keeps Mrs. Cohen back."
+
+"What can be done, nurse?" asked Aaron, the agony of his feelings
+depicted on his countenance. "Tell me--only tell me!"
+
+"It isn't for me to say, Mr. Cohen. If I were you I would ask the
+doctor to speak plainly."
+
+"I will, I will. Nurse, does she suffer?"
+
+"She's just the one to suffer, sir, and to say nothing. It would be a
+dreadful thing for you, sir, if----" But here the woman stopped
+suddenly and bit her lip. She had said more than she intended.
+"Good-day, sir, and I hope we may all be wrong."
+
+He caught her arm. "No, no, nurse. I will beg the doctor to speak
+plainly to me; but he will not be here till to-morrow, and I cannot go
+to him and leave my wife and child alone in the house. Finish what you
+were about to say. 'It would be a dreadful thing if----'"
+
+"Well, sir, it is best to face the truth. If your poor lady was to
+die."
+
+"Great God! There is danger, then?"
+
+"I am afraid there is, sir. Don't take on so, sir, don't! I am sorry I
+spoke."
+
+"You have done what is right," Aaron groaned.
+
+"We must all of us be prepared, sir; trouble comes to all of us."
+
+"Alas, it is a human heritage! But you do not know what this means to
+me--you do not know what it means to me."
+
+"Perhaps I have made things out worse than they are; I hope so, I am
+sure. But you ask the doctor, sir, and don't give way. I shall think
+of your lady a good deal when I'm gone."
+
+With that, and with a sympathetic look at him, the woman departed.
+
+At length, at length, the truth had been spoken; at length, at length,
+he knew the worst. It was as if a sentence of death had been
+pronounced. His Rachel, his beloved wife, the tenderest, the truest
+that man had ever been blessed with, was to be taken from him. His
+child, also, perhaps; but that was a lesser grief, upon which he had
+no heart to brood. His one overwhelming anxiety was for Rachel, who,
+as it now seemed to him, was lying at death's door in the room above.
+
+He had some soup ready, and he took a basin up to her.
+
+"Can you drink this, dear?"
+
+"I will try."
+
+He assisted her to rise, and put a pillow at her back. As he fed her
+he watched her face, and he saw that it had grown wan and thin. It was
+well for both of them that she could not see him; the sight of his
+agony would have deepened her sufferings and added to his own. With
+wonderful control he spoke to her with some semblance of cheerfulness,
+and his voice and words brought a smile to her lips. So through the
+day he ministered to her, and every time he left her room his fears
+grew stronger. He did not expect the doctor till the following day,
+and he was startled and alarmed when he made his appearance at
+nightfall.
+
+"I happened to be passing," he said to Aaron, "and I thought I would
+drop in to see how we are getting along."
+
+When they came down from the sick-room Aaron observed a graver
+expression on his face.
+
+"It is unfortunate that you have no nurse, Mr. Cohen," he said; "your
+wife needs constant care and watchfulness."
+
+"She will have it, doctor. Is she any better, sir? How is she
+progressing?"
+
+"She is still the same, still the same, no better and no worse."
+
+"It is not in her favour, doctor, that she remains the same?"
+
+"No, I cannot conscientiously say it is. At this stage a little
+additional strength would be of great assistance to her. Nature's
+forces require rallying; but we will hope for the best, Mr. Cohen."
+
+"We will, doctor, but will hope avail?"
+
+His sad voice struck significantly upon the doctor's ears. "Perhaps
+not, but it is a consolation."
+
+"There are griefs, sir, for which there is no consolation. I cannot
+wrest my thoughts from the selfish view. There are sorrows that come
+so close home as to take complete possession of us."
+
+"It is human, Mr. Cohen, it is natural; but we must not shut out
+resignation, fortitude, submission."
+
+"Doctor, I implore you to conceal nothing from me. It will be
+merciful."
+
+"What is it you wish to know?"
+
+"Tell me exactly how my wife and child are, so that I may be
+prepared"--his voice faltered--"for the worst."
+
+"You do not know, then?"
+
+"I fear--but I do not know."
+
+"We doctors have frequently hard duties to perform, Mr. Cohen, duties
+which to others appear cruel. I will speak plainly; it will be best.
+It is due to your wife's gentle and loving nature that I have not done
+so before, and I yielded to her imploring solicitations, deeming it
+likely that you would discover the state of the case from your own
+powers of observation. Mr. Cohen, I have rarely had so sad and
+affecting an experience as I find here. It would be wrong for me to
+say that your wife is not in danger; she has been in danger for some
+days past, and it is only an inward moral strength that has supported
+her through the crisis. Physically she is very weak, spiritually she
+is very strong. She has still a vital power which, under certain
+conditions, will be of immense assistance to her, which will enable
+her--so far as it is in human power to judge--to pull through. You
+will gather from my words that her safety, nay, her life, depends not
+so much upon herself as upon others; upon you to some extent, but to a
+much greater extent upon her babe. It is her deep love for you both
+that has sustained her, that still sustains her. Were anything to
+happen to either of you I should fear the gravest results. It would
+react upon her, and in her delicate state there would be no hope."
+
+"I am strong and well bodily, doctor; nothing is likely to happen to
+me. Her danger, then, lies in our child?"
+
+"You have clearly expressed it. Her life hangs upon the life of her
+child. So fine and delicate are her susceptibilities, so profound is
+her love for those who are dear to her, that I, a doctor, who is
+supposed to be nothing if he is not scientific, am compelled to
+confess that here my learned theories are at fault. I will no longer
+disguise from you that her life hangs upon the balance."
+
+"And our child, doctor, how is it with her?"
+
+"I can answer you with less certainty. Something of the delicate
+susceptibilities of the mother has in the course of nature entered her
+child's being. The baby is not strong, but she may grow into strength;
+it is as yet a problem to be solved, and a physician's skill is almost
+powerless to help to a happy issue. Hope, Mr. Cohen, hope; and in
+bidding you hope, and in explaining matters to you, I have not said
+all that it is necessary for me to say. There remains something more."
+
+"One question first, doctor," said Aaron, in a hushed voice; "if our
+child lives, there is hope that my wife will live?"
+
+"A strong hope; I speak with confidence."
+
+"And if our child dies?"
+
+"The mother will die. Forgive me for my cruel frankness."
+
+"It is the best kindness you can show me. You have something more to
+tell me."
+
+"Something almost as cruel, but it must be spoken. Mr. Cohen, your
+wife has been severely tried; the shock of the fire, the shock of her
+sudden blindness, both coming so close upon her expected confinement,
+have left their effects upon her. If things take a favourable turn
+with her it will be imperative, in the course of the next three or
+four weeks--earlier if possible, and if she can be removed with
+safety--that you take her to a milder climate, where she can be nursed
+into permanent' strength. We are going to have a severe winter, and I
+will not answer for its effects upon her. From three or four weeks
+hence till the spring in a warmer atmosphere, where there are no fogs
+or east winds, will be of invaluable service to her, will set her up
+probably for many years to come. You must recognise this yourself, and
+if by any possibility or sacrifice you can manage it, you must do so."
+
+"Is it vitally necessary, doctor?"
+
+"You have used the right word--it is vitally necessary. And now,
+good-night, Mr. Cohen. I leave my best wishes behind me."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XX.
+
+ A MOMENTOUS NIGHT.
+
+
+Each day, each hour, Aaron became more anxious and troubled. In the
+doctor's plain speaking there was no reading between the lines, and no
+possible mistaking of his meaning. The stern truth had been revealed,
+and there was no arguing it away. Aaron saw clearly what was before
+him, but he could not see a way out of his difficulties, nor to doing
+what he was warned it was imperative upon him that he should do, in
+the happy event of Rachel's coming safely through her present crisis.
+There was no apparent change in her; she lay weak and powerless in her
+bed, receiving Aaron always with sweet and patient words, and nursing
+her child as well as her feeble state would allow her. The condition
+of the babe pained and troubled him. He observed no indication of
+suffering, no querulousness in the child; it was simply that she lay
+supine, as though life were flowing quietly out of her. Every time
+Aaron crept up to the bedside and found the babe asleep, he leant
+anxiously over her to catch the sound of her breathing; and so faint
+and low was her respiration that again and again he was smitten with a
+fear that she had passed away. Acutely sensitive and sensible now of
+every sign in his wife, it became with him an absolute conviction that
+the doctor was not mistaken when he declared that her life and the
+life of her babe were inseparable, that if one lived the other would
+live, that if one died the other would die. During this torturing time
+strange thoughts oppressed him, and oppressed him more powerfully
+because he scarcely understood them. The tenor of these thoughts
+resolved itself into the one passionate desire to do something--he
+knew not what--to keep his wife with him even if she should lose her
+babe, and towards the accomplishment of which he felt that a power
+outside the sphere of human influence was necessary. Normally he was a
+man of sound understanding, not given to mysticism nor to a belief in
+the effects of supernatural power upon mundane affairs; but during
+these agitating days there was a danger of his healthy mind becoming
+unbalanced. Human resource had failed him; he must seek elsewhere for
+aid; if he were to be successful in steering his beloved to a haven of
+peace and health it must be through outside influences which had not
+yet made themselves visible to him. "Show me the way, O gracious Lord,
+show me the way!" This was his constant prayer, and although in less
+agitated times he would have blamed himself for praying for a seeming
+impossibility, he encouraged himself in it now, in the dim and
+despairing hope that some miracle would occur to further his agonising
+desire.
+
+Meanwhile his funds had run completely out, and he saw with terror the
+wolf approaching the door. He had not the means to pay for the
+necessaries of the next twenty-four hours. Then it was that he
+resolved to make an urgent appeal to Mr. Moss. He would tell him
+everything, he would reveal his hapless position in the plainest
+terms, and he would beg for an immediate temporary loan of money,
+which he would promise to faithfully repay when the cloud was lifted
+from his house.
+
+It was a cold and bitter evening. The snow had been falling heavily; a
+fierce wind was raging. He thought of poor people he had seen in such
+inclement weather as this walking along with sad faces, homeless and
+hungry; he recalled the picture of a young good-looking woman whom he
+had seen years ago in a London park during a heavy snow-storm; she was
+thinly clad, want was in her face, she pressed a babe to her bosom.
+Shivering with cold she walked slowly onward, and looked around with
+despairing eyes for succour. He slipped a shilling into her hand, and
+as he hurried away, he heard, with a feeling of remonstrant shame, her
+gratitude expressed in the words "God Almighty bless you, sir!" as
+though he had performed an act of extraordinary generosity. Between
+this wretched woman and his beloved Rachel there seemed to be an
+affinity, and his heart was torn with woe. He was the breadwinner; to
+him she looked for food, for warmth, for shelter; he was her shield.
+Could he not keep desolation and despair from her? could he not keep
+death from her? He did not know that the angel was already in his
+house.
+
+The doctor had paid a visit early in the morning, and had spoken even
+more gravely of Rachel.
+
+"Much depends," he said, "upon the next day or two. For some days past
+she has been silently suffering, and I have succeeded in piercing the
+veil of sorrow which hangs upon her soul. She fears that her child
+will not live, and if unhappily her fears are confirmed----" He did
+not finish the sentence; there was no need for further words to convey
+his meaning. "This harrowing thought," he continued, "keeps her from
+rest, prevents her sleeping. There are periods of sickness when sleep
+means life. I will send round a sleeping draught, which you will give
+her at eight o'clock to-night; it will ensure her oblivion for a good
+twelve hours, and if when she wakes all is well with the child, all
+will be well with her."
+
+"Can you tell me, doctor, why this fear has grown stronger within
+these last few days?"
+
+"The babe lies quietly in her arms; she does not hear its voice, and
+only by its soft breathing can she convince herself that it lives.
+Tender accents from the child she has brought into the world would
+fall as a blessing upon her sorrowing heart. At any moment the child
+may find its voice; let us hope that it will very soon."
+
+The sleeping draught was sent to Aaron, and it was now on the table.
+The hour was six--in a couple of hours he would give it to her; and
+while he waited he sat down to write his letter to Mr. Moss. It was a
+long letter, for he had much to say, and he was but half way through
+when a postman's knock summoned him to the street door. He hurried
+there quickly, so that the knock should not be repeated, and to his
+surprise received a telegram. It was from Mr. Moss, and it informed
+him that that gentleman was coming to see him upon a very important
+matter, and that he was to be sure not to leave home that night. Aaron
+wondered what this important matter could be, and there was a joyful
+feeling in his heart that the telegram might be the presage of good
+fortune. He knew enough of Mr. Moss's kindly nature to be convinced
+that he would not be the herald of bad news. "There is a rift in the
+clouds," he murmured, as he pondered over the message; "I see the
+light, I see the light!" Would Mr. Moss's errand open up a means of
+giving Rachel the benefit of soft air and sunshine in a more genial
+clime? He prayed that it might, and he had never prayed more
+fervently. But the night was inclement, and Mr. Moss might not be able
+in consequence to pay the promised visit. Time pressed; the necessity
+was imminent, and would brook no delay; therefore he determined to
+finish his letter and to post it this night, in the event of Mr. Moss
+not making his appearance.
+
+It wanted a few minutes to eight when his task was completed. He read
+the letter over, and addressed an envelope, but did not stamp it; he
+had but one stamp, and every penny was of importance. He looked at the
+clock; eight o'clock. With gentle steps he went up to Rachel.
+
+"It is time for the draught, my love," he said.
+
+"I will take it, dear."
+
+He poured it into a glass, and she drank it reclining in his arms.
+
+"If our dear one lives, Aaron," said Rachel, "we will call her Ruth,
+after your mother."
+
+"It shall be so, love," answered Aaron, laying her head upon the
+pillow. "God will vouchsafe the mercy to us. She will live, Rachel,
+she will live!" Desirous that she should not talk now that she had
+taken the sleeping draught, he kissed her tenderly and would have left
+her, but she held him by the hand.
+
+"Has the doctor told you that I am in sorrow, Aaron?"
+
+"You have the gift of divinity, love. Yes, he has told me, and he said
+that to-morrow, perhaps, please God, you will hear our darling's
+voice."
+
+"Did he say so? Heaven bless him! She is sleeping?"
+
+"Yes, beloved."
+
+"I pray that the good doctor may be right. I shall dream of it.
+To-morrow--perhaps to-morrow! Ah, what happiness! It needs but that,
+dear husband, it needs but that! How tired you must be with all that
+you are doing for me! Kiss me again. God guard you!"
+
+And so she fell asleep.
+
+The small fire in the room required attention, and Aaron arranged each
+piece of coal and cinder with scrupulous care; never had there been so
+much need for thrift as now. In all his movements there was not the
+least sound; so softly did he step that his feet might have been shod
+with velvet pile. One of Rachel's arms was lying exposed on the
+counterpane; he gently shifted it beneath the warm coverings; then he
+quitted the apartment and closed the door upon his wife and child, and
+upon the Angel of Death, who was standing by the bedside to receive a
+departing soul.
+
+Aaron did not return to his room below; he stood by the open street
+door, looking anxiously up and down for Mr. Moss, and thinking with
+sadness that if that gentleman delayed his visit he would be compelled
+in the morning to part with his silver-mounted pipe, which was the
+only article of any value that was left to him. Of all his personal
+belongings he cherished this pipe the most; so often had she filled it
+for him that he regarded it almost as part of herself. It was not
+between his lips at the present moment; he had no heart to smoke. For
+nearly an hour he stood upon the watch, interrupting it only for the
+purpose of creeping upstairs to see if Rachel were still sleeping. At
+nine o'clock Mr. Moss made his welcome appearance in the street; even
+as he turned the corner at a distance of many yards Aaron recognised
+him. He was enveloped in his great fur coat, which was pulled up close
+to his ears; he was puffing at one of his large cigars, and between
+the puffs was humming a celebrated air from the latest operatic
+success--
+
+
+ "Toreador attento,
+ Toreador, Toreador,
+ Non obliarche un occhio tutt' ardor
+ Adammirarti è intento,
+ E che t' aspett' amor,
+ Toreador t' aspett' aspetta amor."
+
+
+He scorned the English tongue in operas, and though by no means a
+well-educated man, never sang but in Italian. The last flourish
+brought him close to Aaron.
+
+"Why, Cohen" he said, in a hearty tone, "what are you standing at the
+door for on such a cold night?"
+
+"I have been expecting you," Aaron answered, "and I did not wish you
+to knock. Rachel has taken a sleeping draught, and must not be
+disturbed."
+
+"Yes, yes, I understand," said Mr. Moss, accompanying his friend into
+the house. "How is she?"
+
+"Not well, not at all well, I am grieved to say. Mr. Moss, my heart is
+almost broken." He turned aside with a sob.
+
+"No, no, no!" exclaimed Mr. Moss. "That will never do, Cohen. You
+mustn't give way--a strong, clever man like you. Look on the best
+side. Things will right themselves; they will, mark my words. I am
+here to set them right."
+
+"To set them right!" exclaimed Aaron, all his pulses throbbing.
+
+"Yes, to set them right. What is this?--an envelope addressed to me?"
+
+"I was writing you a letter when your telegram arrived."
+
+"And then you did not stop to finish it?"
+
+"I did finish it, Mr. Moss, in case you did not come."
+
+"May I read it?"
+
+"Yes; it will explain matters; you will learn from it what it would
+pain me to tell you in any other way."
+
+"Smoke a cigar while I read."
+
+Aaron took the cigar, and laid it aside, and then Mr. Moss, who had
+taken off his thick coat, sat down and perused the letter.
+
+"I have come in the nick of time, Cohen," he said. "There is a silver
+lining to every cloud; I have brought it with me."
+
+"I felt," said Aaron, his hopes rising, "that you could not be the
+bearer of bad news."
+
+"Not likely, friend Cohen. I am the bearer of good news, of the best
+of news. Don't be led away; it isn't a legacy--no, no, it isn't a
+legacy, but something almost as good, and I hope you will not throw
+away the chance."
+
+"If it is anything that will relieve me from my terrible
+embarrassments it is not likely that I shall throw it away."
+
+"It will do that for a certainty, and there is money attaching to it
+which I have in my pocket, and which I can pay over to you this very
+night."
+
+"How can I thank you? how can I thank you?"
+
+"Don't try to, and don't be surprised at what you hear. It is a
+strange piece of business, and I should have refused to undertake it
+if I had not said to myself, 'This will suit my friend Cohen; it will
+lift him out of his trouble.' But upon my word, now that I'm here I
+don't know how to commence. I never met with anything like it in all
+my life, and if you were well off you would be the last man in the
+world I should have dreamt of coming to. But you are not well off,
+Cohen; you have lost everything; Rachel is ill, and the doctor says
+she must be taken out of this cold and dismal climate to a place where
+she can see the sun, and where the air is mild and warm. I dare say
+you're thinking, 'Moss is speaking in a strange way,' and so I am; but
+it's nothing to what I've got to tell you. Cohen, what will happen if
+you can't afford to do as the doctor advises you?"
+
+"Do not ask me," groaned Aaron. "I dare not think of it--I dare not, I
+dare not!"
+
+"I don't say it unkindly, Cohen, but it seems to me to be a matter of
+life and death." Aaron clasped his forehead. "Very well, then; and
+don't forget that it is in your own hands. Before I commence I must
+say a word about myself. I can't do all you ask me in this letter; as
+I'm a living man I should be glad to assist you, but I have entered
+into a large speculation which has taken all my spare cash, and all I
+could afford would be eight or ten pounds. How long would that last
+you? In two or three weeks it would be gone, and you would be no
+better off than you were before; and as to taking Rachel to the South
+of France, that would be quite out of the question."
+
+"But you held out hope to me," said the trembling Aaron, "you said you
+were the bearer of good news!"
+
+"I said what is true, Cohen, but it is not my money that I have to
+deal with. I have brought fifty pounds with me; another man's money,
+entrusted to me for a special purpose, and which you can have at once
+if you will undertake a certain task and accept a certain
+responsibility. It is only out of my friendship for you, it is only
+because I know you to be so badly off that you hardly know which way
+to turn, it is only because Rachel is ill and requires what you can't
+afford to pay for, that it entered my mind to offer you the chance."
+
+"Fifty pounds would be the saving of me, Mr. Moss," said Aaron, in an
+agony of suspense. "It would restore my Rachel to health, it would
+bring happiness into my life. Surely Heaven has directed you to come
+to my assistance!"
+
+"You shall judge for yourself. Listen patiently to what I am going to
+tell you; it will startle you, but don't decide hastily or rashly. And
+bear in mind that what passes between us is not to be disclosed to
+another person on earth."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXI.
+
+ OVER A BRIGHT CLOUD A BLACK SHADOW FALLS.
+
+
+Mr. Moss then proceeded to unfold the nature of the mission he had
+undertaken for Mr. Gordon, with the particulars of which the reader
+has been made acquainted in the earlier chapters of this story. Aaron
+listened with attention and astonishment: with attention because of
+his anxiety to ascertain whether the proposal was likely to extricate
+him from his cruel position, with astonishment because the wildest
+stretch of his imagination would not have enabled him to guess the
+purport of the singular disclosure. When Mr. Moss ceased speaking the
+afflicted man rose and paced the room in distress and disappointment.
+
+"I told you I should startle you," said Mr. Moss, with a shrewd
+observance of his friend's demeanour, and, for the good of that
+friend, preparing for a battle. "What do you say to it?"
+
+"It is impossible--impossible!" muttered Aaron. "I told you also,"
+continued Mr. Moss, calmly, "not to decide hastily or rashly. In the
+way of ordinary business I should not, as I have said, have dreamt of
+coming to you, and I should not have undertaken the mission. But the
+position in which you are placed is not ordinary, and you are bound to
+consider the matter not upon its merits alone, but in relation to your
+circumstances. I need not say I shall make nothing out of it myself."
+
+"Indeed you need not," said Aaron, pressing Mr. Moss's hand. "Pure
+friendship has brought you here, I know, I know; but surely you must
+see that it is impossible for me to assume the responsibility."
+
+"I see nothing of the kind. Honestly and truly, Cohen, I look upon it
+as a windfall, and if you turn your back upon it you will repent it
+all your life. What is it I urge you to do? A crime?"
+
+"No, no, I do not say that. Heaven forbid!"
+
+"You are naturally startled and agitated. Cohen, you are a man of
+intelligence and discernment. My wife has often said, 'If Mr. Cohen
+were a rich man he would be one of the heads of our people.' She is
+right; she always is. But there are times when a man cannot exercise
+his judgment, when he is so upset that his mind gets off its balance.
+It has happened to me, and I have said afterwards, 'Moss, you are a
+fool': it happens to all of us. Let me put the matter clearly before
+you. Have you ever been in such trouble as you are in now?"
+
+"Never in my life."
+
+"Misfortune after misfortune has fallen upon you. All your money is
+gone; everything is gone; you can't get through this week without
+assistance. You have tried all your friends, and they cannot help you;
+you have tried me, and I can only offer you what will meet the
+necessities of the next few days. It is known that you are badly off,
+and you cannot get credit; if you could it would cut you to the soul,
+because you know you would be owing money that there was no
+expectation of your being able to pay. You would be ashamed to look
+people in the face; you would lose your sense of self-respect, and
+every fresh step you take would be a step down instead of up. Poor
+Rachel is lying sick almost to death; she has a stronger claim than
+ever upon your love, upon your wisdom. The doctor has told you what
+she requires, and of the possible consequences if you are unable to
+carry out his directions. Cohen, not one of these things must be lost
+sight of in the answer you give to what I propose."
+
+Great beads of perspiration were on Aaron's forehead as he murmured,
+"I do not lose sight of them. They are like daggers in my heart."
+
+"Strangely and unexpectedly," pursued Mr. Moss, "a chance offers
+itself that will extricate you out of all your difficulties. You will
+not only receive immediately a large sum of money, but you will be in
+receipt of a hundred a year, sufficient to keep your family in a
+modest way. What are you asked to do in return for this good fortune?
+To take care of an innocent child, who has no one to look after her,
+who will never be claimed, and about whom you will never be troubled.
+You can engage a servant to attend to her, and when you explain
+everything to Rachel she will approve of what you have done. Before I
+came to you, Cohen, I consulted a gentleman--Dr. Spenlove--who has a
+kind heart and correct principles, and he agreed with me that the
+transaction was perfectly honourable. I have no doubt of it myself, or
+I should not be here. Be persuaded, Cohen; it will be a benevolent, as
+well as a wise, act, and all your difficulties will be at an end. What
+is it Shakespeare says? 'There is a tide in the affairs of men which,
+taken at the flood,----' you know the rest. Why, there are thousands
+who would jump at the opportunity. Come, now, for Rachel's sake!" Mr.
+Moss was genuinely sincere in his advice, and he spoke with
+earnestness and feeling.
+
+"The child is a girl, Mr. Moss?"
+
+"A dear little girl, of the same age as your own."
+
+"Hush! You forget. This little stranger is born of Christian parents."
+
+"That is no crime, Cohen."
+
+"Do I say it is? But we are Jews. The stipulation is that she should
+be brought up as one of our family; and, indeed, it could scarcely be
+otherwise. She would live her life in a Jewish household. It is that I
+am thinking of Mr. Moss, I am at war with my conscience."
+
+"She will be none the worse off for living with you and Rachel. Your
+character is well known, and Rachel is the soul of kindness. You would
+be committing no sin, Cohen."
+
+"I am not so sure."
+
+"Then who is to know? You and Rachel are alone, and when she is able
+to be moved you will take her for a time to another place. You need
+not return here. Rachel's health restored, you should go to London, or
+Liverpool, or Manchester, where your talents would have a larger
+field. I always thought it wrong for you to bury yourself in so small
+a town as this. There is no scope for you in it; you would never make
+your fortune here."
+
+"If I go from this place I shall not return to it. You ask who is to
+know. Mr. Moss, God would know; Rachel and I would know. How can I
+reconcile it with my conscience to bring up a child in a faith in
+which she is not born? It would weigh heavily upon me."
+
+"That is because your views are so strict. I do not see why it should
+weigh heavily upon you. If it were a boy I should not press it upon
+you; but girls are different. There is very little for them to learn.
+To pray--there is only one God. To be good and virtuous--there is only
+one code of morality. You know that well enough."
+
+"I do know it, but still I cannot reconcile it with my conscience."
+
+"In your position," continued Mr. Moss, perceiving that Aaron was
+wavering, "I should not hesitate; I should thank God that such a
+chance fell in my way. Even as it is, if I did not have eleven
+children, and expecting the twelfth, I would take this lamb into my
+fold--I would indeed, Cohen. But my hands are full. Cohen, let me
+imagine a case. It is a cold and bitter night, and the world is filled
+with poor struggling creatures, with little children who are being
+brought up the wrong way. Rachel is asleep upstairs. You are here
+alone. Suddenly you fancy you hear a cry in the street, the cry of a
+babe. You go to the door, and upon the step you see an infant lying,
+unsheltered, without a protector. What would you do?"
+
+"I should bring it into my house."
+
+"With pity in your heart, Cohen."
+
+"I hope so. With pity in my heart."
+
+"Poor as you are, you would share what you have with the deserted
+babe; you would nourish it, you would cherish it. You would say to
+Rachel, 'I heard a cry outside the house on this bitter night, and
+upon the doorstep I discovered this poor babe; I brought it in, and
+gave it shelter.' What would Rachel answer?"
+
+"She is a tender-hearted woman; she would answer that I did what was
+right."
+
+"Look upon it in that light, and I will continue the case. In the
+child's clothes you find a fifty-pound note, and a letter unsigned, to
+the effect that the little one has no protector, is alone in the
+world, and beseeching you to take charge of it and save it from
+destitution and degradation. No scruples as to the child being a
+Christian would disturb you then; you would act as humanity dictated.
+In the case I have imagined you would not be at war with your
+conscience; why should you be at war with it now?"
+
+"Still I must reflect; and I have a question or two to ask. The name
+of the mother?"
+
+"Not to be divulged."
+
+"The name of the father?"
+
+"The same answer. Indeed, I do not know it myself."
+
+"Where is the child?"
+
+"At the Salutation Hotel, in the charge of a woman I brought with me."
+
+"My decision must be made to-night?"
+
+"To-night."
+
+"Supposing it to be in the affirmative, what position do you occupy in
+the matter in the future?"
+
+"None whatever. The task I undertook executed, I retire, and have
+nothing further to do with it. Anything you chose to communicate to me
+would be entirely at your discretion. Voluntarily I should never make
+reference to it."
+
+"What has passed between us, you informed me, is not to be disclosed
+to any other person?"
+
+"To no other person whatever."
+
+"Am I to understand that it has been disclosed to no other?"
+
+"You are. Only Dr. Spenlove and the gentleman who entrusted me with
+the commission have any knowledge of it."
+
+"How about the woman who is now taking care of the child at the
+Salutation Hotel?"
+
+"She is in entire ignorance of the whole proceeding."
+
+"Is she not aware that you have come to my house?"
+
+"She is not. In the event of your deciding to undertake the charge I
+myself will bring the child here."
+
+"Is the mother to be made acquainted with my name?"
+
+"It is an express stipulation that she is to be kept in ignorance of
+it."
+
+"And to this she consented willingly?"
+
+"Willingly, for her child's good and her own."
+
+"Is Dr. Spenlove to be made acquainted with it?"
+
+"He is not."
+
+"And the gentleman whose commission you are executing?"
+
+"Neither is he to know. It is his own wish."
+
+"The liberal allowance for the rearing of the child, by whom will it
+be paid?"
+
+"By a firm of respectable London lawyers, whose name and address I
+will give you, and to whom I shall communicate by telegram to-night.
+All the future business will be solely between you and them, without
+interference from any living being."
+
+"Mr. Moss, I thank you; you have performed the office of a friend."
+
+"It was my desire, Cohen. Then you consent?"
+
+"No. I must have time for reflection. In an hour from now you shall
+have my answer."
+
+"Don't throw away the chance," said Mr. Moss, very earnestly.
+"Remember it is for Rachel's sake."
+
+"I will remember it; but I must commune with myself. If before one
+hour has passed you do not see me at the Salutation Hotel, you will
+understand that I refuse."
+
+"What will you do then, Cohen? How will you manage?"
+
+"God knows. Perhaps He will direct me."
+
+Mr. Moss considered a moment, then took ten five-pound banknotes from
+his pocket, and laid them on the table.
+
+"I will leave this money with you," he said.
+
+"No, no!" cried Aaron.
+
+"Why not? It will do no harm. You are to be trusted, Cohen. In case
+you refuse I will take it back. If you do not come for me, I will come
+for you, so I will not wish you good-night. Don't trouble to come to
+the door; I can find my way out."
+
+Aaron was alone, fully conscious that this hour was, perhaps, the most
+momentous in his life. The money was before him, and he could not keep
+his eyes from it. It meant so much. It seemed to speak to him, to say,
+"Life or death to your beloved wife. Reject me, and you know what will
+follow." All his efforts to bring himself to a calm reflection of the
+position were unavailing. He could not reason, he could not argue with
+himself. The question to be answered was not whether it would be right
+to take a child born of Christian parents into his house, to bring her
+up as one of a Jewish family, but whether his dear wife was to live or
+die; and he was the judge, and if he bade his friend take the money
+back, he would be the executioner. Of what value then would life be to
+him? Devout and full of faith as he was, he still, in this dread
+crisis, was of the earth earthy. His heart was torn with love's agony.
+
+The means of redemption were within his reach: why should he not avail
+himself of them?
+
+Rachel enjoyed life for the pleasure it gave her. Stricken with
+blindness as she was, he knew that she would still enjoy it, and that
+she would shed comfort and happiness upon all who came in contact with
+her. Was it for him to snap the cord, to say, "You shall no longer
+enjoy, you shall no longer bestow happiness upon others; you shall no
+longer live to lighten the trouble of many suffering mortals, to shed
+light and sweetness in many homes"? Was this the way to prove his love
+for her? No, he would not shut the door of earthly salvation which had
+been so providentially opened to him, he would not pronounce a
+sentence of death against the dear woman he had sworn to love and
+cherish.
+
+Aaron was not aware that in the view he was taking he was calling to
+his aid only those personal and sympathetic affections which bound him
+and Rachel together, and that, out of a common human selfishness, he
+was thrusting from the scale the purely moral and religious
+obligations which usually played so large a part in his conduct of
+life. In this dark hour love was supreme, and held him in its thrall;
+in this dark hour he was intensely and completely human; in this dark
+hour the soft breathing of a feeble woman was more potent than the
+sound of angels' trumpets from the Throne of Grace, the sight of a
+white, worn face more powerful than that of a flaming sword of justice
+in the skies.
+
+He had arrived at a decision; he would receive the child of strangers
+into his home.
+
+Before going to the Salutation Hotel to make the announcement to Mr.
+Moss he would see that his wife was sleeping, and not likely to awake
+during his brief absence from the house. The doctor had assured him
+that she would sleep for twelve hours, and he had full confidence in
+the assurance; but he must look upon her face once more before he left
+her even for a few minutes.
+
+He stood at her bedside. She was sleeping peacefully and soundly; her
+countenance was now calm and untroubled, and Aaron believed that he
+saw in it an indication of returning health. Certainly the rest she
+was enjoying was doing her good. He stooped and kissed her, and she
+did not stir; her sweet breath fanned his cheeks. Then he turned his
+eyes upon his child; and as he gazed upon the infant, in its white
+dress, a terror for which there is no name stole into his heart. Why
+was the babe so still and white? Like a marble statue she lay, bereft
+of life and motion. He put his ear to her lips--not a breath escaped
+them; he laid his hand upon her heart--not the faintest flutter of a
+pulse was there. With feverish haste he lifted the little hand, the
+head, the body, and for all the response he received he might have
+been handling an image of stone. Gradually the truth forced itself
+upon him. The young soul had gone to its Maker. His child was dead!
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXII.
+
+ THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
+
+
+"If our child lives, there is hope that my wife will live?"
+
+"A strong hope. I speak with confidence."
+
+"And if our child dies?"
+
+"The mother will die."
+
+No voice was speaking in the chamber of death, but Aaron heard again
+these words, which had passed between the doctor and himself. If the
+child lived, the mother would live; if the child died, the mother
+would die.
+
+A black darkness fell upon his soul. His mind, his soul, every
+principle of his being, was engulfed in the one despairing thought
+that Rachel was doomed, that, although she was sleeping peacefully
+before his eyes, death would be her portion when she awoke to the fact
+that her babe had been taken from her.
+
+"If, when she wakes, all is well with the child, all will be well with
+her."
+
+The spiritual echo of the doctor's words uttered but a few hours ago.
+He heard them as clearly as he had heard the others.
+
+How to avert the threatened doom? How to save his Rachel's life?
+Prayer would not avail, or he would have flown to it instinctively. It
+was not that he asked himself the question, or that in his agony he
+doubted or believed in the efficacy of prayer. It may be, indeed, that
+he evaded it, for already a strange and terrible temptation was
+invading the fortress of his soul. To save the life of his beloved was
+he ready to commit a sin? What was the true interpretation of sin? A
+perpetrated act which would benefit one human being to the injury of
+another. Then, if an act were perpetrated which would ensure the
+happiness and well-doing not of one human creature, but of three,
+and would inflict injury upon no living soul, that act was not a
+sin--unmistakably not a sin. But if this were really so, wherefore the
+necessity for impressing it upon himself? The conviction that he was
+acting justly in an hour of woe, that the contemplated act was not
+open to doubt in a moral or religious sense, was in itself sufficient.
+Wherefore, then, the iteration that it was not a sin?
+
+He could not think the matter out in the presence of Rachel and of his
+dead child. He stole down to his room, and gave himself up to
+reflection. He turned down the gas almost to vanishing point, and
+stood in the dark, now thinking in silence, now uttering his thoughts
+aloud.
+
+A friend had come to him and begged him to receive into his household
+a babe, a girl, of the same age as his own babe lying dead in the room
+above. She was deserted, friendless, alone. All natural claims had
+been abandoned, and the infant was thrown upon the world, without
+parents, without kith or kin. Even while he believed his own child to
+be alive he had decided to accept the trust. Why should he hesitate
+now that his child was dead? It was almost like a miraculous
+interposition, or so he chose to present it to himself.
+
+"Even as we spoke together," he said aloud, "my child had passed away.
+Even as I hesitated the messenger was urging me to accept the trust.
+It was as if an angel had presented himself, and said, 'The life of
+your beloved hangs upon the life of a babe, and the Eternal has called
+her child to Him. Here is another to take her place. The mother will
+not know; she is blind, and has never seen the face of her babe, has
+scarcely heard its voice. To-morrow she lives or dies--it is the
+critical day in her existence--and whether she lives or dies rests
+with you, and with you alone. Science is powerless to help her in her
+hour of trial; love alone will lift her into life, into joy, into
+happiness; and upon you lies the responsibility. It is for you to
+pronounce the sentence--life or death for your beloved, life or death
+for a good woman who, if you do not harden your heart, will shed peace
+and blessings upon all around her. Embrace the gift that God has
+offered you. Allow no small scruples to drive you from the duty of
+love.' Yes," cried Aaron in a louder tone, "it was as if an angel
+spoke. Rachel shall live!"
+
+If there was sophistry in this reasoning he did not see it; but the
+still small voice whispered,--
+
+"It is a deception, you are about to practise. You are about to place
+in your wife's arms a child that is not of her blood or yours. You are
+about to take a Christian babe to your heart, to rear and instruct her
+as if she were born in the old and sacred faith that has survived long
+centuries of suffering and oppression. Can you justify it?"
+
+"Love justifies it," he answered. "The good that will spring from it
+justifies it. A sweet and ennobling life will be saved. My own life
+will be made the better for it, for without my beloved I should be
+lost, I should be lost!"
+
+Again the voice: "It is of yourself you are thinking."
+
+"And if I am," he answered, "if our lives are so interwoven that one
+would be useless and broken without the other, where is the sin?"
+
+Again the voice: "Ah, the sin! You have pronounced the word. Remember,
+it is a sin of commission."
+
+"I know it," he said, "and I can justify it--and can I not atone for
+it in the future? I will atone for it, if the power is given me, by
+charity, by good deeds. In atonement, yes, in atonement. If I can
+relieve some human misery, if I can lift a weight from suffering
+hearts, surely that will be reckoned to my account. I record here a
+solemn vow to make this a purpose of my life. And the child!--she will
+be reared in a virtuous home, she will have a good woman for a mother.
+With such an example before her she cannot fail to grow into a bright
+and useful womanhood. That will be a good work done. I pluck her from
+the doubtful possibilities which might otherwise attend her; no word
+of reproach will ever reach her ears; she will live in ignorance of
+the sad circumstances of her birth. Is all this nothing? Will it not
+weigh in the balance?"
+
+Again the voice: "It is much, and the child is fortunate to fall into
+the hands of such protectors. But I repeat, in using these arguments
+you are not thinking of the child; you think only of yourself."
+
+"It is not so," he said; "not alone of myself am I thinking. I am the
+arbiter of my wife's earthly destiny. Having the opportunity of
+rescuing her from death, what would my future life be if I stand idly
+by and see her die before my eyes? Do you ask of me that I shall be
+her executioner? The heart of the Eternal is filled with love; He
+bestows upon us the gift of love as our divinest consolation. He has
+bestowed it upon me in its sublimest form. Shall I lightly throw away
+the gift, and do a double wrong--to the child that needs a home, to
+the woman whose fate is in my hands? Afflict me no longer; I am
+resolved, and am doing what I believe to be right in the sight of the
+Most High."
+
+The voice was silent, and spake no more.
+
+Aaron turned up the gas, took the money which Mr. Moss had left upon
+the table, and quietly left the house. As he approached the Salutation
+Hotel, which was situated at but a short distance, he saw the light of
+Mr. Moss's cigar in the street. That gentleman was walking to and fro,
+anxiously awaiting the arrival of his friend.
+
+"You are here, Cohen," he cried, "and the hour has barely passed. That
+is a good omen. How pale you are, and you are out of breath. In order
+that absolute secrecy should be preserved I thought it best to wait
+outside for you. You have decided?"
+
+"I have decided," said Aaron, in a husky voice. "I will receive the
+child."
+
+"Good, good, good," said Mr. Moss, his eyes beaming with satisfaction.
+"You are acting like a sensible man, and you have lifted yourself out
+of your difficulties. I cannot tell you how glad you make me, for I
+take a real interest in you, a real interest. Remain here; I will
+bring the babe, and we will go together to your house. It is well
+wrapped up, and we will walk quickly to protect it from the night air.
+I shall not be a minute."
+
+He darted into the hotel, and soon returned, with the babe in his
+arms. Upon Aaron's offering to take the child from him, he said,
+gaily, "No, no, Cohen'; I am more used to carrying babies than you.
+When you have a dozen of them, like me, I will admit that we are
+equal; but not till then, not till then."
+
+Although his joyous tones jarred upon Aaron he made no remark, and
+they proceeded to Aaron's house, Mr. Moss being the loquacious one on
+the road.
+
+"The woman I brought with me does not know, does not suspect, where
+the child is going to, so we are safe. She goes back to Portsmouth
+to-night; I shall remain till the morning. The baby is fast asleep.
+What would the world be without children? Did you ever think of that,
+Cohen? It would not be worth living in. A home without children--I
+cannot imagine it. When I see a childless woman I pity her from my
+heart. They try to make up for it with a cat or a dog, but it's a poor
+substitute, a poor substitute. If I had no children I would adopt one
+or two--yes, indeed. There is a happy future before this child; if she
+but knew, if she could speak, her voice would ring out a song of
+praise."
+
+When they arrived at the house Aaron left Mr. Moss in the room below,
+and ran up to ascertain if Rachel had been disturbed. She had not
+moved since he last quitted the room, and an expression of profound
+peace was settling on her face. His own child lay white and still. A
+heavy sigh escaped him as he gazed upon the inanimate tiny form. He
+closed the door softly, and rejoined his friend.
+
+"I will not stay with you, Cohen," said Mr. Moss; "you will have
+enough to do. To-morrow you must get a woman to assist in the house.
+You have the fifty pounds safe?" Aaron nodded. "I have some more money
+to give you, twenty-five pounds, three months' payment in advance of
+the allowance to be made to you for the rearing of the child. Here it
+is, and here, also, is the address of the London lawyers, who will
+remit to you regularly at the commencement of every quarter. You have
+only to give them your address, and they will send the money to you. I
+shall not leave Gosport till eleven in the morning, and if you have
+anything to say to me I shall be at the Salutation till that hour.
+Good-night, Cohen; I wish you happiness and good fortune."
+
+Alone with the babe, who lay on the sofa, which had been drawn up to
+the fire, Aaron stood face to face with the solemn responsibility he
+had taken upon himself, and with the still more solemn deception to
+which he was pledged. For awhile he hardly dared to uncover the face
+of the sleeping child, but time was precious, and he nerved himself to
+the necessity. He sat on the sofa, and gently removed the wrappings
+which had protected the child from the cold night, but had not impeded
+its powers of respiration.
+
+A feeling of awe stole upon him; the child he was gazing on might have
+been his own dead child, so strong was the resemblance between them.
+There was a little hair upon the pretty head, as there was upon the
+head of his dead babe; it was dark, as hers was; there was a singular
+resemblance in the features of the children; the limbs, the feet,
+the little baby hands, the pouting mouth, might have been cast in the
+same mould. The subtle instinct of a mother's love would have enabled
+her to know instinctively which of the two was her own babe, but it
+would be necessary for that mother to be blessed with sight before she
+could arrive at her unerring conclusion. A father could be easily
+deceived, and the tender age of the children would have been an
+important--perhaps the chief--factor in the unconscious error.
+"Surely," Aaron thought, as he contemplated the sleeping babe, "this
+is a sign that I am acting rightly." Men less devout than he might
+have regarded it as a Divine interposition. But though he strove still
+to justify his act, doubt followed every argument he used in his
+defence.
+
+The next hour was occupied in necessary details which had not hitherto
+occurred to him. The clothing of the children had to be exchanged. It
+was done; the dead was arrayed as the living, the living as the dead.
+Mere words are powerless to express Aaron's feelings as he performed
+this task, and when he placed the living, breathing babe in the bed in
+which Rachel lay, and took his own dead child to an adjoining room,
+and laid it in his own bed, scalding tears ran down his cheeks. "God
+forgive me, God forgive me!" he murmured, again and again. He knelt by
+Rachel's bed, and buried his face in his hands. He had committed
+himself to the deception; there was no retreat now. For weal or woe,
+the deed was done.
+
+And there was so much yet to do, so much that he had not thought of!
+Each false step he was taking was leading to another as false as that
+which had preceded it. But if the end justified the means--if he did
+not betray himself--if Rachel, awaking, suspected nothing, and heard
+the voice of the babe by her side, without suspecting that it was not
+her own, why, then, all would be well. And all through his life, to
+his last hour, he would endeavour to make atonement for his sin. He
+inwardly acknowledged it now, without attempting to gloss it over. It
+_was_ a sin; though good would spring from it, though a blessing might
+attend it, the act was sinful.
+
+His painful musings were arrested by a knock at the street door. With
+a guilty start he rose to his feet, and gazed around with fear in his
+eyes. What did the knock portend? Was it in some dread way connected
+with his doings? The thought was harrowing. But presently he
+straightened himself, set his lips firmly, and went downstairs to
+attend to the summons.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+ PLUCKED FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH.
+
+
+Mr. Moss stood at the street door, bearing in his arms the little iron
+casket which Dr. Spenlove, at the intercession of the mother who had
+consented to part with her child, had entrusted to him.
+
+"In my excitement, Cohen," he commenced, before Aaron could speak,
+"something slipped my memory when we were talking together. I rapped
+softly at first, fearing to disturb Rachel, but no one answering, I
+had to use the knocker. I hope I have not disturbed her."
+
+"She is sleeping peacefully," replied Aaron, "and is taking a turn for
+the better, I am thankful to say. To-morrow, I trust, all danger will
+be over. Come in."
+
+He closed the door gently, and they entered the parlour.
+
+"I have come back about this little box," said Mr. Moss, depositing it
+on the table; "it belongs to the task I undertook. The mother of the
+babe made it a stipulation that whoever had the care of the child
+should receive the box, and hold it in trust for her until she claimed
+it."
+
+"But I understood," said Aaron, in apprehension, "that the mother had
+no intention of claiming her child."
+
+"In a certain sense that is true. Don't look worried; there is no fear
+of any trouble in the future; only she made it a condition that the
+box should go with the child, and that, when the girl was twenty-one
+years of age, it should be given to her, in case the mother did not
+make her appearance and claim the property. It stands this way, Cohen.
+The mother took into consideration the chance that the gentleman she
+is marrying may die before her, in which event she stipulated that she
+should be free to seek her daughter. That is reasonable, is it not?"
+
+"Quite reasonable."
+
+"And natural?"
+
+"Quite natural. But I should have been informed of it."
+
+"It escaped me, it really escaped me, Cohen; and what difference can
+it make? It is only a mother's fancy."
+
+"Yes, only a mother's fancy."
+
+"I'll lay a thousand to one you never hear anything more about it. Put
+the box away, and don't give it another thought."
+
+Aaron lifted it from the table. "It is heavy, Mr. Moss."
+
+"Yes, it is heavy."
+
+"Do you know what it contains?"
+
+"I haven't the slightest idea."
+
+"It must be something that the mother sets store on--jewels, perhaps."
+
+"Nothing more unlikely. The poor woman didn't have a shilling to bless
+herself with. I shouldn't trouble about it if I were you."
+
+"I have gone too far," said Aaron, sighing; "I cannot retreat."
+
+"It would be madness to dream of such a thing. Remember what depends
+upon it. Cohen, in case anything occurs, I think I ought to tell you
+what has been passing in my mind."
+
+"In case anything occurs!" repeated Aaron, in a hollow tone, and with
+a startled look. "What can occur?"
+
+"The poor child," continued Mr. Moss, "has had a hard time of it. We
+almost dug her out of the snow last night; the exposure was enough to
+kill an infant of tender years, and there's no saying what effect it
+may have upon her. If it had been a child of my own I should be
+alarmed for the consequences, and I should scarcely expect her to live
+through it." Aaron gasped. "The idea distresses you, but we must
+always take the human view. Should she not survive no one can be
+blamed for it. How is your own dear little girl?"
+
+"She is well," replied Aaron, mechanically. He passed his hand across
+his eyes despairingly. The duplicity he was compelled to practise was
+hateful to him, and he despised himself for it.
+
+"Good-night again," said Mr. Moss. "I have sent my telegram to the
+London lawyers. Don't forget that I shall be at the Salutation till
+eleven in the morning. I should like to hear how Mrs. Cohen is before
+I leave."
+
+It was not only the incident of the iron safe that Mr. Moss, in the
+first instance, had omitted to impart to Aaron. In the agreement
+formulated by Mr. Gordon there was an undertaking that in the event of
+the child's death, or of her marriage if she grew to womanhood, the
+lawyers were to pay the sum of five hundred pounds to the person into
+whose home the child was received. Mr. Moss had not mentioned this,
+and Aaron was in consequence ignorant of the fact. Had he been aware
+of it, is it likely that he would have shrunk from carrying out the
+scheme inspired by his agony? It is hard to say. During these pregnant
+and eventful hours he was dominated by the one overpowering,
+passionate desire to save the life of his beloved; during these hours
+all that was highest and noblest in his nature was deadened by human
+love.
+
+There was no rest for him on this night; he did not dare to undress
+and seek repose. The moments were too precious; some action had to be
+taken, and to be taken soon, and, his mind torn with agony and
+remorse, he devoted himself to the consideration of it. In the course
+of this mental debate he was plunged at times into the lowest depths
+of self-abasement; but the strength of his character and the serious
+issues at stake lifted him out of these depths. Ever and anon he crept
+into Rachel's room and derived consolation from the calm sleep she was
+enjoying. The doctor's prognostications of returning health seemed to
+be on the point of realisation; when she awoke in the morning and
+clasped her child to her bosom, and heard its sweet voice, all would
+be well with her. What need, then, for further justification?
+
+But his further action must be decided upon and carried out before
+Rachel awoke. And it was imperative that she should be kept in
+ignorance of what had taken place. On no account must it be revealed
+to her that he had taken a strange child into the house, and that it
+had died there within a few hours. In her delicate state the news
+might be fatal.
+
+Gradually all that it was necessary for him to do unfolded itself, and
+was mentally arranged in consecutive order. He waited till three
+o'clock, and then he went from his house to the Salutation Hotel. The
+night porter, half asleep, was in attendance, and after some demur he
+conducted Aaron to Mr. Moss's sleeping apartment.
+
+"Who is there?" cried Mr. Moss, aroused by the knocking at his door.
+
+"It is I," replied Aaron; "I must speak to you at once."
+
+Mr. Moss jumped from bed.
+
+"Is it all right, sir?" asked the night porter.
+
+"Of course it is all right," said Mr. Moss, opening the door, and
+admitting his visitor.
+
+The night porter returned to his duties, and fell into a doze.
+
+"What brings you here at this time of night?" exclaimed Mr. Moss; and
+then, seeing the distress in Aaron's face, "Good God! It is not about
+Rachel?"
+
+"No, it is not about Rachel; it is bad enough, but not so bad as that.
+How shall I tell you--how shall I tell you?"
+
+"Stop a moment," said Mr. Moss. "I ordered half a bottle of port
+before I went, and there is a glass or two left. Drink this."
+
+The wine gave Aaron courage to proceed with his task.
+
+"I have dreadful news to tell you," he said, putting down the glass.
+
+"I guess it," interrupted Mr. Moss. "The child!"
+
+"Yes," answered Aaron, with averted eyes, "the child."
+
+"Is she very ill?"
+
+"Mr. Moss, the child is dead."
+
+"Heavens!" cried Mr. Moss, slipping into his clothes as fast as he
+could. "What a calamity! But at the same time, Cohen, what a release!
+Tell me all about it. Does Rachel know?"
+
+"Rachel does not know. She is still sleeping, and she must not know.
+It would kill her--it would kill her!'
+
+"I see the necessity, Cohen; it must be kept from her, and I think I
+see how it can be managed. It is a fortunate thing that the woman who
+accompanied me here with the poor child has not returned to
+Portsmouth, as I bade her. She met with some friends in Gosport who
+persuaded her to stop the night, and she was going back with me in the
+morning. I promised to call for her, but she will have to remain here
+now till the child is buried. She will not mind, because it will be
+something in her pocket. A sad ending, Cohen, a sad ending, but I
+feared it. Did I not prophesy it? What else was to be expected after
+last night's adventure? A child of such a tender age!' The wonder is
+it did not die in my arms. But you have not told me how it occurred."
+
+"It is very simple," said Aaron, in a low tone. "I laid the babe in my
+own bed, intending to call in a woman as soon after daylight as
+possible to attend it till Rachel was well and able to get about. She
+seemed to be asleep, and was in no pain. I determined not to go to
+bed, but to keep up all night, to attend to the little one, and to
+Rachel and my own child---- Bear with me, Mr. Moss, I am unstrung."
+
+"No wonder. Take time, Aaron, take time."
+
+"Now and again I went up to look at the babe, and observed nothing to
+alarm me. An hour ago I closed my eyes, and must have slept; I was
+tired out. When I awoke I went upstairs, and was startled by a strange
+stillness in the child. I lifted her in my arms. Mr. Moss, she was
+dead. I came to you at once, to advise me what to do. You must help
+me, Mr. Moss; my dear Rachel's life hangs upon it. You know how
+sensitive she is; and the doctor has warned me that a sudden shock
+might be fatal."
+
+"I will help you, Cohen, of course I will help you; it is my duty,
+because it is I who have brought this trouble upon you. But I did it
+with the best intentions. I see a way out of the difficulty. The woman
+I employed--how fortunate, how fortunate that she is still here!--is a
+god-send to us. She is a kind-hearted creature, and she will be sorry
+to hear of the child's death, but at the same time she is poor, and
+will be glad to earn a sovereign. A doctor must see the child, to
+testify that she died a natural death. She must have passed away in
+her sleep."
+
+"She did. Is it necessary that the doctor should visit my house in
+order to see the child?"
+
+"Not at all. I have everything planned in my mind. Now I am ready to
+go out. First to the telegraph office--it is open all night here--to
+despatch a telegram to the London lawyers to send a representative
+down immediately, who, when he comes, will take the affair out of our
+hands, I expect. Afterwards to the house of the woman's friends; she
+must accompany us to your house, and we will take the child away
+before daylight. Then we will call in a doctor, and nothing need reach
+Rachel's ears. Don't take it to heart, Cohen; you have troubles enough
+of your own. The news you give me of Rachel is the best of news. Joy
+and sorrow, Cohen--how close they are together!"
+
+In the telegraph office Mr. Moss wrote a long message to Mr. Gordon's
+lawyers, impressing upon them the necessity of sending a
+representative without delay to take charge of the body, and to attend
+to the funeral arrangements.
+
+"Between ourselves, Cohen," he said, as they walked to the house
+of the woman's friends, "the lawyers will be rather glad of the news
+than otherwise; and so will Mr. Gordon, when it reaches him. I am not
+sure whether I made the matter clear to you, but there is no doubt
+whatever that, so far as Mr. Gordon is concerned, the child was an
+encumbrance--to say nothing of the expense, which perhaps he would not
+have minded, being almost a millionaire. But still, as it has turned
+out, he has got rid of a difficulty, and he will not be sorry when he
+hears of it."
+
+"And the mother," said Aaron, "how will she take it?"
+
+"I will not pretend to say. _We_ know, Cohen, what we think of our own
+children, but there are people in the world with different ideas from
+ours. The mother of this little one will feel grieved at first, no
+doubt, but I dare say she will soon get over it. Then, perhaps her
+husband will not tell her. Here we are at the woman's house."
+
+They halted before a small cottage, inhabited by people in humble
+circumstances. Before he aroused the inmates, Mr. Moss said,--
+
+"I shall keep your name out of the affair, Cohen; but to a certain
+extent the woman must be taken into our confidence. Secrecy will be
+imposed upon her, and she will be paid for it. Remain in the
+background; I will speak to her alone."
+
+The woman herself came to the door, and when she was dressed Mr. Moss
+had a conversation with her, the result of which was that she and the
+two men walked to Aaron's house, where she took charge of the dead
+child, and carried it to the cottage. Then she went for a doctor--to
+Aaron's relief not the doctor who attended his wife--and as there was
+no doubt that the child had died a natural death, a certificate to
+that effect was given. At six in the morning Aaron returned to Rachel,
+and sitting by her bedside, waited for her awakening. The potion she
+had taken was to ensure sleep for twelve hours; in two hours he would
+hear her voice; in two hours she would be caressing a babe to which
+she had not given birth.
+
+It seemed to Aaron as though months had passed since Mr. Moss had
+presented himself at his house last night, and for a while it almost
+seemed as though, in that brief time, it was not himself who had
+played the principal part in this strange human drama, but another
+being who had acted for him, and who had made him responsible for an
+act which was to colour all his future life. But he did not permit
+himself to indulge long in this view of what had transpired; he knew
+and felt that he, and he alone, was responsible, and that to his dying
+day he would be accountable for it. Well, he would bear the burden,
+and would, every by means within his power, endeavour to atone for it.
+He would keep strict watch over himself; he would never give way to
+temptation; he would act justly and honourably; he would check the
+hasty word; he would make no enemies; he would be kind and considerate
+to all around him. He did not lay the flattering unction to his soul
+that in thus sketching his future rule of life he was merely
+committing himself to that which he had always followed in the past.
+This one act seemed to cast a shadow over all that had gone before; he
+had to commence anew.
+
+A strange and agonising fancy haunted him. The child of his blood,
+Rachel's child, was lying dead in the house of a stranger. The
+customary observances of his religion could not be held over it;
+Christians had charge of the lifeless clay. With his mind's eye he saw
+his dead child lying in the distant chamber, alone and unattended,
+with no sympathising heart near to shed tears over it, with no mourner
+near to offer up a prayer in its behalf. The child opened its eyes and
+gazed reproachfully upon its father; then it rose from the couch, and
+in its white dress went out of the house and walked through the snow
+to its father's dwelling. The little bare feet left traces of blood in
+the snow, and at the door of its father's house it paused and stood
+there crying, "Mother, mother!" So strong was this fancy that Aaron
+went to the street door, and, opening it, gazed up and down the
+street. The snow was still falling; no signs of life were visible, and
+no movement except the light flakes fluttering down. A mantle of
+spotless white was spread over roads and roofs, and there was silence
+all around. But in Aaron's eyes there was a vision, and in his heart a
+dead voice calling. His babe was there before him, and its voice was
+crying, "Mother, mother! Why am I deserted? why am I banished from my
+father's house?" When he drew back into the passage he hardly dared
+shut the street door upon the piteous figure his conscience had
+conjured up.
+
+At eight o'clock in the morning Rachel stirred; she raised her arm and
+put her hand to her eyes, blind to all the world, blind to her
+husband's sin, blind to everything but love. Then instinctively she
+drew the babe nearer to her. A faint cooing issued from the infant's
+lips, and an expression of joy overspread the mother's features. This
+joy found its reflex in Aaron's heart, but the torturing anxiety under
+which he laboured was not yet dispelled. It was an awful moment. Was
+there some subtle instinct in a mother's love which would convey to
+Rachel's sense the agonising truth that the child she held in her arms
+was not her own?
+
+There was no indication of it. She fondled the child, she suckled it,
+the light of Heaven shone in her face.
+
+"Aaron!"
+
+"My beloved!"
+
+"Do you hear our child, our dear one? Ah, what happiness!"
+
+"Thank God!" said Aaron, inly. "Oh, God be thanked!"
+
+"Is it early or late, dear love?" asked Rachel. "It is morning, I
+know, for I see the light; I feel it here"--with her hand pressing the
+infant's head to her heart.
+
+"It is eight o'clock, beloved," said Aaron.
+
+"I have had a long and beautiful sleep. I do not think I have dreamt,
+but I have been so happy, so happy! My strength seems to be returning;
+I have not felt so well since the night of the fire. Our darling seems
+stronger, too; it is because I am so much better. I must think of
+that; it is a mother's duty to keep well, for her child's sake--and,
+dear husband, for your sake also. I do not love you less because I
+love our child so dearly."
+
+"I am sure of that. Should I be jealous of our child? That would be as
+foolish as it would be unwise."
+
+"You speak more cheerfully, Aaron. Is that because of me?"
+
+"It is because of you, beloved. We both draw life and happiness from
+you. Therefore, get strong soon."
+
+"I shall; I feel I shall. My mind is clear, there is no weight on my
+heart. Before many days have passed I shall be out of bed, learning my
+new duties. Aaron, our child will live."
+
+"She will live to bless and comfort us, beloved."
+
+She passed her hand over his face. "You are crying, Aaron."
+
+"They are tears of joy, Rachel, at seeing you so much better. A
+terrible fear has weighed me down; it is removed, thanks be to the
+Eternal. The world was dark till now; I dared not think of the future;
+now all is well."
+
+"Am I, indeed, so much to you, dear husband?"
+
+"You are my life. As the sun is to the earth, so are you to me."
+
+The wife, the husband, and the child lay in each other's embrace.
+
+"God is good," murmured Rachel. "I did so want to live for you and for
+our child! But I feared, I feared; strength seemed to be departing
+from me. What will they do, I thought, when I am gone? But God has
+laid His hand upon us and blessed us. Praised be His name for ever and
+ever!"
+
+"Amen, amen! I have not yet said my morning prayers. It is time."
+
+She sank back in bed, and he put on his taleth and phylacteries, and
+prayed fervently. He did not confine himself to his usual morning
+devotions, but sought his book for propitiatory supplications for
+forgiveness for transgressions. "Forgive us, oh, our Father! for we
+have sinned; pardon us, oh, our King! for we have transgressed; for
+Thou art ever ready to pardon and forgive. Blessed art Thou, the
+Eternal, who is gracious and doth abundantly pardon." And while he
+supplicated forgiveness, Rachel lay and sang a song of love.
+
+His prayers ended, Aaron folded his taleth and wound up his
+phylacteries, and resumed his seat by Rachel's bed.
+
+"While you slept last night, dear love," he said, "a piece of good
+fortune fell to my share, through our friend Mr. Moss. I shall be able
+to take a servant in the house."
+
+"How glad I am!" she answered. "It distressed me greatly to know that
+you had everything to attend to yourself. A woman, or a girl, is so
+necessary!"
+
+"There is altogether a brighter outlook for us, Rachel. Do you think
+Prissy would do?"
+
+"She is very handy, and very willing. If you could manage till I can
+get up I could soon teach her."
+
+"I will go, then, and see if she is able to come. You must not mind
+being alone a little while."
+
+"I shall not be alone, dear," said Rachel, with a bright smile at the
+child.
+
+He prepared breakfast for her before he left, and she partook of it
+with a keen appetite. Then he went on his mission, and met Mr. Moss
+coming to the house.
+
+"I have received a telegram," said that gentleman, "in reply to mine.
+A gentleman will arrive from London this afternoon to attend to
+matters. You look brighter."
+
+"Rachel is much better," said Aaron.
+
+"You are in luck all round, Cohen. There are men who always fall on
+their feet. I'm one of them; you're another. This time yesterday you
+were in despair; now you're in clover. Upon my word, I am as glad as
+if it had happened to myself. You know one of our sayings--'Next to
+me, my wife; next to my wife, my child; next to my child, my friend.'
+My good old father told me it was one of the wise sayings of Rabbi
+ben--I forget who he was the son of. A friend of ours who used to come
+to our house said to my father that there was no wisdom and no
+goodness in the saying, because the Rabbi put himself first, as being
+of more consequence than wife, and child, and friend. My father
+answered, 'You are wrong; there is wisdom, there is goodness, there is
+sense in it. Self is the greatest of earthly kings. Put yourself in
+one scale, and pile up all the world in the other, and you will weigh
+it down.' He was right. What comes so close home to us as our own
+troubles and sorrows?"
+
+"Nothing," said Aaron, rather sadly; "they outweigh all the rest. We
+are human, and being human, fallible. Can you imagine an instance, Mr.
+Moss, where love may lead to crime?"
+
+"I can, and what is more, I would undertake to justify it. Who is this
+little girl?"
+
+The diversion in the conversation was caused by Prissy, who had run to
+Aaron, and was plucking at his coat.
+
+"A good girl who attends to our Sabbath lights."
+
+"'Ow's missis, please, sir?" inquired Prissy, anxiously.
+
+"Much better this morning, thank you."
+
+"And the babby, sir?"
+
+"Also better and stronger, Prissy." Prissy jumped up and down in
+delight. "I was coming to see you. Do you think your aunt would let
+you come to us as a regular servant, to live, and eat, and sleep in
+the house?"
+
+This vision of happiness almost took Prissy's breath away; but she
+managed to reply, "If yer'd make it worth 'er while, she would, Mr.
+Cohen. She's allus telling me I'm taking the bread out of 'er mouth,
+and ain't worth my salt. Oh, Mr. Cohen, _will_ yer take me, _will_
+yer? I don't care where I sleep, I don't care wot yer give me to eat,
+I'll work for yer day and night, I will! Aunty makes my life a misery,
+she does, and I've lost Wictoria Rejiner, sir. She's got another nuss,
+and I ain't got nobody to care for now. Aunty sed this morning I was a
+reg'lar pest, and she wished she could sell me at so much a pound."
+
+"You don't weigh a great deal," said Aaron, gazing at Prissy in pity;
+and then, with a sad touch of his old humour, "How much a pound do you
+think she would take?"
+
+"Come and arks 'er, Mr. Cohen, come and arks er," cried Prissy,
+running before Aaron, and looking back imploringly at him.
+
+He and Mr. Moss followed the girl into the presence of Prissy's aunt,
+and, although he did not buy Prissy by the pound weight, he made a
+bargain with the woman, and by the outlay of five shillings secured
+the girl's permanent services, it being understood that she was not to
+take her niece away without Prissy's consent. As they walked back to
+Aaron's house he spoke to Prissy about wages; but the girl, who felt
+as if heaven's gates had opened for her to enter, interrupted him by
+saying,--
+
+"Don't talk about wages, sir, please don't. I don't want no wages.
+Give me a frock and a bone, and I'll work the skin off my fingers for
+yer, I will!"
+
+Extravagant as were her professions, never was a poor girl more in
+earnest than Prissy. Blithe and happy she set to work, and never did
+valiant soldier polish up his arms with keener zest than did Prissy
+her pots and pans. The kitchen was her battleground, and she surveyed
+it with the air of a conqueror. There was joy in Rachel's heart in the
+room above, there was joy in Prissy's heart in the room below.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+ THE CURTAIN FALLS AWHILE.
+
+
+Mr. Moss and Aaron spent the greater part of the day together,
+awaiting the arrival of Mr. Gordon's legal representative. The doctor
+who attended Rachel called only once, and gave a good report of her
+condition.
+
+"The crisis is over," he said to Aaron. "Your wife and child will
+live. In a few days Mrs. Cohen will be strong enough to be removed,
+and I advise you to take her without delay to the South of France,
+where before spring her health will be completely re-established."
+
+It was not until the doctor had departed that the question presented
+itself to Aaron whether he had any right to the fifty pounds he
+had received from Mr. Moss. He was clear as to the second sum of
+twenty-five pounds--that must be returned. He wished Mr. Moss to take
+it back; but that gentleman would have nothing to do with it, and as
+to Aaron's right to retain the fifty pounds he entertained no doubt.
+
+"It is undisputably yours," he said. "It was handed to me by Mr.
+Gordon himself for a specific purpose, and I look upon it as a
+retaining fee. No lawyer returns such a fee when the case breaks
+down--trust them for that. Understand, please, Cohen, that I am no
+longer acting in the affair: it rests now between you and the
+lawyers."
+
+Late in the afternoon Mr. Moss went to the railway station to meet the
+lawyer, and the two proceeded together to the house where the dead
+child lay. Arrangements for the funeral were made, and then Mr. Moss
+conducted the lawyer, whose name was Chesterman, to Aaron's house.
+
+"Mr. Chesterman has something to say to you, Cohen," he said. "I will
+leave you together." He took Aaron aside. "It is something of great
+importance--a wonderful stroke of fortune. Don't throw it away; it
+will be the making of you; and remember Rachel."
+
+"Mr. Moss," commenced Mr. Chesterman, when he and Aaron were alone,
+"has related to me all that has occurred. In a general sense the death
+of the child is to be regretted, as would be the death of any person,
+old or young; but there are peculiar circumstances in this case which
+render this visitation of God a relief to certain parties. It removes
+all difficulties from the future, and there is now no likelihood of
+our client's plans being hampered or interfered with. You are aware
+that he is a gentleman of fortune?"
+
+"I have been so informed."
+
+"You may not be aware, however, that he is a gentleman of very decided
+views, and that he is not to be turned from any resolution he may have
+formed. We lawyers have to deal with clients of different
+temperaments, and when a case is submitted to us by a strong-minded
+gentleman, we may advise, but, if we find our client determined, we do
+not waste time in arguing. I understand from Mr. Moss that you have
+some scruples with respect to the money you have received from him."
+
+"I wish to know whether I may consider the first sum of fifty pounds
+mine; I have my doubts about it. As to the second sum of twenty-five
+pounds, paid in advance for the rearing of the child, I have no doubts
+whatever."
+
+"We have nothing to do with either of those sums; they did not come
+from us, but from our client to Mr. Moss, and from Mr. Moss to you.
+Without being consulted professionally, I agree with Mr. Moss that the
+fifty pounds is yours. I offer no opinion upon the second sum."
+
+"If you will give me your client's address, I will communicate with
+him."
+
+"We cannot disclose it to you. It is confided to us professionally,
+and our instructions are to keep it secret."
+
+"You can give him my name and address?"
+
+"No. His stipulation is that it is not to be made known to him. If at
+any time he asks us voluntarily for it, that is another matter, and I
+will make a note of it. The special purpose of my visit is to complete
+and carry out to the last letter our client's instructions. The
+conditions to which he bound himself were very liberal. With a
+generous desire for the child's welfare, in the event of her living
+and marrying, he placed in our hands the sum of five hundred pounds as
+a marriage dowry, to be paid over to her on her wedding-day."
+
+"A noble-minded gentleman," said Aaron.
+
+Mr. Chesterman smiled, and continued,--
+
+"In the event of the child's death this five hundred pounds was to be
+paid over to the party or parties who undertook the charge of her. The
+child is dead; the five hundred pounds is to be paid over to you."
+
+"But, sir," said Aaron, in astonishment, "do you not understand that I
+cannot accept this money?"
+
+"It is not for us to consider any scruples you may have; it is for us
+to carry out our instructions. It does not come within our province to
+argue with you. I have brought the cheque with me, and all I have to
+do is to hand it over to you, and to take your receipt for it. Mr.
+Moss hinted to me that you might raise objections; my reply was,
+'Nonsense.' The money belongs to you by legal and moral right, and I
+decline to listen to objections. If it is any satisfaction to you, I
+may tell you that our client can well afford to pay it, and that by
+its early payment he is a considerable gainer, for he is no longer
+under the obligation to pay a hundred a year for the child's
+maintenance. Here is the receipt, legally drawn out; oblige me by
+signing it."
+
+It was in vain for Aaron to protest; the lawyer insisted, and at
+length, fearing the consequences of a decided refusal, Aaron put his
+name to the paper.
+
+"Our business being concluded," said Mr. Chesterman, rising, "I have
+the pleasure of wishing you good-day. Should in the future any
+necessity for the statement arise, I shall not hesitate to declare
+that the child was placed in the care of an honourable gentleman, who
+would have faithfully performed his duty towards her."
+
+"God forgive me," said Aaron, when his visitor was gone, "for the sin
+I have committed! God help me to atone for it!"
+
+But he would have been less than human had he not felt grateful that
+the means were placed in his hands to restore his beloved wife to
+health and strength. Before a week had passed he and Rachel and the
+child, accompanied by Prissy, were travelling to a milder clime.
+
+
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE FOURTH.
+
+ _HONOUR AND PROGRESS_.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXV.
+
+ AFTER MANY YEARS.
+
+
+A man upon whose face all that is noble and steadfast seems to have
+set its seal, to give the world assurance that here was one who, had
+his lot been so cast, would have ruled over men with justice, truth,
+and honour. He is of a goodly height, and his features are large and
+clearly defined. A sensitive, resolute mouth; calm, well-proportioned
+lips, which close without restraint and are eloquent even when the
+tongue is silent; a nose gently arched, with curved indented nostrils;
+a massive forehead, almost oval at the top, and with projecting lower
+arches, the eyebrows near to the large brown eyes; the chin and cheeks
+clothed in a handsome beard, in which grey hairs are making themselves
+manifest. Powerful, benignant, and self-possessed as is his
+appearance, there is an underlying sadness in his eyes which could be
+variously construed--as born of a large experience of human ways and
+of the errors into which mortals are liable to fall, or, maybe, of an
+ever-abiding remembrance of one moment in his own life when he also
+was tempted and fell. But no such thought as the latter ever entered
+the minds of those who knew him personally and those who judged him by
+the repute he bore, which could only have been earned by a man who
+walked unflinchingly and unerringly in the straight path and was just
+and merciful to all who came in contact with him. There were instances
+when mercy so predominated that persons who had wronged him were
+allowed to go free, and when a helping hand was held out to men who
+had sinned against him. This is Aaron Cohen, now close upon his
+fiftieth year.
+
+A woman whose tranquil eyes never see the light of day, but in which,
+nevertheless, there is no sign of repining or regret. Purity and
+sweetness dwell in her face, and as she stands motionless in a
+listening attitude, her white hand resting on the table, no more
+exquisite representation of peace and universal love and sympathy
+could be found in living form or marble statue. She is fair almost to
+whiteness, and although her figure is slight and there is no colour in
+her cheeks, she is in good health, only that sometimes during the day
+she closes her eyes and sleeps in her armchair for a few minutes. In
+those intervals of unconsciousness, and when she seeks her couch, she
+sees fairer pictures, perhaps, than if the wonders of the visible
+world were an open book to her. Her dreams are inspired by a soul of
+goodness, and her husband's heart, as he gazes upon her in her
+unconscious hours, is always stirred to prayer and thankfulness that
+she is by his side to bless his days. Not only in the house is her
+influence felt. She is indefatigable in her efforts to seek out
+deserving cases of distress and relieve them; and she does not confine
+her charity to those of her faith. In this regard Jew and Christian
+are alike to her, and not a week passes that she does not plant in
+some poor home a seed which grows into a flower to gladden and cheer
+the hearts of the unfortunate and suffering. Grateful eyes follow her
+movements, and a blessing is shed upon her as she departs. A
+ministering angel is she, whose words are balm, whose presence brings
+sweet life into dark spaces. So might an invisible herald of the Lord
+walk the earth, healing the sick, lifting up the fallen, laying his
+hand upon the wounded breast, and whispering to all, "Be comforted.
+God has heard your prayers, and has sent me to relieve you." This is
+Rachel Cohen, Aaron's wife, in her forty-fourth year.
+
+A younger woman, in her springtime, with life's fairest pages spread
+before her. Darker than Rachel is she, with darker hair and eyes and
+complexion, slim, graceful, and beautiful. It is impossible that she
+should not have felt the influence of the home in which she has been
+reared, and that she should not be the better for it, for it is a home
+in which the domestic affections unceasingly display themselves in
+their tenderest aspect, in which the purest and most ennobling lessons
+of life are inculcated by precept and practice; but a profound student
+of human nature, whose keen insight would enable him to plumb the
+depths of passion, to detect what lay beneath the surface, to trace
+the probable course of the psychological inheritance which all parents
+transmit to their children, would have come to the conclusion that in
+this fair young creature were instincts and promptings which were
+likely one day to give forth a discordant note in this abode of peace
+and love, and to break into rebellion. There is no outward indication
+of such possible rebellion. To the friends and acquaintances of the
+household she is a lovely and gracious Jewish maiden, who shall in
+time become a mother in Judah. This is Ruth Cohen, in the eyes of all
+the world the daughter of Aaron and Rachel.
+
+A young man, Ruth's junior by a year, with his father's strength of
+character and his mother's sweetness of disposition. He is as yet too
+young for the full development of this rare combination of qualities,
+the outcome of which is to be made manifest in the future, but he is
+not too young to win love and respect. His love for his parents is
+ardent, his faith in them indestructible. To him his mother is a
+saint, his father a man without blemish. Were he asked, to express his
+most earnest wishes, he would have answered, "When I am my father's
+age may I be honoured as he is: when I marry may my wife be as my
+mother is." This is Joseph Cohen, the one other child of Aaron and
+Rachel.
+
+A tall, ungainly woman of thirty, working like a willing slave from
+morning to night, taking pride and pleasure in the home, and
+metaphorically prostrating herself before every one who lives beneath
+its roof. Esteemed and valued by her master and mistress, for whom she
+is ready to sacrifice herself and to undergo any privation; especially
+watchful of her mistress, and tender towards her; jealous of the good
+name of those whom she serves with devotion. Of Aaron Cohen she stands
+somewhat in awe, he is so far above her in wisdom. She does not
+trouble herself about religious matters; questions of theology come
+not within her domain, her waking hours being entirely filled and
+occupied with the performance of her domestic duties. She listens
+devoutly to the chanting of Hebrew prayers, not one word of which does
+she understand, and is none the worse for them. Her master and
+mistress are the representatives of a race for which through them she
+entertains the profoundest respect; it is more than likely, if the
+choice had been hers and if she had deemed herself worthy of the
+distinction, that she would have elected to be born in the Jewish
+faith. She carries her allegiance even to the extent of fasting with
+the household on the Day of Atonement, and of not allowing bread to
+pass her lips during the Passover week. This is Prissy, the ever true,
+the ever faithful.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+ THE FOUNDATION OF AARON'S FORTUNE.
+
+
+Eventful indeed to Aaron Cohen had been the twenty years since he left
+Gosport. In the South of France, where they remained for a much longer
+time than he intended, Rachel was restored to health, and Aaron had
+the joy of seeing her move happily about the house and garden, and of
+hearing her sing to her babe the songs and lullabies which, from a
+mother's lips, are so fraught with melodious and tender meaning. It
+almost seemed as if she had inward cause for thankfulness that
+blindness had fallen upon her, for Aaron had never known her to be so
+blithe and light-hearted as during those weeks of returning health.
+Prissy was invaluable to them, and proved to be a veritable treasure.
+The short time it took her to learn her duties, the swiftness and
+neatness with which they were performed, the delight she took in the
+babe, who soon replaced Victoria Regina in her affections, and the
+care and skill with which she guided her mistress's movements, amazed
+Aaron. He had divined from the first that she was a shrewd, clever
+girl, and he had the satisfaction of discovering that she was much
+cleverer than he would have ventured to give her credit for. She was
+tidier in her dress, too, and never presented herself unless she was
+clean and neat. She became, in a sense, her mistress's teacher, and
+Rachel was so apt a pupil that Aaron's apprehensions that she would
+meet with an accident if she moved too freely about were soon
+dispelled.
+
+"Is it not wonderful, love?" she said. "I think I must have eyes at
+the tips of my fingers. But it is Prissy I have to thank for it."
+
+She repaid the girl, be sure. Gradually Prissy's mode of expressing
+herself underwent improvement; she did not use so many negatives, she
+dropped fewer h's, she learned to distinguish between g's and k's; and
+Aaron himself laid the first stone in her education by teaching her
+the a b c. One thing Prissy would not learn; she obstinately refused
+to have anything to do with the French language. English was good
+enough for her, she declared, and to the English tongue she nailed her
+colours.
+
+Fond as she was of babies, she would not countenance French babies,
+and said it was a shame to dress them so. "I'm a troo bloo, sir," she
+said to Aaron; "please don't force me." And with a hearty laugh he
+desisted.
+
+He himself spoke French fluently, and to this may be ascribed the
+first change in his fortunes. Easy in his mind respecting Rachel, easy
+respecting money, he found himself at leisure to look about him and
+observe. He made friends, and among them a poor French engineer of
+great skill. In conversation one day this engineer mentioned that
+tenders were invited for the construction of a local bridge. It was
+not a very important matter; the lake it was to span was of no great
+dimensions, and the bridge required was by no means formidable.
+
+"There are only two contractors who will tender for it," said the
+engineer, "and they play into each other's hands. They will settle
+privately the amount of their separate tenders, and the lowest will
+obtain the contract. They will divide the profits between them. If I
+had a little money to commence with I would tender for the work, and
+my tender would be at least ten thousand francs below theirs. Then it
+would be I who would construct the bridge, and public money would be
+saved."
+
+"What would be your profit?" asked Aaron.
+
+"Twenty thousand francs," was the reply; "perhaps more."
+
+"And the amount of your tender?"
+
+"Eighty thousand francs. I have the plans and specifications, and
+every detail of expense for material and labour in my house. Will you
+come and look over them?"
+
+Aaron examined them, and submitting them to the test of inquiry
+as to the cost of labour and material, found them to be correct. A
+simple-minded man might have been taken in by a schemer who had
+prepared complicated figures for the purpose of trading with another
+person's money, and standing the chance of winning if the venture
+resulted in a profit, and of losing nothing if it resulted in a loss;
+but Aaron was not simple-minded, the poor engineer was not a schemer,
+and the figures were honestly set down.
+
+"It would not need a great amount of money," said the engineer. "If a
+certain sum were deposited in the bank, a further sum could be raised
+by depositing the contract as security; and, moreover, as the work
+proceeds, specified payments will be made by the local authorities."
+
+"How much would be required to commence operations, and to make
+everything safe?"
+
+"Ten thousand francs."
+
+Roughly, that was four hundred pounds. The five hundred pounds he had
+received from the lawyers was as yet untouched, for they lived very
+economically and were in a part of the world where thrift was part of
+the people's education. Aaron believed the project to be safe.
+
+"If I advanced it," he asked, "what proposition do you make?"
+
+"We would make it a partnership affair," replied the poor engineer,
+eagerly.
+
+Upon that understanding the bridge was tendered for, and the tender
+accepted. In four months the work was executed and passed by the
+inspectors; the contractors received the balance due to them, and a
+division of the profits was made. After paying all his expenses Aaron
+was the richer by three hundred pounds. He gave fifty pounds to the
+poor, which raised him in the estimation of the people among whom he
+was temporarily sojourning. He had not been idle during the four
+months occupied by the building of the bridge; under the guidance of
+his partner he had superintended the workmen and undertaken the
+correspondence and management of the accounts; and new as these duties
+were to him he had shown great intelligence and aptitude.
+
+"We met on a fortunate day," said the engineer.
+
+At about this time a new engineering project presented itself. It was
+on a larger scale than the first, and the two men, emboldened by
+success, tendered for it. Again did fortune favour them; everybody,
+with the exception of rival contractors, was on their side. In the
+carrying out of their first contract there had not been a hitch; they
+had paid their workmen better wages, they had behaved honestly and
+liberally all round, and they had already achieved a reputation for
+liberal dealing with the working man. Moreover, people were talking of
+Rachel's kindness and of Aaron's benevolence. Hats were lifted to
+them, women and children left flowers at their door; rich was the
+harvest they gathered for their charity.
+
+When it was known that they had obtained another contract, the best
+workmen came to them for employment, and they learned what all
+employers of labour may learn, that it is wise policy to pay
+generously for bone and muscle. The hateful political economy of
+Ricardo, which trades upon the necessities of the poor, and would
+grind labour down to starvation pittance, could never find lodgment in
+the mind of such a man as Aaron Cohen. The new venture was entirely
+successful, and being of greater magnitude than the first, the profits
+were larger. Aaron was the possessor of two thousand pounds. He gave
+two hundred pounds to the poor. He did more than this. The doctor who
+had attended Rachel in Gosport had declined to accept a fee, and Aaron
+now wrote him a grateful letter, enclosing in it a draft for five
+hundred pounds, which he asked the doctor to distribute among the
+local charities. This five hundred pounds he regarded as a return of
+the sum he had received from the London lawyers. That the receipt of
+this money afforded gratification to the doctor was evidenced by his
+reply. "Every one here," he said, "has kind words for you and your
+estimable wife, and the general feeling is that if you had continued
+to reside in Gosport it would have been a source of pleasure to all of
+us. When I speak of your good fortune all the townsfolk say, 'We are
+glad to hear it.'" Thus did good spring out of evil.
+
+Aaron felt that his foot was on the ladder. He entered into a regular
+partnership with his friend the engineer, and they executed many
+public works and never had a failure. The justness of their trading,
+their consideration for the toilers who were helping to build up a
+fortune for them, the honest wages they paid, earned for them an
+exceptional reputation for rectitude and fair dealing. In these
+matters and in this direction Aaron was the guiding spirit. He left to
+his partner the technical working out of their operations, and took
+upon himself the control of wages and finance. Occasionally there were
+arguments between him and his partner, the latter hinting perhaps that
+there was a cheaper market, and that money could be saved by employing
+middlemen who offered to supply labour and material at prices that
+were not equitable from the point of view of the toilers and
+producers. Aaron would not entertain propositions of this kind. "We
+are doing well," he said, "we are making money, we are harvesting. Be
+satisfied." His partner gave way. Aaron's character was too strong for
+resistance. "Clean and comfortable homes," said Aaron, "a good
+education for their children, a modest enjoyment of the world's
+pleasures--these are the labourers' due." Hearing of this some large
+employers called him quixotic, and said he was ruining trade; but he
+pursued the just and even tenor of his way, satisfied that he was a
+saviour and not a spoiler. Upon the conclusion of each transaction,
+when the accounts were balanced, he devoted a portion of his profits
+to benevolent purposes, and he became renowned as a public benefactor.
+The thanks that were showered upon him did not please him, but tended
+rather to humiliate and humble him; he would not listen to expressions
+of gratitude; and it will be presently seen that when he returned to
+England he took steps to avoid the publicity which was distasteful to
+him.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+ THE FEAST OF PASSOVER.
+
+
+A point of friendly contention between Aaron Cohen and the engineer
+was the observance of the Sabbath day. From sunset on Friday till
+sunset on Saturday Aaron would do no work and attend to no business.
+He paid the workmen their wages on Friday, and made up the accounts on
+that day. They hailed the new arrangement with satisfaction, but the
+engineer was rather fretful over this departure from the usual custom.
+
+"What is your objection?" asked Aaron.
+
+"It must confuse affairs," replied the engineer.
+
+"Are not the accounts faithfully kept," said Aaron, "and does not the
+work go on regularly?"
+
+"Oh, I am not complaining," said the engineer, "only----"
+
+"Only what?" said Aaron, with a smile.
+
+The engineer could not explain; he was a skilful engineer, but a weak
+controversialist. The only answer he could make was,--
+
+"You are living in a Christian land, among Christians."
+
+"I am none the less a Jew. All over the world we live in Christian
+lands, among Christians; we are a nation without a country. You
+observe your Sunday Sabbath as a day of rest."
+
+"Certainly I do."
+
+"Allow me, also, to observe my Sabbath on the day appointed by my
+faith."
+
+"What difference can it make to you," persisted the engineer,
+"Saturday or Sunday?"
+
+"If that is your view," said Aaron, his eyes twinkling with amusement,
+"let us both keep our Sabbath on the Saturday."
+
+Aaron conducted the argument with such perfect good temper that the
+engineer could not help laughing at the rebuff, and the subject was
+allowed to drop. Nor was it revived on the subsequent occasions of
+the Jewish holydays, which were zealously observed by Aaron and his
+wife. They were both orthodox Jews, and nothing could tempt them to
+neglect their religious obligations; neither of them had ever tasted
+shell-fish or touched fire on the Sabbath. The festival of the New
+Year in the autumn, with its penitential Day of Atonement and its
+joyful Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Lights (Chanukah) in the
+winter, the Festivals of Purim and Passover in the spring, the Feast
+of Pentecost in the early summer--not one of these days of memorial
+was disregarded. The m'zuzah was fastened on the doorposts, and
+regularly every morning did Aaron put on his garment of fringes and
+phylacteries and say his morning prayers. Thus was he ever in
+communion with his Maker.
+
+He experienced at first great difficulty in conforming to Jewish
+precepts. There was no synagogue in the village, and no killer of
+meat, according to the formula prescribed by the Mosaic law. For
+several days his family lived upon fish and vegetables and eggs; then
+he succeeded in arranging with a Jewish butcher in a town some fifty
+miles distant for a regular supply of meat and poultry. The only
+co-religionist with whom he came into close personal association was a
+man of the name of Levi, who had no such scruples as he in regard to
+food. This man was married, and had three sons, the eldest of whom was
+approaching his thirteenth year, the age at which all Jewish lads
+should be confirmed. In conversation with M. Levi Aaron learned that
+he had no intention of carrying out the ceremony of confirmation.
+Yearning to bring the stray sheep back into the fold, Aaron invited M.
+Levi and his family to celebrate the Passover with him, and there upon
+the table the Levis saw the white napkins with the special Passover
+cakes between the folds, the shankbone of a shoulder of lamb, the
+roasted egg, the lettuce, the chevril and parsley, the cup of salt and
+water, the savoury balls of almond, apple, and spice, and the raisin
+wine--all of which are symbols of the Passover, the most joyous of the
+Jewish festivals. In this year the first night of the holydays fell
+upon the Sabbath, and the apartment presented a beautiful appearance,
+with the lighted candles, the bright glass, and the spotless purity of
+the linen. The house had been cleaned from top to bottom, all leaven
+had been removed, and every utensil and article that was used for the
+cooking and partaking of food was new. M. Levi's eyes glistened as he
+entered the apartment and looked around; his wife's also, for she had
+been brought up in an orthodox Jewish home. Old memories were revived,
+and as they sat down at the table it was to them as if they had
+suddenly gone back to the days of their youth. Love and self-reproach
+shone in their faces as they gazed upon their children, to whom this
+picture of home happiness was a delightful revelation. "Blessed art
+Thou, O Lord, our God!" said Aaron, in the ancient tongue, after the
+filling of the first glasses of wine. "King of the universe, who
+createst the fruit of the vine. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God,
+King of the universe, who hath chosen us from among all people, and
+exalted us above all languages, and sanctified us with His
+commandments; and with love hast Thou given us, O Lord, our God,
+Sabbaths for rest, and solemn days for joy, festivals and seasons of
+gladness, this day of rest, and this day of the feast of unleavened
+cakes, the season of our freedom; a holy convocation in love, a
+memorial of the departure from Egypt. For Thou hast chosen us and
+sanctified us above all people; and Thy holy Sabbaths and festivals
+hast Thou caused us to inherit with love and favour, joy and gladness.
+Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest the Sabbath, and Israel, and
+the seasons." After this prayer the first glass of wine was drank, and
+the children smacked their lips. Rachel's blindness did not prevent
+her from superintending the kitchen, and under her direction
+everything was prepared for the table almost as skilfully and
+tastefully as if her own hands had done the work. Her raisin wine was
+perfect, and Aaron smacked his lips as well as the children: the
+finest vintage of champagne would not have been so palatable to him.
+Rachel's face was turned towards him as he raised the glass to his
+lips; she was anxious for his approval of the wine, which he had
+always praised extravagantly, and when she heard him smack his lips
+she was satisfied. Aaron proceeded with the ceremonies and prayers; he
+had purchased books of the "Hagadah," the Hebrew on the right-hand,
+and a translation in French on the left-hand pages, so that his
+guests, young and old, could understand what was being said and done.
+In silence they laved their hands, chevril was dipped into salt water
+and distributed around, and the middle cake in the napkins broken.
+Then Aaron held aloft the dish containing the roasted egg and the
+shankbone, and intoned, "This is the bread of affliction which our
+ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all that are hungry enter and
+eat; let all that are in want come hither and observe the Passover."
+The prayers were not uttered in a sing-song drawl; there was a joyous
+note in the chanting, which proclaimed that the hearts of the
+worshippers were glad. They heard from Aaron's lips what was said by
+the wise son, the wicked son, and the simple son; how a handful of the
+children of Israel went into Egypt, and how they increased and
+multiplied till they became a mighty nation; how they were oppressed
+by the Egyptians, and forced to build stone cities for Pharaoh,
+Pithom, and Raamses; how they prayed unto the Eternal, and He
+remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and punished
+the oppressors with the ten plagues; how, under Divine protection,
+Israel went forth from Egypt, and walked through the Red Sea. "The sea
+beheld, and fled; Jordan was driven backward. The mountains skipped
+like rams, the hills like lambkins. What ailed thee, O sea, that thou
+fledst--thou, Jordan, that thou wast driven backward--ye mountains,
+that ye skipped like rams--ye hills, like lambkins? Tremble, O earth!
+in the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool
+of water, the flinty rock into a fountain of water." The first portion
+of the service ended, the books were laid aside, and the table spread
+for supper. While the preparations for the meal were being made by
+Prissy, who wore a new frock for the holydays and was as clean as a
+new pin, an animated conversation went on. Aaron was in the merriest
+of moods, and his witty sayings and jokes kept the company in a ripple
+of laughter. It is a special feature in the home worship of the Jew
+that it promotes good fellowship, breeds good feeling, and draws
+closer the domestic ties which so strongly distinguish the race.
+Innocent jest is encouraged, it is really as if it were a duty that
+every one shall be in a holiday humour. The subjects of conversation
+are of a cheerful nature, scandal is avoided, the tenderer feelings
+are brought into play. Scrupulous attention is paid to cleanliness,
+young and old attire themselves in their best. When we appear before
+the Sovereign we make ourselves resplendent; so does the Jew when he
+appears before the King of heaven and earth. On such occasions
+slovenliness would be a crime. It is not only the outer man that is
+attended to; the choicest special Jewish dishes are prepared; there is
+no stint, plenty abounds, and friends are gladly welcomed, and invited
+to partake; everything is done that can contribute to harmony and
+content. Young people bill and coo, and their elders look on with
+approving eyes. These are the golden hours of love's young dream.
+
+"It does my heart good," said Madame Levi, laughing heartily at one of
+Aaron's jokes, "to be among our own people again."
+
+"Come often, come often," said Aaron Cohen. "You and yours will always
+be welcome."
+
+The meal consisted of coffee, Passover cakes, fresh butter, and fried
+and stewed fish. Nothing could be more tempting to the eye than the
+large dish of stewed fish, with its thick yellow sauce of egg and
+lemon, and nothing more tempting to the palate, unless it were the
+fried fish, with its skin nicely browned, and cooked in such a way as
+to bring out the full sweetness of the flesh.
+
+"We have the advantage of the Gentile," chuckled Aaron, who always
+took fried fish for his first course, and stewed for his second. "We
+know how to fry fish. It is strange that in all these thousands of
+years he has not discovered the simple secret."
+
+"I have not tasted such stewed fish for I don't know how many years,"
+observed Madame Levi, who had just been assisted to a second helping.
+
+"Mrs. Cohen fries fish beautifully," said Aaron, "but her stewed fish
+is a marvel."
+
+"That is the way my husband always speaks of me," said Rachel, with an
+affectionate smile. "He does not believe I have a fault."
+
+"A woman who cooks fish as she does," said Aaron, oracularly, "cannot
+have a fault; she is a perfect woman. She is a glory and an honour to
+her sex. Again I assert, her stewed fish is a marvel."
+
+"He forgets," said Rachel sweetly, to her guests, "that I have to
+trust others."
+
+"My dear," persisted Aaron, "you stand by and direct. A victorious
+general does not rush into the battle; he stands aside, and gives his
+orders. With my own eyes I saw you squeeze the lemons; with my own
+eyes I saw you mix the batter; each slice of fish passed through your
+hands before it was put into the pan and saucepan. You know, Madame
+Levi, how important it is that the fish should be properly dried
+before it goes through the ordeal of fire."
+
+"You bring it to my mind," said Madame Levi, speaking in a pensive
+tone; "my mother could fry and stew fish beautifully."
+
+"But not like Rachel," rejoined Aaron. "I will give way on every other
+point, but not on this. If I were a plaice or a halibut I should be
+proud to be treated so; it would be a worthy ending of me, and I
+should bless the hand that cut me up. I should feel that I had not
+lived in vain. There is a spiritual touch," he continued, waiting
+until the laughter had subsided, "in these things. Half a lemon
+more or less makes all the difference in stewed fish; an egg more or
+less, the consistency of the batter, and the quality of the oil, make
+all the difference when you are frying. In England the poor and
+middle-class Christians are shocking cooks; the moment they touch it
+half the goodness of the food is gone. It is a melancholy fact, and it
+is the cause of innumerable domestic grievances. It drives away
+cheerfulness, it breeds sulks and bad temper, and yet the women will
+not learn--no, they will not learn. When you see a well-ordered
+household and a peaceful home, the children happy and contented, the
+husband and wife affectionate to each other, you know at once that the
+mistress is a good cook. You laugh; but it is really a very serious
+matter. It goes straight to the root of things."
+
+Grace was said after supper, and the reading of the Passover prayers
+continued. Aaron had a fine baritone voice, and he did full justice to
+the ancient psalmody, which has been transmitted through long ages,
+from generation to generation. "Were our mouths filled with sacred
+song as the sea is with water, our tongue shouting loudly as its
+roaring billows, and our lips extended with praise like the widely
+spread firmament, and our eyes sparkling like the sun and the moon,
+and our hands extended like the eagle's wings in the skies, and our
+feet swift as the hind's, we should yet be deficient to render
+sufficient thanks unto Thee, O Lord our God, and the God of our
+fathers, or to bless Thy name for even one of the innumerable benefits
+which Thou hast conferred upon us and our ancestors." Then followed
+"It was at midnight." "When the blaspheming Sennacherib purposed to
+assail Thine habitation, Thou didst frustrate him through the dread
+carcases of his host in the night. Bel and its image were hurled down
+in the darkness of the night. To Daniel, the much beloved man, was
+the mysterious vision revealed in the night.... Thou wilt tread the
+wine-press for them who anxiously ask, Watchman, what of the night?
+Let the Eternal, the Watchman of Israel, cry out and say, The morning
+hath come as well as the night." Nearly at the end of the service
+there was a merry chant, "Oh, may He who is most mighty soon rebuild
+His house; speedily, speedily, soon, in our days." And the prayers
+ended with the curious poem, "One only kid, one only kid," supposed to
+be a parable illustrating the written and unwritten history of the
+Jewish race.
+
+So conducive of cheerfulness and amiability had been the dedication of
+the Passover that smiles were on every lip and good feeling in every
+eye; amiability and good nature shone on their countenances. An hour
+was devoted to a chat upon general subjects, and after accepting an
+invitation to come again upon the following night, the Levis took
+their departure. On their way home they spoke freely of the
+hospitality and geniality of their host, of the sweet disposition of
+Rachel, with whom they had all fallen in love, of the order and
+cleanliness of the house, of the salutary effects of an evening so
+spent. Never had they been so deeply impressed with the beauty of the
+religion into which they had been born, the obligations of which they
+had thrust aside and neglected, principally, as M. Levi would have
+advanced, on the score of convenience. Had Aaron Cohen argued with M.
+Levi upon this neglect it is likely he would have contributed to the
+defeat of the object he had in view; but he was far too astute to
+argue with a man who, being in the wrong, would have obstinately
+defended himself when thus attacked. He knew the value of the lesson
+the Levis had received, and he was content to wait for the result. He
+would have been greatly gratified had he heard the whispered words
+addressed to her husband by Madame Levi.
+
+"Cannot we do the same? Cannot we live as they do?"
+
+M. Levi, deep in thought, did not answer the question, but it was
+nevertheless treasured in his memory. Treasured also in his memory
+were some words that passed between his eldest son and his wife.
+
+"Mother, I am a Jew?"
+
+"Yes, my dear."
+
+"I am glad."
+
+"Why, my child?"
+
+"Because M. Cohen is a Jew. I want to be like him."
+
+M. Levi looked at his son, a handsome lad, whose face was flushed with
+the pleasures of the most memorable evening in his young life. To
+deprive him of his confirmation would be robbing him of God's
+heritage. The father was at heart a Jew, but, like many of his
+brethren residing in Christian communities, had found it easier to
+neglect his religion than to conform to its precepts. Putting it
+another way, he thought it would be to his worldly disadvantage. He
+had made his will, and therein was written his desire to be "buried
+among his people"--that controlling wish which, in their last moments,
+animates so many Jews who through all their days have lived as
+Christians. "Let me be buried among my people," they groan; "let me be
+buried among my people!" That is their expiation, that is their charm
+for salvation, for though all their years have been passed in
+attending to their worldly pleasures and temporal interests, they
+believe in a future life. These men have been guided by no motives of
+sincerity, by no conscientious inquiry as to how far the tenets of an
+ancient creed--the principal parts of which were formulated while the
+race was in tribulation--are necessary and obligatory in the present
+age; they are palterers and cowards, and grossly deceive themselves if
+they believe that burial in Jewish ground will atone for their
+backsliding. M. Levi was not a coward, and now that his error was
+brought home to him he was strongly moved to take up the broken
+threads of a faith which, in its purity, offers so much of Divine
+consolation. He himself broached the subject to Aaron, and his resolve
+was strengthened by the subsequent conversations between them.
+
+"That man is to be honoured, not despised," said Aaron, "who changes
+his opinions through conviction. He may be mistaken, but he is
+sincere, and sincerity is the test of faith. You believe in God, you
+acknowledge His works, you live in the hope of redemption. In religion
+you must be something or nothing. You deny that you are a Christian.
+What, then, are you? A Jew. What race can boast of a heritage so
+glorious? We have yet to work out our future. Take your place in the
+ranks--ranks more illustrious than that which any general has ever led
+to victory--be once more a soldier of God."
+
+These words fired M. Levi. The following Saturday his place of
+business was closed; from a box in which it may be said they were
+hidden, he took out his garment of fringes, his prayer-books, his
+phylacteries, and worshipped as of yore. Two vacancies occurring in
+his business, he filled them up with Jews; Aaron also induced a few
+Jews to settle there, and in a short time they could reckon upon ten
+adults, the established number necessary for public worship. In the
+rear of his house Aaron built a large room, which was used as a
+synagogue, and there M. Levi's eldest son was confirmed. In the
+autumn, when the Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated, the little band
+of Jews found a booth erected in Aaron's garden; there was a roof of
+vines through which they saw the light of heaven. It was beautified
+with flowers, and numbers of persons came to see this pretty
+remembrance of a time when the Children of Israel dwelt in tents in
+the wilderness. The prayers in the synagogue over, the worshippers
+assembled in the booth, and ate and drank with Aaron and his family.
+Aaron had provided palms, citrons, myrtle, and willows for his
+co-religionists, and in an address he gave in the course of the
+service he told them how the citron was a symbol of innocent
+childhood, the myrtle a symbol of youth and of the purity that dwells
+on the brow of the bride and bridegroom, the firm and stately palm a
+symbol of upright manhood, and the drooping willow a symbol of old
+age. His discourses had always in them something new and attractive
+which had a special bearing upon the ancient faith in which he took so
+much pride.
+
+"We have you to thank for our happiness," said Madame Levi to him.
+
+"It is a good work done, my love," said Aaron to his wife, rubbing his
+hands with satisfaction; "a good work done."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+ RACHEL'S LIFE IN THE NEW LAND.
+
+
+Meanwhile Rachel throve. She walked with an elastic spring in her
+feet, as though in response to nature's greeting, and joy and
+happiness accompanied her everywhere. She was profoundly and devoutly
+grateful for her husband's better fortune, and daily rendered up
+thanks for it to the Giver of all good. She took pleasure in
+everything; blind as she was, she enjoyed nature's gifts to the full.
+In winter it was extraordinary to hear her describe the aspect of
+woods and fields in their white feathery mantle; with deep-drawn
+breath she inhaled the fresh cold air, and a glory rested on her face
+as she trod the snow-clad paths. When she visited the poor on those
+cold days Prissy accompanied her, carrying a well-filled basket on her
+arm. Her sympathy with the sick and suffering was Divine, and in the
+bleakest hours, when the sky was overcast and the light was hidden
+from shivering mortals, she was the herald of sunshine. A priest met
+her on one of these journeys, and gave her good-day.
+
+"Good-day, father," she said.
+
+"You know me!" he exclaimed, surprised; for though his priestly
+calling was apparent from his attire, Rachel could not see it.
+
+"I heard your voice a fortnight ago," she replied, "in the cottage I
+am going to now, and I never forget a voice. After you were gone the
+poor woman told me you were her priest. I heard so much of you that
+was beautiful."
+
+She put forth her hand; he hesitated a moment, then took it and
+pressed it.
+
+"How sad, how sad, my daughter, that you are a Jewess!"
+
+"I am happily a Jewess, father."
+
+"Let me come and talk to you."
+
+"Yes, father, come and talk to me of your poor, to whom you are so
+good. You do so much; I, being blind, can do so little. If you will
+allow me----" She offered him some gold pieces, and he accepted them.
+
+"The Holy Mother have you in her keeping," he said; and went his way.
+
+Dogs and horses were her friends, and were instinctively conscious of
+her presence. She scattered food for the birds, and they soon grew to
+know her; some would even pick crumbs from her hand. "I do not think,"
+she said, "they would trust me so if I were not blind. They know I
+cannot see, and cannot harm them." Aaron thought differently; not a
+creature that drew breath could fail to trust and love this sweet
+woman whom God had spared to him.
+
+Whom God had spared to him! When the thought thus expressed itself, he
+raised his eyes to Heaven in supplication.
+
+She was the first to taste the sweet breath of spring. "Spring is
+coming," she said; "the birds are trilling the joyful news. How busy
+they are over their nests, the little chatterers, telling one another
+the news as they work! In a little while we shall see the flowers."
+She invariably spoke of things as if she could see them, as doubtless
+she did with spiritual sight, investing them with a beauty which was
+not of this world. It was her delight in summer to sit beneath the
+branches of a favourite cherry tree, and to follow with her ears the
+gambols of her children. For she had two now. A year after they left
+Gosport another child was born to them, Joseph, to whom Aaron clave
+with intense and passionate love. It was not that he was cold to Ruth,
+that he was not unremitting in showing her affection, but in his love
+for his son there was a finer quality, of which no one but himself was
+conscious. He had prayed for another child, and his prayer was
+answered. In the first flush of his happiness he was tempted to regard
+this gift of God as a token that his sin was forgiven, but he soon
+thrust this reflection aside, refusing to accept his own
+interpretation of his sin as an atonement for its committal. It was
+presumptuous in man to set lines and boundaries to the judgment of the
+Eternal. It was to Rachel that this blessing was vouchsafed, for a
+time might come when she would find in it a consolation for a
+revelation that would embitter the sweet waters of life. Both the
+children were pretty and engaging, and had winning and endearing ways,
+which, in the mother's sightless eyes, were magnified a thousandfold.
+In the following year a picture by a famous painter was exhibited in
+the Paris _salon_; it was entitled "A Jewish Mother," and represented
+a woman sitting beneath a cherry tree in flower, with two young
+children gambolling on the turf at her feet. In the background were
+two men, the curé of the village and a Jew, the latter being the
+woman's husband, and looking like a modern Moses. The faces of the
+men--one full-fleshed, with massive features and a grand beard, the
+other spare and lean, with thin, clear-cut features and a close-shaven
+face--formed a fine contrast. But although the points of this contrast
+were brought out in masterly fashion, and although the rustic scene
+was full of beauty, the supreme attraction of the picture lay in the
+woman. In her sightless eyes dwelt the spirit of peace and purity, and
+there was an angelic sweetness and resignation in her face as, with
+head slightly inclined, she listened to the prattle of her children.
+You could almost hear a sigh of happiness issue from her lips. The
+woman's face photographed itself upon the minds of all who beheld it,
+and it is not too much to say that it carried with it an influence for
+good. Years afterwards, when their visit to the _salon_ was forgotten,
+it made itself visible to their mind's eye, and always with beneficial
+suggestion. So it is also with a pure poem or story; the impression it
+leaves is an incentive to kindly act and tolerant judgment; it
+softens, it ameliorates, it brings into play the higher attributes of
+human nature, and in its practical results a benefit is conferred
+equally upon the sufferer by the wayside and the Samaritan who pours
+oil upon his wounds. The critics were unanimous in their praises of
+the picture. "Who is the woman?" they asked, and no one could answer
+the question except the painter, and he held his tongue.
+
+The secret was this. The famous painter, passing through the village
+with the subject of his next great picture in his mind, saw Rachel,
+and was spellbound by the purity and grace of her face and figure.
+Travelling under an assumed name, in order that he should not be
+disturbed by the trumpet blasts of fame--a proof (clear to few men)
+that there is pleasure in obscurity--he cast aside the subject of the
+great picture he had intended to paint, and determined to take his
+inspiration from Rachel. He was assured from what he heard of her that
+he was in the presence of a good woman, and he was deeply impressed by
+her gentleness and grace. He did not find it difficult to obtain an
+introduction to Aaron, who invited him home, where he made himself
+welcome--no difficult matter, for Aaron was ever ready to appreciate
+intellect. Many an evening did the painter pass with them, sometimes
+in company with the curé, and many a friendly argument did they have.
+The priest and the artist were surprised at the wide range of subjects
+with which Aaron was familiar, and upon which he could converse with
+fluent ease. Upon great themes he spoke with so much force and
+clearness that even when they differed from him he generally succeeded
+in weakening their convictions. It was not his early schooling that
+made him so comprehensive and clear-sighted; a man's education depends
+chiefly upon himself--teachers and masters play but a subsidiary part,
+and all the coaching in the world will not make a weak intellect
+strong. Superficial knowledge may be gained; but it is as transient as
+a shadow, and in its effect is valueless in the business of life.
+Aaron was not a classical scholar; he was something better--a
+painstaking student, who extracted from his extensive reading the
+essence of a subject, and took no heed of the husk and shell in which
+it was embedded. Firm, perhaps to some extent dogmatic, in matters of
+religion, he was gifted with a large-hearted toleration which led him
+to look with a kindly eye upon men who did not think as he did; but
+his final judgment was the judgment of a well-balanced mind.
+
+The artist did not ask Rachel and Aaron to be his models, but he made
+innumerable sketches of them, and remained in the village long enough
+to accumulate all the principal points and accessories for his
+picture. Then he departed and painted his masterpiece elsewhere. Some
+time afterwards he revisited the village with the intention of making
+acknowledgment for the inspiration, but Aaron and his family had
+departed, and the painter's secret was undivulged.
+
+As it was with Rachel in winter and spring, so was it in summer and
+autumn. The flowers, the butterflies, the fragrant perfume of garden
+and hedgerow, all appealed powerfully to her, and all were in kinship
+with her. The village children would follow her in the gloaming,
+singing their simple songs; brawlers, ashamed, would cease contending
+when she came in sight; women would stand at their cottage doors and
+gaze reverently upon her as she passed. Not a harsh thought was
+harboured against her and hers; her gentle spirit was an incentive to
+gentleness; she was a living, tender embodiment of peace on earth and
+goodwill to all. The whisper of the corn in the autumn, when the
+golden stalks bowed their heads to the passing breeze, conveyed a
+Divine message to her soul; and, indeed, she said seriously to Aaron
+that she sometimes fancied she heard voices in the air, and that they
+brought a sense of ineffable pleasure to her heart.
+
+In the ordinary course of events the partnership came to an end. The
+engineer was invited to Russia to undertake an important work for the
+Government, and Aaron would not accompany him.
+
+"In the first place," he said, "I will not expose my wife and
+children to the rigours of such a climate. In the second place, I will
+not go because I am a Jew, and because, being one, I should meet with
+no justice in that land. In the annals of history no greater infamy
+can be found than the persecution to which my brethren are subjected
+in that horrible country. In former ages, when the masses lived and
+died ignorant and unlettered, like the beasts of the field, one can
+understand how it was that the iron hand ruled and crushed common
+human rights out of existence; but in these days, when light is
+spreading all over the world except in such a den of hideous
+corruption and monstrous tyranny as Russia, it is almost incredible
+that these cruelties are allowed to be practised."
+
+"How would you put a stop to them?" asked the engineer.
+
+"I will suppose a case," Aaron answered. "You are the ruler of an
+estate, upon which reside a number of families, who respect the laws
+you make for them, who pay you tribute, and who lead reputable lives.
+You know that these families are not all of one opinion upon religious
+matters. Some pray in churches, some in synagogues, some do not pray
+at all. You do not show favour to those with whose views you agree,
+and you do not oppress those from whom you differ. You say to them,
+'You are all my subjects; so long as you obey my laws, so long as you
+conduct yourselves as good citizens, you shall live upon an equality,
+and shall have my protection. Thought is free. Worship God according
+to the dictates of your conscience, and be happy. For you the
+synagogue, for me the church. I am content.' What is the consequence?
+Between you and your people exists a bond of allegiance and affection.
+They are true and loyal to you, and you really look upon them as
+children of one family. In times of national distress, when a cry for
+help is heard in any part of your estate, the bishop of your
+Established Church, the Pope's cardinal, and the Chief Rabbi of the
+Jews meet upon common ground, free one and all to act as priests of
+humanity, and eager to alleviate the suffering which has arisen among
+them. In your government councils all creeds are represented, and the
+voice that is heard in decisions of national importance is truly the
+national voice. You have your reward. Order is preserved, property is
+safe, and you are respected everywhere. There are other estates in
+your neighbourhood which more or less resemble yours, and in which men
+of all creeds have equal rights. But there is one from which shrieks
+of agony issue daily and nightly, terrible cries of suffering,
+imploring appeals for help and mercy. They strike upon your ears; you
+cannot help hearing them. The brutal ruler of this estate has for his
+subjects a vast number of families, all of whom have been born on his
+land, all of whom recognise him as their king, and are ready and
+anxious to pay him respect, all of whom have a natural claim upon him
+for protection, all of whom work for him and contribute to the
+expenses of his household. To those whose religious views agree with
+his own he shows favour and gives protection; those who are born in a
+different faith he hates and tortures. From them proceed these shrieks
+of agony, these cries of suffering, these appeals for help. You see
+them torn and bleeding, their faces convulsed with anguish, their
+hearts racked with woe; they have no other home, and there is no
+escape for them. Every step they take is dogged and watched; whichever
+way they turn the lash awaits them, and torture chambers to drive them
+to the last stage of despair. And their shrieks and supplications
+eternally pierce the air you breathe, while the oppressed ones stretch
+forth their hands for mercy to the monster who makes their lives a
+hell upon earth. What do they ask? That they should be allowed to live
+in peace. But this reasonable and natural request infuriates the
+tyrant. He flings them to the ground and grinds his iron heel into
+their bleeding flesh; he spits in their faces, and orders his
+torturers to draw the cords tighter around them. It is not for a day,
+it is not for a week, it is not for a year, it is for ever. They die,
+and leave children behind them, who are treated in the same fashion;
+and for them, as it was with their fathers, there is no hope. No
+attempt is made to hide these infamies, these cruelties, which would
+disgrace the lowest order of beasts; they are perpetrated in the light
+of day, and the monster who is responsible for them sneers at you, and
+says, 'If you were in their place, I would treat you the same.' He
+laughs at your remonstrances, and draws the cords still tighter, and
+tortures the quivering flesh still more mercilessly, and cries, 'It is
+my estate, they are my subjects, and I will do as I please with them.
+Let them abjure their God, and I may show them mercy. Their bodies are
+mine, they have no souls!' To argue with him is presumption; in his
+arrogant estimation of himself the 'divinity that doth hedge a king'
+places him above human conditions--this man, who comes of a family
+with a social history so degrading that, were it attached to one of
+low degree, he would not be admitted into decent society. Talk to him
+of humanity, and he derides and defies you. You burn with indignation;
+but what action do you take?"
+
+"It is a strong illustration," said the engineer; "but it is not with
+nations as with families."
+
+"It is," said Aaron, with passionate fervour. "There is no distinction
+in the eyes of God. We are all members of one family, and the world is
+our heritage. The world is divided into nations, nations into cities,
+towns, and villages, and these are subdivided into houses, each having
+its separate rulers; and, though physically and geographically wide
+apart, all are linked by the one common tie of our common humanity.
+The same emotions, the same passions, the same aspirations, run
+through all alike. Does it make an innocent babe a malefactor because
+he is born in Russia instead of France or England? But it is so
+considered, and his life is made a misery to him by monsters who, when
+they give bloody work to their armies to do, blasphemously declare
+that the Lord of hosts is on their side, and call upon Him to bless
+their infamous banners."
+
+It was seldom that Aaron expressed himself so passionately, and, as
+the engineer made no reply, they did not pursue the discussion.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+ THE FAREWELL.
+
+
+When it became known that Aaron was about to leave the quiet
+resting-place in which the last few years had been passed, and in
+which he had enjoyed peace and prosperity, a general feeling of regret
+was expressed, and efforts were made to induce him to change his
+resolution. Coming among them a stranger, a foreigner, and an alien in
+religion, he had won for himself the lasting esteem of all classes of
+the community. The village was now an important centre, its trade was
+in a flourishing condition, and its population had largely increased;
+as a natural consequence, property had risen in value, and the old
+residents were growing rich. It was ungrudgingly acknowledged that all
+this was due to Aaron Cohen's enterprise and to the integrity of his
+character. The well-to-do and the poor alike deplored the impending
+loss, and united in their appeals to him to remain; but they were
+unsuccessful. There was in Aaron a latent ambition, of which he
+himself was scarcely aware, to move in a larger sphere, and to play
+his part in life among his own people. His intention had been at first
+to remain in the pretty French village only long enough to benefit
+Rachel's health, and had it not been for the chance that threw him and
+the engineer together, and which opened up enterprises which had led
+to such fortunate results, he would have fulfilled this intention and
+have selected some populous city in England to pursue his career. One
+venture had led to another, and the success which had attended them
+was a sufficient inducement to tarry. But now that the partnership was
+at an end the incentive was gone, and he was not sorry that he was in
+a certain sense compelled to return to his native land. One thing in
+his life in the village had weighed heavily upon him. There was no
+established synagogue in which he and his family could worship, and,
+as we have seen, it was in his own home that he carried out all the
+ceremonials of his religion. Much as Aaron had reason to be grateful
+for, he yearned to follow the practices of his religion among a larger
+body of his co-religionists, to have the honour of taking the sacred
+scroll from the ark, to hear the chazan's voice from the pulpit and
+the melodious chant of the choir, followed by the deep responses of
+the congregation. He had an instinctive leaning to movement and
+colour. He loved the peace of his home; it was his ark of rest; but he
+loved also the bustle and turmoil of life. He was essentially an
+administrator, and fitted by nature for the control and direction of
+large bodies of men. Had he been single he would doubtless have
+migrated to one of the new colonies which perennially spring up under
+British rule, and have taken a prominent part in its growth and
+development. It is greatly due to Jewish spirit and enterprise that
+these new countries thrive and flourish so rapidly.
+
+There was another consideration. Aaron wished his son Joseph to grow
+up amid his co-religionists, to mix with them, to become familiar with
+their ways, so that he might be fixed firmly in the faith of his
+forefathers. There was no Jewish school in the village in which the
+lad could be educated. He looked forward to the future. Joseph would
+become a man, and in this village there were limitations and
+restrictions which were not favourable to the formation of strong
+character. Here was a young mind to be trained; the more comprehensive
+the surroundings the better the chance of worldly advancement. He
+discussed these matters with Rachel.
+
+"Yes," she said, "let us go. But I shall never forget the happy years
+we have passed here."
+
+"Nor I," said Aaron. "Honour and good fortune have attended us. May a
+blessing rest upon the village and all the dwellers therein!"
+
+Then Rachel spoke of her poor and of her regret at leaving them.
+
+"We will bear them in remembrance," said Aaron, "and before we bid
+them, farewell something can be done to place them in permanent
+comfort."
+
+Much was done by Rachel and himself. For some time past he had
+bestowed a great part of his benefactions in such a manner that those
+whom he befriended were ignorant of the source from which the good
+flowed. In order that this should be carried out as he wished he had
+to seek an agent; looking around he made his selection, and asked the
+curé of the village to be his almoner, explaining that he did not wish
+it to be known that the money came from him. The curé, much surprised,
+accepted the office; Aaron was grievously disturbing his opinion of
+the heretic. After the meeting with Rachel, which has been described
+in the previous chapter, he had visited her home with the laudable
+desire of converting the family to the true faith, and had found
+himself confronted with peculiar difficulties. He strove to draw them
+into argument, but in a theological sense they slipped through his
+fingers. Aaron's course in this respect was premeditated, Rachel's was
+unconsciously pursued. She listened to all he said, and smilingly
+acquiesced in his declaration that there was only one road open to
+heaven's gates.
+
+"It is the road of right-doing, father," she said, "the road of
+kindness, of doing unto others as you would they should do unto you,
+of dispensing out of your store, whether it be abundant or not, what
+you can spare to relieve the unfortunate. You are right, father; there
+is only one road."
+
+By her sweetness and charity, by her practical sympathy with the
+suffering, she cut the ground from under his feet. He spoke of the
+saints, and she said they were good men and women, and were receiving
+their reward. In a word, she took the strength and subtlety out of
+him, and he yielded with sighs of regret and admiration. With Aaron he
+was more trenchant, and quite as unsuccessful. Many of Aaron's
+humorous observations made the good priest laugh in spite of himself,
+and the pearls of wisdom which fell from the Jew's lips crumbled his
+arguments to dust. There was no scoffing or irreverence on Aaron's
+part; he simply parried the thrusts with a wisdom and humanity deeper
+and truer than those of which his antagonist could boast.
+
+"My son," said the curé, "would you not make me a Jew if it were in
+your power?"
+
+"No," replied Aaron, "we do not proselytise, and even if we did you
+are too good a Christian for me to wish to make you a Jew."
+
+This was one of the puzzling remarks which caused the curé to ponder,
+and which dwelt long in his mind; sometimes he thought that Aaron was
+a man of deep subtlety, sometimes that he was a man of great
+simplicity, but whether subtle or simple he felt it impossible to
+withhold a full measure of respect from one whose eternal lot he
+sighed to think was perdition and everlasting torment. That sincerity
+was the true test of faith, as Aaron declared, he would not admit;
+there could be no sincerity in a faith that was false, there could be
+no sincerity if you did not believe as he believed. Nevertheless, he
+had an uncomfortable impression that he was being continually worsted
+in the peaceful war of words in which they invariably engaged when
+they came together.
+
+As Aaron was not to be turned from his resolution to leave the
+country, the villagers took steps to show their respect for him.
+Public meetings were held, which were attended by many persons from
+surrounding districts, and there was a banquet, of which Aaron did not
+partake, the food not being cooked according to the Jewish formula. He
+contented himself with fruit and bread, and made a good and sufficient
+meal. Speeches were made in his honour, and he was held up as an
+example to old and young. His response was in admirable taste. He said
+that the years he had spent among them were the happiest in his life,
+and that it was with true regret he found himself compelled to leave
+the village. He spoke of his first coming among them with a beloved
+wife in a delicate state of health, who had grown well and strong in
+the beautiful spot. It was not alone the sweet air, he said, which had
+brought the blessing of health to her; the bond of sympathy which had
+been established between her and her neighbours had been as a
+spiritual medicine to her, which had given life a value of which it
+would otherwise have been deprived. It was not so much the material
+reward of our labours that conferred happiness upon us as the feeling
+that we were passing our days among friends who always had a smile and
+a pleasant greeting for us. Riches were perishable, kindly
+remembrances immortal. The lessons of life were to be learned from the
+performance of simple acts of duty; for he regarded it as a duty to so
+conduct ourselves as to make our presence welcome, and agreeable to
+those with whom we were in daily association. As to the kind things
+that had been said of him, he felt that he was scarcely worthy of
+them. "There is," he said, "a leaven of human selfishness in all that
+we do; and the little I have, with the blessing of God, been enabled
+to do has conferred upon me a much greater pleasure than it could
+possibly have conferred upon others. To you and to my residence among
+you I owe all my good fortune, to you and to my residence among you I
+owe my dear wife's restoration to health; and it would be ingratitude
+indeed did I not endeavour to make some return for the good you have
+showered upon me. I shall never forget you, nor will my wife forget
+you; in our native land we shall constantly recall the happy years we
+spent in this pleasant village, and we shall constantly pray that
+peace and prosperity may never desert you." The earnestness and
+feeling with which these sentiments were uttered were unmistakable and
+convincing, and when Aaron resumed his seat the eyes of all who had
+assembled to do him honour were turned upon him approvingly and
+sympathisingly. "Ah," groaned the good curé, "were he not a Jew he
+would be a perfect man!" The flowers which graced the banqueting table
+were sent by special messenger to Rachel, and the following day she
+pressed a few and kept them ever afterwards among her precious relics.
+Aaron did not come home till late in the night, and he found Rachel
+waiting up for him. He delighted her by describing the incidents and
+speeches of the memorable evening. Aaron was a great smoker, and while
+they talked he smoked the silver-mounted pipe for which he had so
+great an affection.
+
+There are in the possession of many men dumb memorials of
+insignificant value which they would not part with for untold gold,
+and this silver-mounted pipe of Aaron's was one of these. Before
+Rachel was blind she had been in the habit of filling it for him, and
+when she was deprived of sight he sorely missed the affectionate
+service. Tears started to his eyes one night when, with a loving
+smile, she handed it to him, filled; and now she did it for him
+regularly. Rachel had indulged in a piece of extravagance. She had a
+special case made for the pipe, adorned with the letters A. and R.
+outlined in brilliants, and Aaron handled his treasure almost with the
+care and affection he bestowed upon his children.
+
+"Your health was proposed," said Aaron, "and the health of our little
+ones. What was said about you, my life, gave me much more pleasure
+than what was said about myself. It abashes one to have to sit and
+listen to extravagant praises far beyond one's merits, but it is the
+habit of men to run into extravagance."
+
+"They could say nothing, dear husband, that you do not deserve."
+
+"You too!" exclaimed Aaron, gaily. "It is well for me that you were
+not there, for you might have been called upon to give your
+testimony."
+
+"I should not have had the courage." She fondly pressed his hand. "I
+am glad they spoke of me kindly."
+
+"They spoke of you truly, and my heart leaped up within me at what the
+good curé said of you, for it was he who proposed the toast. I
+appreciated it more from him than I should have done from any one
+else, and he was quite sincere for the moment in all the sentiments he
+expressed, whatever he may have thought of himself afterwards for
+asking his flock to drink the health of a Jewess. Well, well, it takes
+all sorts to make a world."
+
+"How much we have to be grateful for!" said Rachel, with a happy sigh.
+
+"Indeed, indeed, for boundless gratitude. Think of what we passed
+through in Gosport"--he paused suddenly; the one experience which
+weighed upon his conscience brought a dark and troubled shadow into
+his face.
+
+"Why do you pause, dear? Has not my blindness proved a blessing to us?
+Do I miss my sight? Nay, I think it has made life sweeter. But for
+that we should not have come to this place, but for that we should not
+have had the means to do something towards the relief of a few
+suffering and deserving people. Nothing but good has sprung from it.
+Our Lord God be praised."
+
+Aaron recovered himself. "There was Mr. Whimpole's visit to us before
+I commenced business, there were those stupid boys who distressed you
+so with their revilings, which I managed to turn against themselves.
+It was this pipe of yours, my life, that gave me the inspiration how
+to disarm them. It sharpens my faculties, it brings out my best
+points; it is really to me a friend and counsellor. And now I have
+smoked enough, and it is time to go to bed. I will join you
+presently."
+
+In solitude the one troubled memory of the past forced itself
+painfully upon him. Did he deserve what had been said in his honour
+on this night? He valued men's good opinion, and of all the men he
+knew he valued most the good opinion of the curé. What would this
+single-minded, conscientious priest think of him if he were acquainted
+with the sin of which he had been guilty, the sin of bringing up an
+alien child in a religion in which she had not been born? He would
+look upon him with horror. And it was a bitter punishment that he was
+compelled to keep this secret locked in his own breast, that he dared
+not reveal it to a single human creature, that he dared not say
+openly, "I have sinned, I have sinned. Have mercy upon me!" To his own
+beloved wife, dearer to him than life itself, he had behaved
+treacherously; even in her he dared not confide. It was not with
+Rachel as it was with him; there was no difference in the love she
+bore her children; they were both equally precious to her. To fall
+upon his knees before her and make confession would be like striking a
+dagger into her heart; it almost drove him mad to think of the shock
+such a revelation would be to her. No, he must guard his secret and
+his sin jealously to the last hour of his life. So far as human
+discovery went he believed himself to be safe; the betrayal, if it
+ever came, lay with himself. True, he had in his possession testimony
+which might damn him were it to fall into other hands, the little iron
+safe which Mr. Moss had received from Dr. Spenlove, and at the
+mother's request had conveyed to him. In his reflections upon the
+matter lately the question had intruded itself, What did this little
+box contain? It was impossible for him to say, but he felt
+instinctively that there was evidence in it which would bring his sin
+home to him. He allowed his thoughts now to dwell upon the mother.
+From the day on which he received the five hundred pounds from Mr.
+Gordon's lawyers he had heard nothing from them, nothing from Mr. Moss
+or from anybody relating to the matter. Between himself and Mr. Moss
+there had been a regular though not very frequent correspondence, but
+his friend had never written one word concerning it, and Aaron, of
+course, had not referred to it. Thus far, therefore, it was buried in
+a deep grave.
+
+But would this grave never be opened? If other hands were not
+responsible for the act would it not be his duty to cause the light of
+truth to shine upon it? The mother had stipulated that, in the event
+of her husband's death, she should be free to seek her child, should
+be free to claim the box. Upon this contingency seemed to hang his
+fate; but there were arguments in his favour. Mr. Gordon might live,
+and the mother could do nothing. Arguing that the man died, it was
+more than probable that his wife had borne other children who had a
+claim upon her love which she acknowledged. To seek then her child of
+shame would be the means of bringing disgrace upon these children of
+her marriage. Would she deliberately do this? He answered the question
+immediately, No. In the consideration of these phases of the matter he
+bore in mind that, although the false news of the child's death must
+of necessity have been communicated to Mr. Gordon by his lawyers, it
+was likely that it had been kept from the knowledge of the mother.
+Aaron had been made to understand that Mr. Gordon was a man of
+inflexible resolution, and that he had pledged himself never under any
+circumstances to make mention of the child to the woman he had
+married. Even setting this aside, even going to the length of arguing
+that, hearing of the child's death, Mr. Gordon departed from the
+strict letter of his resolution, and said to his wife, "Your child is
+dead," was it not likely that she would reply, "I do not believe it;
+you tell me so only to deceive me"? In that case, her husband dead and
+herself childless, would she not search the world over for her
+offspring?
+
+Setting this all aside, however, the onus still devolved upon him to
+open the grave. One of the stipulations attached to his receipt of the
+box was that when Ruth was twenty-one years of age it should be handed
+over to her. Would he dare to violate this condition? Would he so far
+tamper with his conscience as to neglect an obligation which might be
+deemed sacred? The question tortured him; he could not answer it.
+
+He heard Rachel moving in the room above, and with a troubled heart he
+went up to her. Thus this night, the events of which were intended to
+shed honour and glory upon him, ended in sadness, and thus was it
+proved that the burden of a new deceit may be as a feather-weight to
+the solemn and heavy consequences which follow in its train.
+
+Everything was ready for the departure of the Cohens, which was to
+take place at the end of the week. Before the day arrived they
+received other tokens in proof of the appreciation in which they were
+held. A deputation of working men waited on Aaron, and presented him
+with an address. The employers of labour themselves--secretly glad,
+perhaps, that he was going from among them--paid him a special honour.
+Rachel's heart throbbed with gratitude and with pride in her husband.
+But her greatest pleasure, in which were mingled touches of deep
+sorrow, was derived from the affecting testimony of the poor she had
+befriended. Old men and women witnessed their departure, and bidding
+farewell to Rachel, prayed God's blessing upon her. Children gave her
+flowers, and their childish voices were full of affection. The tears
+ran from her eyes; she could hardly tear herself away. At length it
+was over; they were gone; but it was long before her sweet face faded
+from their memory.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXX.
+
+ AT THE GRAVE OF HIS CHILD.
+
+
+The years that followed until Ruth was grown to womanhood and Joseph
+was a young man were eventful years for Aaron and his family. He
+returned to England the possessor of a few thousands of pounds, and
+was received with open arms by the Jewish community. He found to his
+surprise that the story of his life in a foreign land was known to his
+co-religionists, who are ever eager to acknowledge the success of
+their brethren. With Jews, as with Christians, success is a power, an
+"open sesame;" they are proud of it as reflecting honour upon the
+race, and, as is the human fashion, are willing to overlook a
+retrograde step or two in matters of religious observance on the parts
+of those who have won their way into the front ranks. It is also
+human, perhaps, that they are less tolerant to those who have not been
+so successful. Aaron Cohen, as we know, had no need of such
+indulgence; by poor and rich, by the heterodox and the orthodox, he
+was hailed as a worthy upholder of the old faith which has survived
+the persecutions of thousands of years. Before he went to Gosport he
+had resided in the East End of London, and he derived pleasure from
+his visits to the old familiar ground and from the renewal of
+acquaintance with old friends who had not prospered in life's battle.
+That he should be asked to assist these was natural, and the practical
+aid he tendered brought its reward. In a certain sense he became
+suddenly famous. "That's Aaron Cohen," said the East End Jews,
+pointing him out as he passed; "he used to live here, and he has made
+an enormous fortune"--multiplying his riches, of course, a
+hundredfold. But a man may be famous without being popular; Aaron was
+both, and he was not allowed to remain in ignorance of the fact. He
+was offered an honourable office in his synagogue, and he gladly
+accepted it. He was asked to serve on the board of several of the
+Jewish charities with which London abounds, and he did not refuse one
+of these requests. It was his earnest wish to make himself practically
+useful to the community, and also to do something towards the stemming
+of the tide of loose religious observance which was steadily rising
+among his brethren. Upon this subject he had many conversations with
+the clerical leaders of the chosen people, who saw the inroads that
+were being made and seemed powerless to provide a remedy. It did not
+occur to them that by a bold grasp of the nettle danger they might
+pluck from it the flower safety. Aaron Cohen believed in the thirteen
+articles of the Creed framed by Maimonides, which are accepted as the
+fundamental articles of the Jewish faith. He believed in following--so
+far as was practicable in the present age--the precepts which
+Moses transmitted to his race, with which all faithful Jews should
+be familiar. Some, he knew, were obsolete; such as those affecting
+the Nazarites, of whom not one disciple exists to-day among
+English-speaking communities: others were impracticable; such, for
+instance, as those relating to the burnt sacrifices, the redeeming of
+the male firstling of an ass, and the punishment of criminals by
+stoning and the sword. But in this code of six hundred and thirteen
+precepts are to be found many which breathe the pure essence of the
+faith in which he was born, and these he believed it incumbent upon
+him to obey. His lectures and addresses to Jewish audiences in the
+East End of London were listened to with breathless interest; the
+halls were not large enough to accommodate those who thronged to hear
+him. He drew from history illustrations of their past grandeur which
+fired and thrilled them. Sensible of the impression he made upon them,
+Aaron Cohen had reason to be proud of the part he was playing, but
+there was more room in his heart for humbleness than pride; the shadow
+of a committed sin for ever attended him.
+
+Apart from these communal matters he had much to do. In business hours
+business claimed him, and he answered zealously to the call. To such a
+man idleness would have been little less than a living death, and,
+taking up his residence in London, he embarked very soon in
+enterprises of magnitude. The knowledge he had gained during his
+partnership in France was of immense value to him, and in conjunction
+with other men of technical resource, he contracted for public works
+in various parts of the country. His fortune grew, and he gradually
+became wealthy. He moved from one house to another, and each move was
+a step up the ladder. A house in Prince's Gate came into the market,
+and Aaron purchased it, and furnished it with taste and elegance.
+There he entertained liberally but not lavishly, for his judgment led
+him always to the happy mean, and his house became the resort of men
+and women of intellect and culture. Mr. Moss, who was wedded to
+Portsmouth, and continued to flourish there, paid periodical visits to
+London, and was always welcome in Aaron's home. He was as musically
+inclined as ever; and opportunities were afforded him of hearing the
+finest singers and players at Prince's Gate. On occasions, Aaron
+readily consented to give an introduction, through concerts held in
+his house, to young aspirants in whom Mr. Moss took an interest; and
+to other budding talent in the same direction Aaron's rooms were
+always open. In relation to their intimacy in Gosport a conversation
+took place between Mr. Moss and Aaron some three years after the
+latter was settled in London. Aaron had just completed a successful
+contract, and business had called Mr. Moss to the metropolis.
+
+"I heard to-day," said Mr. Moss, "that you had cleared six or seven
+thousand pounds by the contract."
+
+"The balance on the right side," replied Aaron, "is a little over
+seven thousand."
+
+"I congratulate you. The gentleman I spoke with said that if he had
+had the contract he would have made a profit of three times as much."
+
+"It is likely."
+
+"Then, why didn't you do it, Cohen?"
+
+Aaron smiled and shook his head. "Let us speak of another subject."
+
+"But I want to get at the bottom of this. I should like you to know
+what the gentleman said about it."
+
+"Very well. What did he say?"
+
+"That you are ruining the labour market."
+
+"Ruin to some men may mean salvation to others. He doubtless gives an
+explanation. How am I ruining the labour market?"
+
+"By high wages and short hours."
+
+"That is a new view."
+
+"You do pay high wages, Cohen, according to what everybody says."
+
+"Oh, it's everybody now, as well as your gentleman friend. Yes, I pay
+good wages, and I don't consider them high."
+
+"And the hours are not as long as they might be."
+
+"Quite true. They might be twelve, fourteen, sixteen, out of the
+twenty-four. We read of such unfair strains upon human labour. My
+hours are reasonably long enough. If I am satisfied and my workmen are
+satisfied, I give offence to no man."
+
+"You are wrong, Cohen; you give offence to the capitalist."
+
+"I regret to hear it."
+
+"He says you are ruining the capitalist."
+
+"Oh, I am ruining the capitalist now. But if that is the case, he is
+no longer a capitalist."
+
+"You know what I mean. I don't pretend to understand these things as
+you do, because I have not studied political economy."
+
+"I have, and believe me it is a horse that has been ridden too hard.
+Mischief will come of it. Apply your common sense. In what way would
+your friend have made twenty-one thousand pounds out of the contract
+instead of seven thousand?"
+
+"By getting his labour cheaper and by making his men work longer
+hours."
+
+"Exactly. And the difference of fourteen thousand pounds would have
+gone into his pocket instead of the pockets of his workmen."
+
+"Yes, of course."
+
+"Ask yourself if that is fair. The wages I pay my men are sufficient
+to enable them to maintain a home decently, to bring up their families
+decently, and perhaps, if they are wise and thrifty--only, mind you,
+if they are wise and thrifty--to make a small provision for old age,
+when they are no longer able to work. Their hours are long enough to
+give them just a little leisure, which they can employ partly in
+reasonable amusement and partly in intellectual improvement. I have
+gone thoroughly into these matters, and I know what I am talking
+about. Men who do their work honestly--and I employ and will keep no
+others--have a right to fair wages and a little leisure, and I decline
+to grind my men down after the fashion of the extreme political
+economist. The contract I have just completed was tendered for in an
+open market. My tender was the lowest, and was accepted. I make a
+considerable sum of money out of it, and each of my men contributes a
+mickle towards it. They believe I have treated them fairly, and I am
+certain they have treated me fairly. Upon those lines I intend to make
+my way. Your sweater is a political economist. I am not a sweater. It
+is the course I pursued in France, and by it I laid the foundation of
+what may prove to be a great fortune. I am tendering now for other
+contracts, and I shall obtain my share, and shall pursue precisely the
+same course. Mr. Moss, you and I are Jews. At a great disadvantage
+because of the nature of your business, which I myself once intended
+to follow, you have made yourself respected in the town in which you
+reside. Why? Because you are a fair-dealing man. I, on my part, wish
+to make myself respected in whatever part of the world I live. To this
+end the conditions are somewhat harder for us than for our Christian
+neighbours. They drive as hard bargains as we do, they are equally
+guilty of malpractices. When one is found out--a terrible crime, as we
+know--it is not said of him, 'What could you expect? He is a
+Christian.' It is not so with us. When one of us is proved to be
+guilty of sharp dealing, it is said, 'What could you expect? He is a
+Jew.' I will not go into the question whether we have justly earned
+the reproach; but it certainly lays upon us the obligation of being
+more careful than perhaps we might otherwise be, of even giving way a
+little, of being a trifle more liberal. It is a duty we owe to
+ourselves. Surely there is no race to which it is a greater honour,
+and should be the greatest pride to belong, than the Jewish race; and
+by my conduct through life I trust I shall do nothing to tarnish that
+honour or lower that pride. Moreover, what I can do to weaken a
+prejudice shall be done to the last hour of my life. It may or may not
+be for that reason that I decline to follow the political economist to
+the depths into which he has fallen."
+
+Mr. Moss's eyes gleamed. Aaron had touched a sympathetic cord; the men
+shook hands and smiled cordially at each other.
+
+"When you were in Gosport," said Mr. Moss, "I ought to have asked you
+to go into partnership with me."
+
+"If you had made the offer," responded Aaron, "I should have accepted
+it."
+
+"Lucky for you that I missed my opportunity. It is a fortunate thing
+that you went to France when you did."
+
+"Very fortunate. It opened up a new career for me; it restored my dear
+wife to health; my son was born there."
+
+"About the poor child I brought to you in Gosport, Cohen. We have
+never spoken of it."
+
+"That is true," said Aaron, outwardly calm; but his heart beat more
+quickly.
+
+"Did the lawyers ever write to you again?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"And I have heard nothing. The iron box I gave you--you have it still,
+I suppose?"
+
+"I have it still."
+
+"I have often wondered what it contains, and whether the mother will
+ever call for it."
+
+"If she does it shall be handed to her in the same condition as you
+handed it to me. But she does not know in whose possession it is."
+
+"No, she does not know, and she can only obtain the information from
+Mr. Gordon's lawyers. My lips are sealed."
+
+Aaron considered a moment. This opening up of the dreaded subject made
+him keenly sensible of the sword that was hanging over his head; but
+his sense of justice impelled him to say, "It may happen that the
+mother will wish to have the box restored to her, and that the lawyers
+may refuse to give her the information that it is in my possession.
+She may seek elsewhere for a clue, and may be directed to you."
+
+"Who will direct her? Nothing is more unlikely."
+
+"It is at least probable," said Aaron.
+
+"Well," Mr. Moss rejoined, "if she does apply to me, I shall not
+enlighten her. It is none of my business."
+
+"My desire is that you do enlighten her. The box is her property, and
+I have no right to retain it."
+
+"Very well, Cohen, if you wish it; but it is my opinion that you will
+never see her again. She has forgotten all about it long ago."
+
+"You are mistaken. A mother never forgets."
+
+"And now, Cohen, I have a message for you from Mrs. Moss. She is
+burning to see you, and cannot come to London. We are about to have an
+addition to our family; that will be the sixteenth. Upon my word, I
+don't know when we are going to stop. Is it too much to ask you to pay
+us a visit?"
+
+"Not at all; it will give me great pleasure. When?"
+
+"It will give Mrs. Moss greater pleasure," said Mr. Moss, rubbing his
+hands joyously at this answer. "She will be delighted, and so will all
+our friends in Portsmouth. You have no idea how anxious she has been
+about it. She was afraid you would refuse because----"
+
+He paused rather awkwardly.
+
+"Finish the sentence," urged Aaron, in a kind tone.
+
+"To tell you the truth," said Mr. Moss, with a frank laugh, "she
+thought you might be too grand now to visit us. I told her she was
+mistaken. 'Cohen is not the kind of man to forget the past,' I said to
+her."
+
+"No," said Aaron; "I do not forget the past."
+
+The sad tone in which these words were spoken escaped Mr. Moss. With a
+beaming face, he continued,--
+
+"'Once a friend,' I said to Mrs. Moss, 'always a friend. It does not
+matter to him whether a man is up or down in the world, so long as he
+is honest and straightforward.' Why, if business went wrong, and I was
+in trouble, I should come straight to you."
+
+Aaron pressed the hand of this warm-hearted friend.
+
+"You would do right. I hope you may never need my services in that
+way; but if unhappily you should, do not hesitate to come to me."
+
+"I promise you, Cohen, I promise you. Not that there is any likelihood
+of it. To bring up such a family as ours is no light matter, keeps
+one's nose to the grindstone, as the saying is; but we're not at all
+badly off. I return to Portsmouth on Thursday. Will that time suit you
+for the visit?"
+
+"Yes; I will accompany you."
+
+And away went Mr. Moss, overjoyed, to write to his wife to make all
+needful preparations. Not being acquainted with the secret which had
+become the torture of Aaron Cohen's life, he could have had no idea
+that the ready acceptance of the invitation sprang from a father's
+burning desire to stand by the grave of his child.
+
+Aaron's visit lasted a week, and he spent one day and night in
+Gosport. Nothing was changed in the ancient town. The house he had
+occupied had been rebuilt; the streets were the same; the names over
+the shops were unaltered. His wish was to pass in and out of the town
+without being recognised; but the wish was not gratified. The
+Portsmouth newspapers circulated in Gosport, and Aaron Cohen's visit
+"to our esteemed neighbour, Mr. Moss," found its way into the local
+columns. It may be that Mr. Moss himself was the harbinger of this
+piece of news and that he was also responsible for certain creditable
+episodes in Aaron's career which were duly recorded in print; but if
+the reporters were indebted to him for the particulars he made no
+mention of the fact. He was certainly proud of the paragraphs, and
+sent copies of the papers to all his friends. The Gosport folk were
+therefore prepared for Aaron's visit; old friends came forward to
+greet him; and the kind physician who had attended to Rachel during
+her illness pressed him to be his guest, but Aaron excused himself.
+When he left the doctor his road lay past Mr. Whimpole's shop, at the
+door of which the proprietor was standing. Their eyes meeting, Aaron
+courteously inclined his head. The corn-chandler, very red in the
+face, returned the salute, and, after a momentary hesitation, advanced
+towards Aaron with outstretched hand. Aaron stopped, and took the hand
+of his old enemy.
+
+"Mr. Cohen," said Mr. Whimpole, "I hope you do not bear animosity."
+
+"I do not, sir," replied Aaron. "Life is too full of anxieties for
+needless enmity."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say so, Mr. Cohen. I have often reproached
+myself for misjudging you; but the best of men may be mistaken."
+
+"They may, sir. I trust you have changed your opinion of those whose
+religious views differ from your own."
+
+"We speak as we find," said Mr. Whimpole; "and you have proved
+yourself to be a gentleman."
+
+"It is never too late to admit an error," said Aaron; and, bowing
+again, he passed on, leaving Mr. Whimpole with an uncomfortable
+impression that he had once more been worsted by the man he despised.
+
+It was night when Aaron stood by the grave of his child. Light clouds
+floated before the moon, and the shifting shadows played upon the
+graves of those who lay in peace in that solemn sanctuary. For a long
+time he stood in silence, musing upon the sin he had committed, the
+full measure of which had not yet come home to him. He held a high
+place among men; his name was honoured; he had been spoken of as Aaron
+Cohen the upright Jew; he had made himself a leader, and had but to
+speak to be obeyed; he had brought back strayed sheep to the fold. The
+Chief Rabbi had said to him, "The example of such a man as yourself is
+invaluable. Inroads are being made in our ancient faith, and you stand
+like a valiant soldier in the breach. You exercise an influence for
+incalculable good." And then he had blessed the man who was hugging an
+awful secret close, and veiling it from the eyes of men. How would it
+be if his sin were laid bare?
+
+The spirit of his child seemed to rise from the grave.
+
+"Why am I here?" it asked reproachfully. "Why am I cut off from my
+race?"
+
+He beat his breast; the tears flowed down his beard.
+
+"Forgive me, Lord of hosts," he sobbed, "for laying my child to rest
+in a Christian churchyard! It was to save my beloved! Pardon my
+transgression! Have mercy upon me!"
+
+
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE FIFTH.
+
+ _THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUD_.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+ AARON IS ASKED FOR A SUBSCRIPTION, AND RELATES
+ THE STORY OF A CONVERT.
+
+
+The highest point in Aaron Cohen's prosperity was reached in 1893.
+From the day of his return to England there had been no break in the
+onward march of his fortunes; every enterprise he undertook
+flourished, and the old saying was applied to him, "Everything he
+touches turns to gold." A kind of superstition is associated with such
+men; people regard them as under the spell of some beneficent
+enchantment. Aaron's reputation, however, was not due solely to the
+fact that he was uniformly fortunate in his ventures, but that he was
+a just and charitable man. No appeal for assistance in any worthy
+movement was made to him in vain; his purse was ever open, and he was
+ever ready to respond. Among his co-religionists he was a power for
+good, and his advice was sought by high and low. The poorest Jew, in a
+time of difficulty, did not hesitate to go to him for counsel, and
+only those held back whose conduct would not stand the searching light
+he threw upon all matters submitted to him. By the oppressor he was
+held in awe, by the oppressed he was worshipped. One of the former,
+who had grown rich by usury, came to him for advice. Aaron listened in
+silence, and spoke no word of counsel to assist him out of his
+difficulty. "Reform your life," he said; "give back to the poor what
+you have stolen from them; then come to me again."
+
+He did not confine his labours and charities to the Jewish community;
+his name was to be found among the administrators of all their
+benevolent funds, and it was also to be found on the lists of
+numberless Christian charities. In so generous a spirit did he meet
+the appeals that were made to him, and so devoid of narrowness were
+his benefactions, that he grew into the esteem of all classes of
+society. Early in the year a public indignation meeting was held at
+the Mansion House under the auspices of the Lord Mayor, to protest
+against the barbarous treatment of the Jews in Russia. Church and
+synagogue joined hands in the common cause of human brotherhood. It
+was not a question of theology but of humanity, and Catholic Cardinal,
+Protestant Bishop, and Jewish Chief Rabbi stood shoulder to shoulder
+in the indignant protest. Aaron was requested to speak on the
+occasion, and his words went forth to the world, and were quoted far
+and wide. In the course of his speech he said: "We do not ask for
+favour, we scarcely dare ask for justice, though it is to be hoped
+that this will come by-and-by, when the eyes of the rulers of Russia
+are open to the fact that in their oppression of the Jew they are not
+only violating the laws of God and man, but are retarding their own
+prosperity. We ask merely for toleration, for permission to follow the
+faith in which we were born, to worship God according to our ancient
+usage. The history of nations furnishes the proof that the Jew, fairly
+treated, is a good citizen, that he is obedient to the law, and loyal
+to the head of the State and in his support of lawful authority. In
+his love of family life, in the orderly regulation of his household,
+in the performance of his duty to wife and children, he is surely
+entitled to rank with his Christian brother. He is, moreover,
+industrious and enterprising, he excites emulation and stimulates the
+commercial activity of his neighbour, by which the wealth of the
+general community is increased. These are distinct virtues, private
+and national, but Russian rulers seem to account them crimes. When a
+tale of bodily slavery reaches a civilised country a thrill of horror
+runs through the land, and it is not the least of the glorious records
+of England that wherever the English-speaking race holds sway the
+shackles of the slave are removed, and he hears the blessed words,
+'You are free!' But in Russia they are not content to chain the body;
+they hold man's soul in bondage. Not only do they say to the Jew,
+'Your presence is a contamination; you shall not live in this or that
+town or city; you shall not engage in such or such pursuits; you shall
+wear badges of disgrace;' but they add, 'You shall not think; you
+shall not pray.' Incredible are the instances of cruelty which are
+brought before us: of families torn asunder; of the deliberate
+wrecking of cherished hopes and worthy aspirations; of steady and
+honourable lives brought to ruin; of shameful robbery and pillage, and
+even of worse doings which I should blush to name. It is indeed time
+that the voice of humanity should be forced upon the ears of the
+oppressors who are making life horrible for millions of helpless human
+beings; and we, the Jewish residents in this honoured land, render our
+grateful homage to this distinguished assembly, and our sincere thanks
+for its powerful assistance in the endeavour we are making to rescue
+our brethren from misery and despair."
+
+He was congratulated on all sides for these stirring words, which were
+recognised and acknowledged as a fitting tribute to the Jewish
+character. Some called it a vindication; he would not have it so. "We
+need no vindication now in this happy land," he said. "We have proved
+ourselves; the old prejudice is dying away."
+
+When the speech was read to Rachel her eyes overflowed with tears of
+joy. Aaron, coming in shortly afterwards, found her holding the
+newspaper to her heart. She took his hand, and raised it to her lips.
+
+"No, no," he said; "you humble me."
+
+He folded her in his arms, where she lay, contented and happy.
+
+As a matter of course he was sometimes beguiled into bestowing money
+upon unworthy objects or persons, but it did not affect him. "Where
+lives the man who does not make mistakes?" he said. "If there is one
+deserving case in ten I am satisfied." In the wide scope of his
+charities he had some curious experiences, and one of these, becoming
+known, was the theme of much comment, both serious and humorous.
+A gentleman called upon him and solicited a contribution to an
+old-established society, the name of which he did not mention. He
+contented himself with saying that it was known all the world over,
+and that its objects were universally approved of.
+
+"You do not, I suppose," said Aaron, "expect me to give in the dark.
+Favour me with the name of the society."
+
+"You have doubtless heard of it," replied the gentleman. "It is the
+Society for the Promotion of Christianity amongst the Jews."
+
+Aaron smiled as he said, "Yes, I have heard of it. But, my dear sir, I
+am myself a Jew."
+
+"I am aware of it," said the gentleman, "and the reason I make the
+appeal is that you have been described to me as a man who has no
+narrow prejudices, and who is in no sense dogmatic or bigoted."
+
+"It is, then, a compliment you are paying me when you ask me to
+contribute to a fund which is antagonistic to my race."
+
+"In your view antagonistic," observed the gentleman. "There are
+generally two sides to a question."
+
+"I see. Meaning that my view is not necessarily the correct view."
+
+The gentleman nodded courteously. He was not a collector for the
+society, nor a paid officer, but a man of means who was also noted for
+his benevolence.
+
+"I have myself occasionally," he remarked, "given a donation to an
+object with which I was not in entire sympathy."
+
+"When you decided to pay me a visit had you any hope of converting
+me?"
+
+"Your conversion would give our society an immense impetus, but I had
+no hope of it. But there are men whose views are not so firmly fixed
+as your own, and I thought you would not object to assist them in the
+praiseworthy task of examining their consciences."
+
+"Through a lens made of gold. In other words, giving them mercenary
+assistance to a spiritual conclusion."
+
+"It is an original way of putting it," said the gentleman, greatly
+interested in the turn the conversation was taking.
+
+"I cannot but consider the matter seriously," said Aaron,
+thoughtfully, "for there can be no doubt of your sincerity. Still, it
+occurs to me that if we were both equally sincere in our advocacy of
+objects of a similar nature, it would be as well that we should pause
+and ask ourselves this question. Instead of endeavouring to convert
+Jews or Christians to a faith in which they were not born, would it
+not be better to employ ourselves in the effort to make those who call
+themselves Christians true Christians, and those who call themselves
+Jews true Jews?"
+
+"There is force in your argument, but it is no answer to my appeal for
+a contribution to the objects of my society."
+
+"You can probably," Aaron then said, "furnish me with particulars of
+the working of your society."
+
+"Anticipating your request I have brought the papers with me."
+
+Aaron looked through the printed books and papers handed to him, and
+made certain calculations.
+
+"I perceive," he said, "that you take credit to yourselves for making
+a stated number of conversions during the past five years, and that
+you have spent a stated sum of money during that period. The number of
+conversions is very small, the amount of money expended very large. I
+have worked out the sum, and according to my figures each convert has
+cost you nearly eleven thousand pounds. You find these wavering Jews
+very expensive."
+
+"Very expensive," assented the gentleman, with a half humorous sigh.
+
+"I cannot say I sympathise with you, but I will make a proposition to
+you. You are zealous in the furtherance of an object which you believe
+to be worthy, and I am zealous in the furtherance of an object which I
+know to be worthy. I will give you a cheque as a donation to your
+object if you will give me a cheque for half the amount as a donation
+to mine. Do not be afraid; it is not for the promotion of Judaism
+among the Christians."
+
+The gentleman, who was rich and liberal-minded, laughed
+good-humouredly as he said, "I consent, on the further understanding
+that your cheque is for a reasonable amount."
+
+"Will this do?" asked Aaron, filling in a cheque for one hundred
+pounds.
+
+The gentleman made a wry face, but, without remark, he wrote a cheque
+for fifty pounds, and they exchanged documents.
+
+"My contribution," said Aaron, "represents the one hundred and tenth
+part of a convert--the one hundred and tenth part of one transitory
+and, in all probability, worldly and insincere conversion. Your
+contribution represents a sick bed for two years in a hospital for
+poor children. During those two years you will be engaged in
+converting the one hundred and tenth part of an apostate Jew, and my
+hospital beds will be occupied by two poor Christian children, who, by
+God's mercy, will, I trust, be restored to health. You will pardon me
+for saying that I think I have the best of the transaction."
+
+"You are a singular man," said the gentleman, "and I will not dispute
+with you. But I should like a few words with you upon what you say as
+to our converts being worldly and insincere. Is that really your
+opinion?"
+
+"It is something more than an opinion. It is a conviction."
+
+"Based upon some kind of proof, I presume?"
+
+"Based upon proof and observation. Once a Jew, always a Jew, whether
+he follows the Mosaic laws or disregards them. So powerful is the seed
+of Judaism that it can never be entirely destroyed in the heart of one
+born in the ancient faith. We who are Jews know this to be
+incontrovertible; you who are Christians may not be able to understand
+it. So much for observation; now for the proof. I observe on your list
+of converts the name of Borlinski."
+
+"You know the name?" the gentleman interrupted, eagerly.
+
+"It is very familiar to me," replied Aaron.
+
+"There are two Borlinskis on the list," said the gentleman. "Josef and
+Izak."
+
+"I am acquainted with them both."
+
+"We are very proud of the Borlinskis," said the gentleman, speaking
+with enthusiasm, "as the most important converts on our books. They
+are under engagement with us."
+
+"On a salary?"
+
+"Yes, an insignificant salary; twenty-five shillings a week each."
+
+"Employed by you to make other converts."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Have they been successful?"
+
+"They have been with us for a few months only," said the gentleman.
+"These things take time."
+
+"Truly, they take time--and money. Would you mind relating to me how
+the Borlinskis became associated with your society?"
+
+"Not at all. It was a matter of conscience, purely a matter of
+conscience. That is why we are so proud of them. Josef Borlinski came
+first. He presented himself at our office; he had doubts; he had had
+doubts since childhood. In his country--Poland--no such society as
+ours exists, where a man can obtain monition and teaching to confirm
+or dispel those doubts. There are in that country converted Jews, but
+the conversion is sudden and effected by a kind of terrorism. Josef
+Borlinski is a reasonable being, and wished to be convinced through
+his reason. We cheerfully took up the task of convincing him of the
+error of his ways; we argued with him, we gave him books, he attended
+our meetings, we expounded the Gospel to him. At length he was
+satisfied, and became a zealous and happy convert to Christianity."
+
+"How many months or years did it take to convince Josef Borlinski of
+his error?" asked Aaron.
+
+"Nearly two years."
+
+"During which time you supported him."
+
+"We could do no less. He was desperately poor, almost starving when he
+came to us. Then, he was a foreigner, and the only trade--if it can be
+called one--to which he could turn his hand was that of an itinerant
+glazier, at which he could not earn more than three or four shillings
+a week, sometimes not so much. In any circumstances, it would have
+been a dangerous occupation for him to follow; he would have had to be
+out the whole of the day exposed to the weather, and the poor fellow
+is consumptive."
+
+"So that you first adopted, and then converted him. How did you get
+hold of Izak Borlinski?"
+
+"He is Josef's cousin, and Josef brought him to us."
+
+"Zealous Josef! Izak also had doubts, and wished to be convinced
+through his reason?"
+
+"That is so."
+
+"And you adopted and converted him as well as Josef?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Clever Josef! Poor, consumptive Josef! It would not surprise me if he
+presently introduces another of his countrymen to you who has had
+doubts since childhood, and wishes to be convinced--through his reason
+and your pocket. Him, also, you can adopt and convert. Ah, what a loss
+to the stage is Josef Borlinski! Only that he lacks industry, for in
+him are united a fox's cunning and a sloth's love of idleness. The
+rogue! He imposed upon me for months, until at length, my suspicions
+aroused, I unmasked the rascal."
+
+"Do you mean to say that we have been imposed upon?" asked the
+gentleman, in an excited tone.
+
+"Judge for yourself. Six years ago Josef Borlinski came to this
+country, and lived for some time upon charity. I am on the committees
+of several of our benevolent institutions, and at every meeting I
+attended, the name of Josef Borlinski cropped up. It was always Josef
+Borlinski, Josef Borlinski, destitute and starving. The continual
+recurrence of the name irritated me, and I went to see this Josef
+Borlinski, destitute and starving. I found him down Whitechapel way
+playing draughts with his cousin, Izak. I saw before me a young man
+with black eyes, black hair, and a general appearance of belonging to
+the lymphatic order of being. I questioned him. How long had he been
+in England? Eighteen months. Why had he lived upon charity all that
+time? He was unfortunate; he could not obtain work. Was he willing to
+work? Oh yes, yes, yes, several times repeated, his little cunning
+eyes watching me as we conversed. Was he married? No. Had he a trade?
+Unfortunately no, he had no trade. Then, what could he do, what did he
+feel himself fitted for? Anything, everything. He is a man of
+professions this Josef Borlinski, glib of tongue, quick at response,
+supple as a reed, slippery as an eel. I reflected. He spoke English
+fairly well; he looked strong and healthy, not a symptom of
+consumption visible. How much a week could he, a single man, live
+upon? Upon anything, nothing--a few shillings, a few pence. Thus spoke
+Josef Borlinski, humbly and smoothly, interlarding his speech with
+Hebrew exclamations and pious adjurations. I offered him a situation
+at twenty shillings a week, to be increased if he gave satisfaction,
+which required no special knowledge of a trade, and in which he would
+have to work five days out of the seven. Boundless were his
+professions of gratitude. I was his benefactor; he would bless me all
+his life. He commenced work on the following Monday, and on the
+Tuesday he presented himself to me, with his coat rent, and black
+cloth round his hat. He had received a letter from Poland; his father
+was dead; a week of mourning was incumbent upon him; could he be
+spared to fulfil this religious obligation? Grief was in his
+countenance, tears in his eyes, his voice trembled. I sympathised with
+him; he could have his week's mourning. But he was destitute; he was
+starving; how was he to support himself during this week of enforced
+idleness? I gave him something more than a week's wages, and he
+departed, blessing me. His week of mourning over, it was reported to
+me that he had not returned to work. I sought him out, and found him
+playing draughts with his cousin Izak. He made a thousand excuses; he
+was ill; he was overwhelmed with sorrow at the loss he had sustained;
+he did not understand English customs; he did not think it was lawful
+to resume work in the middle of the week; moreover, he was in rags. He
+obtained money from me for a new suit of clothes, and a further
+extension of leave till the end of the week. On the Monday he duly
+presented himself, and in the afternoon fell down in a swoon, and had
+to be conveyed home in a cab, where he remained for three weeks,
+supported, as usual, by charity. My wife sent him wine and jelly, and
+the rascal was in clover. I visited him, and found him playing
+draughts with his cousin Izak. 'The game requires no exertion,' he
+said languidly; 'it is my only amusement; it diverts my mind from the
+sorrow by which I am oppressed.' I thought it extremely curious. The
+effects of his swoon having passed away, he commenced work again, and
+on the second day I received a letter from him. He had been compelled,
+he wrote, to take to his bed; he had spasms; he was doubled up with
+pain; he hoped to be better soon; meanwhile, could I send him a few
+shillings for medicine and food? He obtained what he asked for, and I
+called to see how he was progressing. I found him playing draughts
+with his cousin Izak. I was now thoroughly interested in Josef
+Borlinski. Such a chapter of accidents--such a plausible speaker and
+writer--so regularly unfortunate when he went to work, and so fond of
+playing draughts with his cousin Izak. I He was weeks getting rid of
+his spasms, but at length he recommenced work. Would you believe it?
+On the evening of the first day I found him waiting for me in this
+house. His left hand was in bandages, and the linen was besmeared with
+blood. In Heaven's name what had happened? He told me a lugubrious
+tale of having cut three of his fingers to the bone. The accident
+happening in my service made me responsible, and I felt myself bound
+to support him, especially as I discovered that he had related his
+woes to my wife, who was filled with pity for the rascal. 'You will
+look after the poor man,' she said to me; 'I promised him that you
+would.' 'I will look after him,' I replied. I did, and at every visit
+I paid him I found him playing draughts with his cousin Izak. He was,
+however, so long getting well this time, that I sent my own doctor to
+him. I also employed an agent to make inquiries into the history of
+the Borlinskis. My doctor reported that it was with great difficulty
+he had succeeded in obtaining a sight of Josefs wounded fingers. He
+had him held fast while he took off the bandages, and then he
+discovered that the fingers were without a scar, no wound of any kind
+had been received. My agent reported that the Borlinskis were well
+known in the village in Poland from which they had emigrated. They had
+lived the lives of idle scamps there, and had never been known to do
+one day's honest work. They preferred to hang about the drinking
+shops, to beg, to pilfer on the sly, to impose on charitable
+strangers, to do anything but work. As liars they were pre-eminent.
+Josef lost his father fourteen years before he came to England,
+therefore his statement that he had just received a letter from Poland
+informing him of his father's death was an invention, a trick. His
+swoon was a trick; his spasms a trick; his cutting his fingers to the
+bone a trick. From the hairs of his head to the soles of his feet he
+is a knave and a trickster; through his blood runs the incorrigible
+vice of indolence, and rather than work he will resort to any
+subterfuge. Only on one day in the whole year does his conscience
+disturb him, on the day of the White Fast. To-day a Jew, to-morrow a
+Christian, the next day a Mohammedan, the next a Pagan--it matters not
+to him so long as he can make money out of it, and eat the bread of
+idleness. My dear sir, I wish you joy of your Borlinskis."
+
+The gentleman rose to take his leave, his belief in the genuineness of
+the conversion of the Borlinskis visibly shaken. He put but one
+question to Aaron Cohen.
+
+"Josef Borlinski being what you describe him to be, what becomes of
+your assertion, 'Once a Jew, always a Jew'?"
+
+"I have spoken of the White Fast," replied Aaron, "as the only day
+upon which Josef's conscience is awake. He believes, as we all do, in
+a future state, in the immortality of the soul. The White Fast is the
+great Day of Atonement, when Jews pray to be forgiven the sins they
+have committed during the past year. The most ignorant of them believe
+that if they pray and fast on the Day of Atonement their
+transgressions are atoned for. We have our black sheep, as you have;
+but the blackest of them observes this day with superstitious fear,
+and Josef Borlinski is not an exception. This year, on the Day of
+Atonement, I myself saw Josef in synagogue, enveloped in the white
+shroud he brought from Poland, beating his breast, and praying for
+forgiveness for his sins. From sunset to sunset food did not pass his
+lips; from sunset to sunset he prayed, and grovelled, and trembled.
+Come to our synagogue next year, and you shall see him there, if
+before that time he is not called to his account. Though he be
+converted to twenty different religions, and baptized twenty times
+over, Josef Borlinski is a Jew, and will remain a Jew to the last hour
+of his life."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+ AARON COHEN ADDRESSES A JEWISH AUDIENCE.
+
+
+The world gave Aaron Cohen credit for being exceedingly wealthy, and
+fabulous tales of the success of his ventures obtained credence with
+the people. Instead of the age of romance being over, there was never
+a time in the world's history which afforded so much material for
+romance as the present, and in which it was so eagerly sought after
+and believed in. Imagination is more powerful than science, and this
+is the age of both. Small wonder, therefore, for the current report
+that Aaron Cohen was a millionaire; but such was not the case. He had
+money and to spare, and his private establishment was conducted on a
+liberal scale. Had he retired at this period he might have done so on
+an income of some five thousand pounds, which people's imagination
+would have multiplied by ten; and he might have justified this flight
+as to his means were it not that in addition to the charities to which
+he openly subscribed, a considerable portion of the profits of his
+enterprises was given anonymously to every public movement for the
+good of the people and for the relief of the poor. For several years
+past great curiosity had been evinced to learn the name of the
+anonymous donor of considerable sums of money sent through the post in
+bank-notes in response to every benevolent appeal to the public purse.
+A colliery disaster, a flood, an earthquake in a distant country, a
+case of national destitution--to one and all came large contributions
+from a singularly generous donor, who, in the place of his signature,
+accompanied the gift with the simple words, "In Atonement." Several
+well-known benefactors were credited with these liberal subscriptions,
+but so careful was the giver in the means he adopted to preserve his
+anonymity that they were not traced to the right source. They were
+strange words to use to such an end. In atonement of what? Of an
+undiscovered crime, the committal of which had enriched the man who
+would not sign his name? A few ingenious writers argued the matter out
+in the lesser journals, and although specifically they were very far
+from the truth, they were in a general sense more often nearer to it
+than they suspected.
+
+These charitable donations were Aaron's constant appeal to the Divine
+Throne for mercy and forgiveness for the one sin of his life, and thus
+did he effectually guard against becoming a millionaire.
+
+He was, indeed, unceasing in his secret charities to individuals as
+well as to public bodies. Many a struggling man never discovered to
+whom he was indebted for the timely assistance which lifted him out of
+his troubles, and started him on the high road to prosperity; many a
+widow had cause to bless this mysterious dispenser of good. If upon
+his deathbed a life-long sinner, repenting, may be forgiven his
+numberless transgressions, surely a life-long record of noble deeds
+may atone for an error prompted by the purest feelings of love. Such a
+thought did not enter Aaron's mind; the flattering unction was not for
+him. He walked in sorrow and humility, wronging no man, doing good to
+many, and faithfully performing his duty to all. At the Judgment Seat
+he would know.
+
+Perhaps of all the institutions in which he took a part, those which
+most deeply interested him were the Jewish working men's clubs in the
+East End. He was one of their most liberal patrons; their library
+shelves were lined with the books he had presented, and he frequently
+took the chair at their Sunday evening gatherings. The announcement of
+his name was sufficient to crowd the hall; to shake hands with Aaron
+Cohen was one of the ambitions of the younger members. When he made
+his appearance at these gatherings he felt that he was among friends;
+there was a freemasonry among them, as indeed there is among Jews all
+the world over. Aaron devoted particular attention to the young
+people. He knew that the hope of Judaism lay in the new generation,
+and it was his aim to encourage in the minds of the young the pride of
+race which engenders self-respect and strengthens racial character. He
+regarded old customs as something more than landmarks in his religion;
+they were essentials, the keystones of the arch which kept the fabric
+together, and he was anxious that they should be preserved. Symbols
+are unmeaning to the materialist; to those who have faith they convey
+a pregnant message, the origin of which can be traced back to the
+first days of creation, when God made man in His own image. They are
+the links which unite the past, full of glorious traditions, and the
+future, full of Divine hope. Of this past Aaron spoke in words which
+stirred the sluggish fires in the hearts of the old, and made them
+leap into flame in the hearts of the young. "I have heard," he said,
+"of Jews who were ashamed that it should be known that they were Jews;
+of Jews who, when Jews were spoken of slightingly in Christian
+society, have held their tongues in order that they might perchance
+escape from the implied disparagement. I will not stop to inquire
+whether this springs from cowardice or sensitiveness, for in either
+case it is both wrong and foolish. Lives there any member of an old
+historic family who is not proud of the past which has been
+transmitted to him as a heritage, who is not conscious that his
+lineage sheds a lustre upon the name he bears? Not one. He pores over
+the annals of his race, and, pausing at the record of a noble deed
+performed, thinks proudly, 'This deed was performed by my ancestor,
+and it lives in history.' He takes up a novel or a poem, and reads it
+with exultant feelings, as having been inspired by another ancestor
+who, mayhap, shed his blood in defence of king and country. Let me
+remind you, if you have lost sight of the fact, that there is no
+historic family in England or elsewhere the record of whose deeds can
+vie in splendour with the record of the Jew. His history is at once a
+triumph of brain power and spiritual vitality, and the proudest boast
+a Jew can make is that he is a Jew. It is not he who holds the lower
+ground; he stands on the heights, a noble among the men who presume to
+despise him. Be true to yourselves, and it will not be long before
+this is made manifest and universally acknowledged. In personal as
+well as in racial history you stand pre-eminent. What greater
+schoolman than Maimonides? What greater master of philosophy than
+Spinoza? What poets more sublime than Isaiah and Ezekiel? In infamous
+Russia Jews who practised their religion in secret have been among its
+most eminent ministers of finance, and the glory of Spain departed
+when it persecuted our brethren and drove them from the country. The
+Disraelis, father and son, were Jews; Benary was a Jew; Neander, the
+founder of spiritual Christianity, was a Jew; in Germany the most
+celebrated professors of divinity were Jews; Wehl, a Jew, the famous
+Arabic scholar, wrote the 'History of Christianity'; the first Jesuits
+were Jews; Soult and Messina were Jews; Count Arnim was a Jew;
+Auerbach, Pasta, Grisi, Rachel, Sara Bernhardt, Baron Hirsch, the
+philanthropist, Meyerbeer, Mendelssohn--all Jews. These are but a few
+of the names which occur to me; are you ashamed to be associated with
+them? In war, in politics, in philosophy, in finance, in philanthropy,
+in exploration and colonisation, in all the arts and professions, you
+stand in the front rank. I see in this audience many young men, some
+of whom, I believe, are by their talents destined to become famous,
+and some to grow rich by their shrewdness and industry. To them I say,
+Work and prosper, and work in the right way. Whatever be the channel
+they have chosen to the goal they wish to reach, let them work
+honestly towards it, and when they stand upon the fairer shore let
+them not forget their religion, let them not forget that they owe
+their advancement to the intelligent and intellectual forces which
+have been transmitted to them by their great ancestors through all the
+generations."
+
+This address was received with enthusiasm, and Aaron's hearers went to
+their homes that night stirred to their inmost hearts, and proud of
+the faith of their forefathers.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+ WHAT SHALL BE DONE TO THE MAN WHOM THE
+ KING DELIGHTETH TO HONOUR?
+
+
+On a bright morning in the autumn of the year 1893 a number of
+influential persons wended their way to Aaron Cohen's house to take
+part in a function of a peculiarly interesting nature. They comprised
+representatives of literature and the arts, of politics, science, and
+commerce, and among them were delegates of the press, who were deputed
+to report the proceedings for their respective journals. That the pen
+is mightier than the sword was open to dispute at an earlier period of
+the world's history, but the contention exists no longer, and though
+the day is far distant when the lion shall lie down with the lamb, the
+press is now a powerful factor in peace and war, and can effectually
+hasten or retard the conflict of nations. It is an open question
+whether its invasion of the arena of private life is a desirable
+feature in the power it wields; but it is useless to resist its march
+in this direction, and earnest as may be a man's desire to hide his
+light (or the reverse) under a bushel, he does not live to see it
+gratified. The up-to-date journalist, argus-eyed, overruns the earth;
+it is to be deplored that his quill is sometimes poison-tipped, but as
+a rule he sets about his work with good-humoured zest, and it is not
+to be denied that he prepares many a piquant dish for his omnivorous
+public.
+
+When a movement was set afoot to make some sort of semi-private,
+semi-public recognition of the remarkable position attained by the
+hero of this story, he made an effort to discourage it. The idea of
+any kind of publicity was distasteful to him, and he expressed an
+opinion to this effect. It was not heeded by the organisers of the
+testimonial, and he was thinking of remonstrating in stronger terms,
+when the matter was settled for him by a few simple words spoken by
+Rachel.
+
+"Why do you object?" she asked. "You did not seek the honour, and it
+will reflect honour upon us."
+
+"Do you wish it, Rachel?"
+
+"It will give me pleasure, dear," she replied.
+
+He did not argue with her, but yielded immediately, and allowed
+himself to be carried with the stream. Never in the course of their
+happy married life had he failed to comply with her lightest wish;
+never had there been the least conflict between them; to each of them
+the word of the other was law, and it was love's cheerful duty to
+obey.
+
+The esteem in which he was held was to be demonstrated by two
+presentations, one a portrait of himself by a famous English artist,
+the other a picture also, the subject being withheld from his
+knowledge. This second painting was no other than the picture of
+Rachel sitting beneath the cherry tree, which had created so much
+interest in the Paris _salon_ more than a dozen years ago. It had
+originally been purchased by a collector, who had lately died. After
+his death his collection had been brought to the hammer, and this
+particular picture was purchased by a London dealer, who exhibited it
+in his shop. The first intention was to present a silver memorial with
+Aaron's portrait, but a friend of his happened to see the French
+picture in London, and was struck by the wonderful resemblance of the
+principal figure to Rachel. He made inquiries privately of Aaron
+respecting his sojourn in the south of France, and learned that there
+was a picturesque cherry tree in the grounds at the back of the house,
+in the shadow of which Rachel was in the habit of sitting in sunny
+weather, that he had a friend, the curé of the village, and that one
+summer a French painter had visited the village and had made a number
+of sketches of Rachel and the garden. Following up his inquiries,
+Aaron's friend obtained from the London dealer some information of the
+history of the picture and of the year in which it was exhibited, and,
+putting this and that together, he came to the conclusion that Rachel
+had unconsciously sat for the picture. It was an interesting
+discovery, and the first idea of a silver presentation was put aside,
+and the picture substituted in its place.
+
+Mr. Moss, of course, came from Portsmouth to attend the function. Our
+old friend was frequently in London now, to attend to certain
+complicated business matters. Sad to say, of late years fortune had
+not smiled upon him; he had met with losses, but that did not prevent
+him from humming his operatic airs at every possible opportunity. He
+had himself to blame for this reverse of fortune; certainly he had a
+tremendously large family, sixteen children to rear and provide for,
+and eight of them girls--he used to say jocularly that it was
+difficult to find names for them; but he had a comfortable business,
+and should have been content. Unhappily, one day he had a bright idea;
+he made a plunge in stocks, with disastrous results. Had he consulted
+Aaron Cohen, as he afterwards confessed, it would never have happened;
+Aaron would have shown him the folly of expecting to grow rich in a
+week. The consequence was that he found himself involved, and his
+frequent visits to London were necessitated by his personal endeavours
+to reduce his losses. It made no difference in Aaron's friendship for
+him; it may be said, indeed, to have strengthened it. In a time of
+more than ordinary difficulty Aaron came forward voluntarily, and
+afforded practical assistance to his old friend. "If you want to know
+the kind of metal Aaron Cohen is made of," he said to his wife, "go to
+him when you are in misfortune. That is the time to prove a man."
+Another strengthening tie was to be forged in the firm friendship of
+these men. One at least of Mr. Moss's numerous daughters was always in
+London on a visit to Rachel, and it was quite in the natural order of
+things that Joseph Cohen should fall in love with Esther Moss, the
+prettiest and sweetest of all the girls. Rachel and her husband were
+very fond of Esther, and regarded the attachment with favour. Joseph
+was too young yet to marry, but with the consent of his parents an
+engagement was entered into between the young people, and there was
+joy in Mr. Moss's estimable family.
+
+It was a natural consequence of this family arrangement that Esther
+was frequently invited to make her home for a time with the Cohens in
+London, and she was in their house on the day of the presentations.
+Her lover was absent, and had been out of England for some months
+past. Young as he was, he already held a position of responsibility in
+an extensive firm, and had been sent to Australia to attend to
+business of an important nature. He was expected home at the end of
+the week, but was then to remain in England only a few days, his
+passage to India being taken, his mission being to establish agencies
+in that land for the gentleman by whom he was employed. Years ago the
+choice of a classical education had been offered him by his father;
+but his inclination was for commerce, and Aaron Cohen did not believe
+in forcing a lad into a career which was distasteful to him. Upon his
+return from India eight or nine months hence the marriage between him
+and Esther was to take place. Needless to say how proud and happy the
+young maid was in the contemplation of the approaching union.
+
+Neither was Ruth Cohen a witness of the honour which was paid to the
+man she believed to be her father. She had invited herself to
+Portsmouth, to spend a week or two with Mrs. Moss. When she expressed
+the wish to go Rachel Cohen had remonstrated with her, and hinted that
+she should remain in London to attend the presentations; but Ruth was
+restless and rebellious, and said she did not care to be present.
+Rachel, inwardly grieved, did not press it upon her.
+
+"Are you not happy at home?" she asked gently. Ruth did not speak, and
+Rachel continued, "You do not take pleasure in the society of our
+friends?"
+
+"I am not very fond of them," Ruth replied.
+
+Rachel said no more. Ruth's dislike of Jewish society was not new to
+her; it had caused her great pain, and she had striven in vain to
+combat it. The strength of Rachel's character lay in her moral and
+sympathetic affections: with those who recognised the sweetness and
+unselfishness of these attributes her power was great; with those who
+failed to appreciate them she was powerless. This was the case with
+Ruth, in whom, as she grew to womanhood, was gradually developed a
+stubbornness which boded ill for peace. Frequently and anxiously did
+Rachel ask herself, From whom could a daughter of her blood have
+inherited views and ideas so antagonistic and rebellious?
+
+Aaron could have answered this question, had it been put to him, and
+had he dared to answer. Ruth's instincts were in her blood,
+transmitted by parents whom he had never known, and of whose
+characters he was ignorant. Heredity lay at the root of this domestic
+misery. As a rule, vices, virtues, and all classes of the affections
+are hereditary, and the religious sentiments are not an exception.
+Aaron had studied the subject, and was conscious of the solemn issues
+dependent upon it.
+
+He had obtained possession of Ruth's body, but not of her mind, and
+even of the former his guardianship would soon be at an end. Although
+he could not fix the exact day of her birth, she would soon be
+twenty-one years of age, when the duty would devolve upon him of
+delivering to her the iron casket of which he had been made the
+custodian, and he was in an agony how he should act. Every day that
+passed deepened his agony; he saw shadows gathering over his house
+which might wreck the happiness of his beloved wife. Again and again
+had he debated the matter without being able to arrive at any
+comforting conclusion. Undoubtedly the casket contained the secret of
+Ruth's parentage; when that was revealed the sword would fall.
+
+However, he could not on this day give himself up to these disturbing
+reflections; he had consented to accept an honour of which he deemed
+himself unworthy, and it was incumbent upon him that he should not
+betray himself. There was still a little time left to him to decide
+upon his course of action. The man of upright mind was at this period
+laying himself open to dangerous casuistical temptations. Even from
+such unselfish love as he entertained for the wife who was deserving
+of love in its sweetest and purest aspects may spring an upas tree to
+poison the air we breathe.
+
+Among the company was an old friend of ours--Dr. Spenlove, who had
+attained an eminent position in London. His career from the time he
+left Portsmouth had been a remarkable one. In the larger field of
+labour to which he had migrated his talents were soon recognised, and
+he began almost at once to mount the ladder of renown. Success in the
+medical profession is seldom gained upon an insecure foundation; there
+must be some solid justification for it, and once secured it lasts a
+lifetime. Dr. Spenlove was no exception to the rule, and was not
+spoilt by prosperity. He was still distinguished by that kindliness of
+nature which had made his name a household word in the humble
+neighbourhood in Portsmouth in which he had struggled and suffered.
+The poor never appealed to him in vain, and he was as attentive to
+those who could not afford to pay him as to those from whom he drew
+heavy fees. Many a time did he step from his carriage to a garret in
+which lay a poor sufferer whose fortunes were at the lowest ebb, and
+many a trembling hand which held a few poor coins was gently put aside
+with tender and cheerful words which were never forgotten by those to
+whom they were spoken.
+
+A man so kindly-hearted was of necessity associated with the
+benevolent and public movements of the passing hour. Aaron Cohen, whom
+till this day he had not met, had subscribed to some of the charities
+in which he was interested, and he gladly availed himself of the
+opportunity of becoming acquainted with him. When the company were
+assembled in the reception room in Aaron's house, Dr. Spenlove
+happened to be standing next to Mr. Moss, whom he had not seen since
+he left Portsmouth. Except for the wear and tear of time, which,
+however, did not sit heavily upon him, there was little alteration in
+Mr. Moss; his worldly anxieties had not dimmed the brightness of his
+eyes, nor robbed his countenance of its natural cheerful aspect. There
+was a greater alteration in Dr. Spenlove; the thoughtful lines in his
+face had deepened, there was an introspection in his eyes. Mr. Moss
+seemed to be for ever looking upon the outer world, Dr. Spenlove for
+ever looking upon his inner self. As an observer of character Mr. Moss
+was Dr. Spenlove's superior; as a student and searcher after truth Dr.
+Spenlove towered above Mr. Moss. The man of business never forgot a
+face; the man of science often did. The first sign of recognition,
+therefore, came from Mr. Moss.
+
+"Good day, Dr. Spenlove."
+
+The physician looked up, and said, abstractedly, "Good day." He
+frequently acknowledged a salute from persons whose names he could not
+at the moment recall.
+
+"You do not remember me," said Mr. Moss, with a smile.
+
+"You will pardon me," said Dr. Spenlove, searching his memory; "I have
+an unfortunate failing----"
+
+"Of forgetting faces," said Mr. Moss, with a smile. "It is very stupid
+of me."
+
+"Not at all; one can't help it. Besides, it is so long since we
+met--over twenty years."
+
+"In London?"
+
+"No; in Portsmouth, the night before you left. We had an adventure
+together----"
+
+"You quicken my memory. How do you do, Mr. Moss?"
+
+They shook hands.
+
+"Very well, thank you, and happy to see you again. I have heard a
+great deal of you, doctor; you are at the top of the ladder now. It is
+strange, after the lapse of years, that we should meet in this house."
+
+"Why is our meeting in this house strange?" inquired Dr. Spenlove.
+
+The question recalled Mr. Moss to himself. The one incident which
+formed a link between them was that connected with a wretched woman
+and her babe whom they had rescued from impending death on a snowy
+night long ago in the past. But he had not made Dr. Spenlove
+acquainted with the name of the man to whom he had entrusted the
+child, and upon this point his lips were sealed.
+
+"I mean," he said, "that the circumstances of our meeting here and in
+Portsmouth are so different."
+
+"Widely different. Varied as have been my experiences, I have met with
+none more thrilling than that in which we were both engaged on that
+eventful night. I have not forgotten your kindness, Mr. Moss. I trust
+the world has prospered with you."
+
+"So-so. We all have our ups and downs. Health is the main thing, and
+that we enjoy. Doctors have a bad time with us."
+
+"I am glad to hear it. By the way, Mr. Moss, my part of the adventure
+came to an end on the day I left Portsmouth; you had still something
+to do. Did you succeed in finding a comfortable home for the child?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did you lose sight of her after that?"
+
+"Very soon. Before she had been in her new home twenty-four hours the
+poor thing died."
+
+"Dear, dear! But I am not surprised. It was hardly to be expected that
+the child would live long after the exposure on such a bitter night.
+She was almost buried in the snow. It was, most likely, a happy
+release. And the mother, Mr. Moss?"
+
+"I have heard nothing of her whatever."
+
+The conversation ceased here. The proceedings had commenced, and a
+gentleman was speaking. He was a man of discretion, which all orators
+are not. He touched lightly and pertinently upon the reputation which
+Mr. Aaron Cohen had earned by his unremitting acts of benevolence and
+by the worthiness of his career. Such a man deserved the good fortune
+which had attended him, and such a man's career could not fail to be
+an incentive to worthy endeavour. Rachel, seated by her husband,
+turned her sightless eyes upon the audience and listened to the
+speaker with gratitude and delight. It was not that she had waited for
+this moment to learn that she was wedded to an upright and noble man,
+but it was an unspeakable happiness to her to hear from the lips of
+others that he was appreciated as he deserved, that he was understood
+as she understood him. It was natural, said the speaker, that the
+gentleman in whose honour they had that day assembled should be held
+in the highest esteem by his co-religionists, but it was a glory that
+in a Christian country a Jew should have won from all classes of a
+mixed community a name which would be enrolled upon those pages of our
+social history which most fitly represent the march of true
+civilisation and humanity. They were not there to glorify Money; they
+were not there to glorify worldly prosperity; they were there to pay
+tribute to one whose example Christians well might follow, to a man
+without stain, without reproach. The influence of such a man in
+removing--no, not in removing, but obliterating--the prejudices of
+caste was lasting and all-powerful. He regarded it as a privilege that
+he had been deputed to express the general sentiment with respect to
+Mr. Aaron Cohen. This sentiment, he begged to add, was not confined to
+Mr. Cohen, but included his wife, whose charities and benevolence were
+perhaps even more widely known and recognised than those of the
+partner of her joys and sorrows. In the presence of this estimable
+couple it was difficult to speak as freely as he would wish, but he
+was sure they would understand that in wishing them long life and
+happiness he was wishing them much more than he dared to express in
+their hearing, and that there was but one feeling entertained towards
+them, a feeling not of mere respect and esteem, but of affection and
+love. In the name of the subscribers he offered for their acceptance
+two paintings, one a portrait of Mr. Cohen by an artist of renown, for
+which he had been good enough to sit, the other a painting which
+probably they would look upon now for the first time. The latter
+picture was an accidental discovery, but Mr. Cohen would tell them
+whether they were right in seizing the opportunity to obtain it, and
+whether they were right in their belief that his esteemed wife had
+unconsciously inspired the artist who had availed himself of a happy
+chance to immortalise himself.
+
+The pictures were then unveiled amid general acclamation, and if ever
+Rachel wished for the blessing of sight to be restored to her it was
+at that moment; but it was only for a moment. The dependence she
+placed upon her husband, the trust she had in him, the pleasure she
+derived from his eloquent and sympathetic descriptions of what was
+hidden from her, were of such a nature that she sometimes said inly,
+"I am thankful I can see only through the eyes of my dear husband."
+
+The portrait of himself, from his frequent sittings, was familiar to
+Aaron Cohen, but the picture of his beloved sitting beneath the cherry
+tree was a delightful surprise to him. It was an exquisitely painted
+scene, and Rachel's portrait was as faithful as if she had given
+months of her time towards its successful accomplishment.
+
+Aaron's response was happy up to a certain point. Except to pay a
+deserved compliment to the artist and to express his gratitude to the
+subscribers, he said little about the portrait of himself. The
+presentation of the second picture supplied the theme for the
+principal part of his speech. He said there was no doubt that it was a
+portrait of his dear wife, and he recalled the time they had passed in
+the south of France, and described all the circumstances of the
+intimacy with the artist which had led to the painting of the picture.
+He was grateful for that intimacy because of its result, which he saw
+before him, and because of the pleasure it would afford his beloved
+wife, who, until to-day, had been as ignorant as himself that such a
+painting was in existence. "I went to the south of France," he said,
+"in the hope that my wife, who was in a delicate state of health,
+would be benefited by a short stay there. My hope was more than
+realised; she grew strong there; my son, whose absence from England
+deprives him of the pleasure of being present on this interesting
+occasion, was born there, and there the foundation of my prosperity
+was laid. It might be inferred from this that I believe all the events
+of a man's life are ruled by chance, but such is not my belief. There
+is an all-seeing Providence who shows us the right path; He speaks
+through our reason and our consciences, and except for the accident of
+birth, which lays a heavy burden upon many unfortunate beings, and
+which should render them not fully responsible for the evil they do,
+we ourselves are responsible for the consequences of our actions. We
+must accept the responsibility and the consequences." He paused a few
+moments before he continued. "When men of fair intelligence err they
+err consciously; it is idle for them to say that they erred in
+ignorance of the consequences. They must know, if they write with
+black ink, that their writing must be black." He paused again. "But it
+may be that a man commits a conscious error through his affections,
+and if that error inflicts injury upon no living being--if it even
+confer a benefit upon one or more--there may be some palliation of his
+error. In stating that you set for me a standard too high I am stating
+my firm belief. No man is stainless, no man is without reproach; the
+doctrine of infallibility applied to human affairs is monstrous and
+wicked; it is an arrogation of Divine power. I am, as all men are,
+open to error; in my life, as in the lives of all men, there have been
+mistakes; but I may still take the credit to myself that if I have
+committed a conscious error it has harmed no living soul, and that it
+has sprung from those affections which sweeten and bless our lives. A
+reference has been made to my being a Jew. I glory that I am one. The
+traditions and history of the race to which I am proud to belong have
+been of invaluable service to me, and to the circumstance of my being
+a Jew I owe the incidents of this day, which will be ever a proud
+memory to me and to my family. In the name of my dear wife and my own
+I thank you cordially, sincerely and gratefully for the honour you
+have paid to us--an honour not beyond my wife's merits, but far beyond
+my own."
+
+Other speeches followed, and when the proceedings were at an end Dr.
+Spenlove asked Mr. Moss to introduce him to Mr. Cohen.
+
+"Cohen," said Mr. Moss, "Dr. Spenlove wishes to be introduced to you.
+He practised in Portsmouth twenty years ago."
+
+Aaron started. He never forgot a name or a face, and he recollected
+the mention of Dr. Spenlove's name when Mr. Moss came to him in
+Gosport with the child.
+
+"Without exactly knowing it, perhaps," said Dr. Spenlove, "you have
+been most kind in movements in which I have taken an interest. I am
+glad of the opportunity of making your acquaintance."
+
+Nothing more; no reference to the private matter. Aaron breathed more
+freely. He responded to Dr. Spenlove's advances, and the gentlemen
+parted friends.
+
+Mr. Moss had been somewhat puzzled by Aaron's speech. It seemed to him
+that his friend did not place sufficient value on himself. "People are
+always ready to take you at your own price, so don't be too modest,"
+was a favourite saying of his. Then what did Aaron mean by letting
+people suppose that he had done something wrong in his life? He spoke
+about it to Aaron.
+
+"Look back," said Aaron, laying his hand kindly on Mr. Moss's
+shoulder, "and tell me if you do not recollect some action which you
+would gladly recall."
+
+"I daresay, I daresay," said Mr. Moss, restlessly, "but what's the use
+of confessing it when there's no occasion? It's letting yourself
+down."
+
+Aaron turned to greet another friend, and the subject was dropped; but
+it remained, nevertheless, in Mr. Moss's mind.
+
+His daughter Esther was in the room during the proceedings, and her
+fair young face beamed with pride; it was her lover's father who was
+thus honoured, and she felt that she had, through Aaron Cohen's son, a
+share in that honour. When the gratifying but fatiguing labours of the
+day were at an end, and Aaron, Rachel, and Esther were alone, Rachel
+said,--
+
+"I am sorry, dear Esther, that Joseph was not here to hear what was
+said about his father."
+
+"It would not have made him love and honour him more," said Esther.
+
+Rachel pressed her hand and kissed her; she had grown to love this
+sweet and simple girl, who seemed to have but one thought in life--her
+lover. Then the sightless woman asked them to describe the pictures to
+her, and she listened in an ecstasy of happiness to their words.
+
+"Is it not wonderful?" she said to Aaron. "A famous picture, they
+said, and I the principal figure. What can the painter have seen in
+me?"
+
+"What all men see, my life," replied Aaron; "but what no one knows as
+I know."
+
+"It has been a happy day," sighed Rachel; she sat between them, each
+holding a hand. "You did not hear from our dear Ruth this morning?"
+
+"No, dear mother." For thus was Esther already permitted to address
+Rachel.
+
+"She will be home in two days, and our dear lad as well. I wish he
+were back from India, even before he has started, and so do you, my
+dear. But time soon passes. Just now it seems but yesterday that we
+were in France."
+
+The day waned. Rachel and Esther were together; Aaron was in his study
+writing, and preparing for an important meeting he had to attend that
+night. A servant entered.
+
+"A gentleman to see you, sir."
+
+Aaron looked at the card, which bore the name of Mr. Richard
+Dillworthy.
+
+"I am busy," said Aaron. "Does he wish to see me particularly? Ask him
+if he can call again."
+
+"He said his business was pressing, sir."
+
+"Show him in."
+
+The servant ushered the visitor into the room, a slightly-built,
+middle-aged man, with iron-grey hair and whiskers. Aaron motioned him
+to a chair, and he placed a card on the table, bearing the name and
+address of a firm of lawyers.
+
+"I am Mr. Dillworthy, of Dillworthy, Maryx, and Co.," he said.
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"I have come to speak to you upon a family matter----"
+
+"A family matter!" exclaimed Aaron, interrupting him. "Does it concern
+me?"
+
+"It concerns you closely, and the client on whose behalf I am here."
+
+"What is its nature?"
+
+"Allow me to disclose it in my own way. I shall take it as a favour if
+you will regard this interview as private."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Briefly, I may say, as an introduction, that it refers to your
+daughter, Miss Ruth Cohen."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+ THE HONOURABLE PERCY STORNDALE.
+
+
+For the second time on this eventful day Aaron felt as if his sin were
+about to be brought home to him, as if the temple which, by long years
+of honourable and upright conduct, he had built for himself, were
+about to crumble to dust. In that temple was enshrined not only his
+good name, but what was far more precious to him, his wife's happiness
+and peace of mind. He had not yet nerved himself to the effort to go
+to her frankly and say, "Ruth is not our child." Out of Rachel's
+innate goodness and sweetness sprang the love she bore for the young
+girl. The suggestion of love may come from without, but the spirit of
+love is the offspring of one's own heart, and it is made enduring and
+ennobling by one's own higher qualities; and in a like manner it is
+one's lower passions which debase and degrade it. In whatever fashion
+Rachel would receive her husband's confession, he knew full well that
+it would inflict upon her the most exquisite suffering; the cherished
+ideal of her life would be shattered, and she would sit for ever
+afterwards in sackcloth and ashes. This was his torturing belief; it
+was not that he dreaded exposure for his own sake; he had no wish to
+spare himself, but to spare Rachel inevitable suffering. He knew that
+the truth could not be much longer hidden, and yet he was too weak to
+take the deciding step. He had sown a harvest of woe, and his constant
+fervent prayer was that he might not be compelled to reap it with his
+own hands.
+
+Agitated as he was, he did not betray himself by word or sign, but by
+a courteous movement of his hand invited his visitor to proceed.
+
+"It is a family matter," said Mr. Dillworthy, "of a peculiarly
+delicate nature, and my client thought it could best be arranged in a
+private personal interview."
+
+"Being of such a nature," observed Aaron, "would it not have been
+better that it should be arranged privately between the parties
+interested instead of through an intermediary?"
+
+"Possibly, possibly; but my client holds strong views, and feels he
+could scarcely trust himself."
+
+"Favour me with the name of your client."
+
+"Lord Storndale."
+
+"Lord Storndale? I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance."
+
+"But you are familiar with his name."
+
+"Not at all. It is the first time I have heard it."
+
+"You surprise me. Lord Storndale is a peer."
+
+"I know very few peers, and have had no occasion to study the
+peerage."
+
+"But, pardon me, Storndale is the name; it may have escaped you."
+
+"I repeat, the name is strange to me."
+
+"I do not presume to doubt you, but it introduces a new element into
+the matter. Your daughter, then, has never mentioned the Honourable
+Percy Storndale to you?"
+
+"Never, and I am at a loss to understand the association of their
+names."
+
+The lawyer paused. In this unexpected turn of affairs a deviation
+suggested itself to his legal mind which would be likely to assist
+him.
+
+"Mr. Cohen, you have the reputation of being an earnest and sincere
+Jew."
+
+"I follow the precepts and the obligations of my faith," said Aaron,
+with a searching glance at his visitor.
+
+"In this back-sliding and time-serving age orthodoxy--especially, I
+should say, in the Jewish religion--has a hard time of it. The customs
+and duties of an enlightened civilisation must clash severely with the
+precepts and obligations you speak of. It is because of the
+difficulty--perhaps the impossibility--of following the hard and fast
+laws of the Pentateuch that divisions have taken place, as in all
+religions, and that you have among you men who call themselves
+Reformed Jews."
+
+"Surely it is not part of your mission to debate this matter with me,"
+said Aaron, who had no desire to discuss these questions with a
+stranger.
+
+"No, it is not, and I do not pretend to understand it; but in a
+general way the subject is interesting to me. If you will permit me, I
+should like to ask you one question." Aaron signified assent. "What is
+your opinion of mixed marriages?"
+
+Aaron did not answer immediately; he had a suspicion that there was
+something behind, but the subject was one regarding which both he and
+Rachel held a strong view, and he felt he would be guilty of an
+unworthy evasion if he refused to reply.
+
+"I do not approve of them," he said.
+
+"You set me at ease," said the lawyer, "and it will gratify Lord
+Storndale to hear that you and he are in agreement upon the question.
+As our interview is private I may speak freely. Unhappily, Lord
+Storndale is a poor peer. Since he came into the title he has had
+great difficulties to contend with, and as his estates lay chiefly in
+Ireland these difficulties have been of late years increased. Happily
+or unhappily, also, he has a large family, two daughters and six sons.
+Of these sons the Honourable Percy Storndale is the youngest. I do not
+know who is more to be pitied, a poor peer struggling with mortgages,
+decreased rents, and the expenses of a large family, or a younger son
+who comes into the world with the expectation that he is to be
+provided for, and whose father can allow him at the utmost two hundred
+and fifty or three hundred a year. Father and son have both to keep up
+appearances, and the son's allowance will scarcely pay his tailor's
+and his glover's bills. There are a thousand things he wants, and to
+which he believes himself entitled. Flowers, horses, clubs, a stall at
+the theatre, and so on and so on, _ad infinitum_. The consequence is
+that the young gentleman gets into debt, which grows and grows.
+Perhaps he thinks of a means of paying his creditors--he plunges on a
+horse, he plays for high stakes at his club. You know the result. Into
+the mire, deeper and deeper. A sad picture, Mr. Cohen."
+
+"Very sad," said Aaron, who had listened patiently, and knew that the
+crucial part of the lawyer's mission--that which affected himself and
+Ruth--had not yet been reached.
+
+"Lord Storndale," continued the lawyer, "is a gentleman of exclusive
+views, and is perhaps prouder in his poverty than he would be with a
+rent-roll of a hundred thousand a year. His son's extravagances and
+debts are not hidden from his knowledge--the moneylenders take care of
+that. From time to time, and at a great sacrifice, he extricates the
+young scapegrace from temporary difficulties, but at length he comes
+to a full stop. His own means are exhausted, and willing as he may be
+to keep putting his hand in his pocket, it is useless to do so,
+because the pocket is empty. But he has some influence in a small way,
+and he obtains for his son the offer of a post in the colonies; not
+very grand certainly, but affording an opening which may lead to
+something better, if the young gentleman will only condescend to look
+at life seriously--which, as a rule, such young fellows decline to do
+until it is too late. However, a father, whether he be a peer or a
+common labourer, can do no more than his duty. He informs his son of
+the appointment he has obtained for him, and the scapegrace--I am
+speaking quite openly, Mr. Cohen; the Honourable Percy Storndale _is_
+one--declines to accept it. 'Why?' asks the astonished father. 'I
+cannot live on it,' replies the son. Then the father points out how he
+can live on it by cutting down some of his extravagances, and that he
+may find opportunities in the colonies which he can never meet with
+here. The son remains obdurate. 'There is another reason for your
+refusal,' says the father. 'There is,' the son admits. 'I prefer to
+remain in London; it is the only city in the world worth living in.'
+'And starving in,' suggests the father. The scapegrace shrugs his
+shoulders, and says something will turn up here, and that he will not
+submit to banishment because he happens to have been born a few years
+too late--a reflection upon his brother, the eldest son, who in course
+of time will inherit the family embarrassments and mortgages. The
+father remonstrates, argues, entreats, but the young man will not give
+way. Meanwhile the appointment is bestowed upon another and a worthier
+gentleman, and the chance is lost. I trust I am not wearying you."
+
+"No. I am attending to all you say, and waiting to hear how my
+daughter's name comes to be mixed up with the family history you are
+giving me."
+
+"You will understand everything presently. My object is to make the
+matter perfectly clear, and to have no concealment. For this reason I
+wish you to be aware of the character of the young gentleman, and
+I am describing it carefully at the express wish of his father. At the
+same time I lay no positive charge against him; I am not saying he is
+a bad man, but an undesirable man. There are thousands of young
+fellows who are living just such a careless, irresponsible, reckless
+life, who get into debt, who gamble, and who ultimately find
+themselves passing through the bankruptcy court. Young men without
+balance, Mr. Cohen, and who, in consequence, topple over. They sow
+trouble wherever they go, and they are always smiling, self-possessed,
+and pleasant-mannered. Women especially are caught by these externals;
+but speaking myself as the father of grown-up daughters, I should be
+sorry to see one of that class visiting my house as a suitor to one of
+my girls."
+
+Aaron started, but did not speak.
+
+"Lord Storndale suspected that there was another reason which his son
+had not mentioned for his refusal of the colonial appointment, and in
+a short time his suspicions were confirmed. It came to his knowledge
+that his son was paying attentions to a young lady whom he was in the
+habit of meeting at garden parties and tennis, and probably by
+arrangement in the parks, and he taxed the young gentleman with it.
+His son did not deny it; he said that he loved the lady, that her
+father was very wealthy, and that she was in every way presentable. 'I
+do not know,' said the young man, 'whether the circumstance of her
+father being a commoner will prejudice you against him.' Lord
+Storndale replied that he would have preferred his son had chosen from
+his own rank, but that marriages between rich commoners and members of
+the aristocracy were not unusual in these days, and that he would
+sanction the match if the lady's father were a gentleman. To be honest
+with you, Mr. Cohen, Lord Storndale has no liking for commoners who
+have made fortunes in trade or by speculating; but he did not allow
+these scruples to weigh with him, his hope being that the proposed
+union would be the means of extricating his son from his difficulties,
+and of steadying him. The young man said that the lady's father was a
+gentleman widely known for his benevolence and uprightness of
+character, and that he was held in universal esteem. Up to this point
+the interview had been of an amicable nature, but then arose an
+insurmountable difficulty. 'Who is the gentleman?' inquired Lord
+Storndale. 'Mr. Aaron Cohen,' replied the young man."
+
+Observing Aaron's agitation the lawyer suspended his narration, and
+said,--
+
+"Pardon me; you were about to speak."
+
+Aaron by a great effort controlled himself.
+
+"I will wait till you have quite finished, Mr. Dillworthy. Before I
+commit myself it will be as well that I should be in possession of all
+the facts."
+
+"Quite so. I have been explicit and circumstantial in order that there
+shall be no mistake. When I have finished you will have few, if any,
+questions to ask, because you will know everything it is in my power
+to tell. Upon hearing your name, his lordship remarked that it was a
+Jewish name. 'Yes,' said the young man, 'Mr. Cohen is a Jew.' Lord
+Storndale was angry and distressed. I admit that it is an unreasonable
+prejudice; but he has an invincible dislike to Jews, and it shocked
+him to think that his son contemplated a marriage with a Jewess. I
+need dwell no longer upon the interview, which now took a stormy turn,
+and it ended by the son abruptly leaving the room. On no account,
+whatever, Mr. Cohen, will Lord Storndale or any member of his family
+consent to such an alliance; if it is accomplished the young man will
+be thrown upon his own resources, and his wife will not be recognised
+by his kinsfolk. The trouble has already reached a climax. The young
+gentleman is hot-headed--a Storndale failing--and he declines to
+listen to remonstrances; the consequence is, that he has been
+forbidden his father's home till he comes to reason. But despite his
+extravagances and the constant and perplexing involvements issuing
+therefrom, his father has an affection for him, and is bent upon
+saving his family from----"
+
+The lawyer pausing here, with an awkward cough, as though he was
+choking down a word, Aaron quietly added it.
+
+"Disgrace?"
+
+"Well, yes," said Mr. Dillworthy, briskly; "we will not mince matters.
+It is not my word, but Lord Storndale's. He would account such an
+alliance a disgrace. I will say nothing in his excuse. In all
+civilised countries we have living evidences of happy unions between
+members of the aristocracy and wealthy daughters of Israel, and also
+living evidences of happy mixed marriages between persons neither
+aristocratic nor wealthy; and these might be brought forward as
+powerful arguments against the view my client entertains. But they
+would have no weight with him. We must take into consideration the
+pride of race."
+
+"Yes," said Aaron, still speaking in a quiet tone, "we must take that
+into consideration. You have not quite finished, sir?"
+
+"Not quite. As a last resource, Lord Storndale consulted me, and
+entrusted me with a painful task. He requested me to call upon you,
+and represent the matter in the plainest terms, which I have
+endeavoured to do, omitting or concealing no single incident of the
+unhappy affair. I am deputed to ask you to take a course with your
+daughter similar to that he has taken with his son--that is, to
+absolutely forbid the union. The young gentleman is in a state of
+extreme pecuniary embarrassment, and it is possible--I do not state it
+as a fact, but merely as a presumption--that he reckons upon your aid
+to settle with his creditors. When he finds that this aid will not be
+forthcoming, and that he cannot depend upon your making a suitable
+settlement upon your daughter, he is not unlikely, for prudential
+reasons, to beat a retreat."
+
+"What is the inference you wish me to draw from this expression of
+opinion?"
+
+"That Mr. Storndale is following your daughter for your money."
+
+"And that he has no love for her?"
+
+The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. The interview was taking a turn not
+exactly pleasing to him.
+
+"You are not flattering the young gentleman," Aaron said.
+
+"I had no intention of doing so. Of course, it is for you to consider
+the matter from your own point of view. First, as a father----"
+
+He paused.
+
+"Yes, first as a father," repeated Aaron.
+
+"Next, as a Jew."
+
+"Yes, next as a Jew," said Aaron, again repeating the lawyer's words.
+
+He was agitated by conflicting emotions, which no man but he could
+have understood--and which, indeed, in the light of the revelation
+which had been made, he himself could scarcely grasp, so strongly did
+it affect the secret of his life. But that secret still was his, and
+he had still to play his part.
+
+"You are commissioned to take my answer to Lord Storndale?"
+
+"He is anxiously awaiting it."
+
+"I may trust you to convey that answer as nearly as possible in my own
+words?"
+
+"It shall be my endeavour."
+
+"You will tell him, then, that the mission with which he has entrusted
+you comes upon me as a surprise. As I have already informed you, I
+have never, until this day, heard his name or the name of his son. As
+to the character you give the young gentleman, it may or may not be
+correct, for you speak of him as an advocate on the other side----"
+
+"But surely," interrupted the lawyer, "that would not affect the
+religious aspect of the question."
+
+"No, it would not affect it. But whether correct or not, it seems
+clear that the young gentleman has not acted as a man of honour,
+although he is Lord Storndale's son. A young girl's trustfulness and
+innocence should be her safeguard; but here they have been basely
+used, according to your own statement, by a man whose external
+accomplishments have unhappily attracted her."
+
+"And from such a man," said the lawyer, rather too eagerly, "it is a
+fathers duty to protect his daughter."
+
+"Undoubtedly," replied Aaron, who could not dispute the lawyer's
+reasoning. "That my wife and I should have been kept in ignorance of
+Mr. Storndale's attentions is to be deplored; and it appears certain
+that he must have bound Miss Cohen by a promise to say nothing to us
+about them. You speak of the pride of race as affecting Lord
+Storndale. We have also that pride, and if any Jewish parent were so
+far forgetful of the obligations of his faith as to admit your
+client's son into his family, it is upon him and upon Lord Storndale
+that honour would be conferred."
+
+"It is a fair retort," said the lawyer. "I beg you to believe that the
+views I have expressed are not mine, but Lord Storndale's, in whose
+interests I am acting. I am, as you say, an advocate--merely a
+mouthpiece, as it were--and I am bound to follow out my instructions.
+Your disapproval of mixed marriages gives me confidence that my
+mission has not failed, and it will be a satisfaction to Lord
+Storndale. May I take it that you will pursue the course with your
+daughter that he has taken with his son, and that you will forbid the
+union?"
+
+"Have I not made myself sufficiently clear?" asked Aaron, with an
+inward rebellion against the evasion he felt himself compelled to
+practise.
+
+"Yes, yes," said the lawyer, hastily, too astute to press for precise
+words. "And I may inform Lord Storndale that you distinctly disapprove
+of marriages between Jews and Christians?"
+
+"You may."
+
+Mr. Dillworthy, believing he had gained his point, wisely dropped the
+subject, and expressing his obligations to Aaron, rose to take his
+departure. Before he reached the door, however, he turned, and in a
+tone of courteous deference, asked if Mr. Cohen could spare him a few
+moments more. Aaron assenting, the lawyer resumed his seat, and taking
+a pocket-book from his pocket searched in it for a letter.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+ THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PAST.
+
+
+Aaron observed him anxiously. The disclosure that had already been
+made had so agitated him that he was apprehensive of further trouble.
+
+"Ah! here it is," said the lawyer, opening the letter for which he had
+been looking; "I was afraid I had left it behind me. Excuse me a
+moment; I wish to refresh my memory."
+
+He ran his eye over the letter, and nodded as he went through its
+points of importance.
+
+"Does it concern the unhappy affair we have discussed?" inquired
+Aaron, unable to restrain his impatience.
+
+"No," replied the lawyer; "I take it that is settled, and I trust, for
+the sake of both the families, that it will not be re-opened."
+
+"I trust not."
+
+"This is quite a different matter, and I hardly know how to excuse
+myself for troubling you with it. It is a sudden thought, for I came
+here with no such intention. You must thank your own reputation for
+it, Mr. Cohen; it is well known that you have never neglected an
+opportunity to do an act of kindness, and though what I am about to
+speak of has come to me in the way of business, the story contains
+elements so romantic and peculiar that it has strangely attracted me.
+The reference in the letter which induces me to think that you may be
+able to help me is that you are a gentleman of influence in your
+community, and have a wide acquaintance with your co-religionists.
+Perhaps I had better read the words. My correspondent says--'I know
+that there are peculiar difficulties in the search I intend to make
+upon my return home, but before my arrival you may be able to discover
+something which will be of assistance to me. Probably if you consult
+some kind-hearted and influential member of the Jewish race you may,
+through him, obtain a clue; or, failing this, you might employ a
+Jewish agent to make inquiries.' It is a lady who writes to me, and
+her letter comes from Australia. May I continue? Thank you. Let me
+tell you the story; it will interest you, and I will be as brief as
+possible. The letter is too long to read throughout." He handed it to
+Aaron. "It occupies, you see, fourteen closely written pages, and it
+is somewhat in the nature of a confession. If you wish, I will have a
+copy of it made, and will send it on to you to-morrow."
+
+Aaron, turning over the pages, came to the superscription:
+
+ "I remain,
+ "Yours truly,
+ "Mary Gordon."
+
+
+Truly this was a day of startling surprises to him. He recollected the
+name as that of the gentleman for whom, twenty years ago, Mr. Moss had
+undertaken the commission which had lifted him from beggary by placing
+in his hands a large sum of money to which in strict justice he was
+not entitled, but which, from fear that the deception he had practised
+might otherwise be discovered, he was compelled to accept. He had, as
+an atonement, expended in secret charities a hundred times the sum;
+but this did not absolve him from the responsibility. The spirit of
+the dead past rose before him, and he was overwhelmed with the dread
+possibilities it brought with it.
+
+"I fear," said the lawyer, "that I have been inconsiderate in
+introducing the matter at the present moment. I will postpone it to a
+future occasion."
+
+"Pray continue," said Aaron, whose burning desire now was to know the
+worst. "I have had an exciting day, but I will pay due attention to
+what you wish to impart to me."
+
+"I appreciate your kindness. If you cannot assist me, you may
+recommend me to an agent whom I will employ. I noticed that you
+referred in the letter to the name of my correspondent, Mrs. Gordon;
+the inquiry is of a delicate nature, and it may be her wish that her
+name is not too freely mentioned--at all events, for the present. Her
+story is not an uncommon one, but it takes an extraordinary and
+unusual turn. She is now, according to her own account, a lady of
+considerable means; her husband has lately died, and she has come into
+a fortune. Some twenty odd years ago she was a young woman, and had
+two lovers, one of whom wooed her with dishonourable intentions, and
+by him she was betrayed. This occurred during the absence in Australia
+of the gentleman who had proposed to her, and whom she had accepted.
+He was a resident in Australia, and it was his intention to make his
+home there. While he was on his way to England, with the intention of
+making her his wife and returning with her to the colony, she
+discovered that she was about to become a mother. In despair she fled
+from London, where he expected to find her, and sought to hide her
+shame among strangers. The place she selected was Portsmouth, and
+there she went through a series of harrowing trials, and was reduced
+to extreme poverty. In her letter to me she makes no effort to
+disguise the misery into which she was plunged, and she is frank and
+outspoken in order that I may properly understand how it was that she
+was forced to abandon the child that was born in Portsmouth under most
+distressing circumstances. For it appears that when the suitor who
+wooed her honourably arrived in London and learned the story of her
+betrayal, he was still desirous to make her his wife. He traced her to
+Portsmouth, and found her there with her babe, who was then but a few
+days old. This would have induced most men to forego their honourable
+intentions; but Mr. Gordon, whose name she now bears, was an exception
+to the rule, and, through a gentleman who acted as a go-between, he
+made a singular proposition to her. It was to the effect that she
+should consent to give up her child entirely, and during his lifetime
+to make no effort to recover it; he undertook to find a respectable
+and comfortable home for the babe, and to make a liberal provision for
+it. This is the bare outline of his proposition, and I need not go
+further into it. So desperate was her position that she and her child
+at the time were literally starving; she had not a friend but Mr.
+Gordon, who was stern in his resolve not to befriend her unless she
+accepted the conditions he dictated; the gentleman who acted as a
+go-between had behaved very kindly to her, but could not assist her
+further. In these circumstances she made the sacrifice, and parted
+with her child, who from that day to this she has never seen. Mr.
+Gordon honourably fulfilled the terms of the agreement; a home was
+found for the child, and he married the lady, and took her to
+Australia, where she has resided for the last twenty years. It was
+part of the agreement that she should not be informed of the name of
+the people who adopted the child, and should not, directly or
+indirectly, make the least endeavour to obtain any information
+concerning it while her husband was alive. If he died before her she
+was free to act as she pleased in the matter. This has occurred, and
+the widow, who has had no children by her marriage, is bent upon
+recovering her child, who, I may mention, is a girl. The task is beset
+with difficulties, and may prove hopeless. Shortly stated, Mr. Cohen,
+this is the case as it at present stands."
+
+"Is there a special reason," inquired Aaron, "for your applying to me
+for assistance?"
+
+"Not exactly special; it is in a sense accidental, inspired by my
+visit this evening on the other matter we have spoken of. There are
+certain particulars in relation to Mrs. Gordon's search for her
+daughter which I have omitted. The arrangements for the future
+provision of the babe were carried out, I understand, by a firm of
+lawyers whose names Mrs. Gordon has been unable to ascertain; but she
+is acquainted with the name of the gentleman who in Portsmouth
+conveyed Mr. Gordon's proposition to her. This gentleman is Dr.
+Spenlove, who, leaving Portsmouth several years ago, has attained an
+eminent position in London. You may be acquainted with him."
+
+"He was at my house to-day."
+
+"Then you are on terms of intimacy with him."
+
+"No. We met to-day for the first time."
+
+"In her letter Mrs. Gordon refers me to Dr. Spenlove, and I have not
+yet communicated with him. The letter only reached me this morning,
+and I have not had time to see him."
+
+"You have not explained why you apply to me."
+
+"The explanation is simple. During her husband's lifetime Mrs. Gordon
+faithfully carried out her obligation, and, as it appears to me, no
+words passed between them on the subject of the child. In his last
+moments, however, he must have relented; unfortunately, he left it too
+late to give his wife the information she so eagerly desired; he could
+scarcely articulate, and all she could gather from him was that he had
+employed an agent to look after the child, and that this agent was of
+the Jewish persuasion. The conclusion is that he was a resident of
+Portsmouth, but he may not be living; and it has occurred to me that
+you, who have friends of your persuasion everywhere, may expedite the
+discovery by giving me the name and address of some old inhabitant who
+can put us on the track of Mr. Gordon's agent. When the lady arrives
+in England she will naturally go to Dr. Spenlove, who will doubtless
+assist her in her natural endeavour to obtain intelligence of the fate
+of her child. If you can also assist us you will earn a mother's
+gratitude."
+
+"I will consider it," said Aaron, and his voice was troubled; "that is
+all I can promise at present."
+
+"It is all we can expect of you. There is another peculiar feature in
+this strange case. Mrs. Gordon, before she left England, entrusted Dr.
+Spenlove with a metal casket in which she had deposited some memorials
+of interest; this casket was to be given to the man who undertook to
+bring up the child, on the understanding that it was to be handed to
+the young lady at the age of twenty-one (supposing, of course, that
+she lived to that age), or before that time to be returned to the
+mother if she came to claim it. The young lady, if she be living, is
+not yet twenty-one, and it is the mother's intention to recover this
+casket, if it be possible. It is to be hoped it fell into the hands of
+an honest man."
+
+"It is to be hoped so," said Aaron, mechanically.
+
+Mr. Dillworthy said in a kind tone, "It is not an opportune time to
+seek your aid in a cause in which you are not personally interested,
+when another subject, the welfare of a dear daughter, engrosses your
+attention. Pray forgive me, Mr. Cohen."
+
+Aaron bent his head, and as the lawyer closed the door behind him,
+sank back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+ BEFORE ALL, DUTY.
+
+
+He sat silent for many minutes, his mind in a state of chaos; but
+presently his native strength of character came to his aid, and he
+resumed the task which the entrance of Mr. Dillworthy had interrupted!
+In addition to the important meeting he had to attend that night, his
+presence was expected at the board of a Jewish charity, of which he
+was the founder. This meeting came first, and his colleagues could not
+proceed to business without him; he must not disappoint them. Before
+all, duty. The thought shaped itself in whispered words, which he
+repeated again and again, and their iteration brought to him a sense
+of their true significance. Duty had been a leading principle of his
+life, and in the part he had taken in public matters he had never
+neglected it, and had never studied his personal convenience. But he
+had now to consider the principle in its most comprehensive aspect,
+and he felt that its application to his private affairs was imperative
+in the conflicting interests in which he was engaged. This being so,
+what was his duty here at home in respect of his wife and the girl he
+had brought up as their daughter, and how should he perform it? Love
+played so vital a part in the consideration of this question that he
+could not thrust it aside. It was, indeed, its leading element. For
+years past he had lived in a fool's paradise, and time had crept on
+and on until suddenly he saw the flowers withering before him. He had
+been false to himself, he had worn a mask, and now it was to be torn
+aside; but this he could bear. How would Rachel bear it?
+
+Unconsciously he had risen from his chair, and was pacing to and fro
+while he reflected. Pausing, he saw upon the table the papers he had
+been studying. The meeting of the Jewish society was of minor
+consequence, and required but little thought; the second meeting,
+however, was of vast importance, for there a decision was to be
+arrived at which would affect thousands of poor families and have a
+direct bearing upon the question of capital and labour. There had been
+a great strike in the building trade, and thousands of men had
+deliberately thrown themselves out of employment, choosing, in their
+adherence to a principle, what was almost next door to starvation. The
+strike had been brought about by a rival contractor, a Mr. Poynter, an
+employer of labour on an extensive scale, and a man as well known as
+Aaron himself. To say that these two were rivals does not necessarily
+imply that they were enemies, for that is a game that two must play
+at, and it was a game in which Aaron played no part. He did not
+approve of Mr. Poynter's methods: he went no further than that; and if
+he was called upon to express his opinion upon the subject he did so
+in a manner which robbed it of any personal application. Mr. Poynter,
+on the other hand, was nothing if he was not personal, and he hated
+Aaron with a very sincere and conscientious hate. He hated him because
+he had lost several profitable contracts, which Aaron had obtained;
+and this hatred may be applied in a general sense, because he hated
+every successful rival, great or small. He hated him because Aaron was
+genuinely respected by large bodies of working men, and had great
+influence with them; and this hatred may also be applied in a general
+sense, because he hated all employers of labour who were held by their
+workmen in higher respect than himself. He hated Aaron because he was
+a Jew; and this may certainly be applied in a general sense, because
+he had a bitter hatred of all Jews, and would have willingly
+subscribed liberally and joined in a crusade to hunt them out of the
+country. He did not subscribe to the Society for Promoting
+Christianity among the Jews, because to Christianise them would be to
+admit them upon terms of equality, and the idea was abhorrent to him.
+On no terms could a Jew be made the equal of a Christian. That a Jew
+could be a good man, that he could be a just man, that he could do
+anything without an eye to profit or self-aggrandisement--these, in
+his belief, were monstrous propositions, and no man of sense,
+certainly no true Christian, could seriously entertain them. Mr.
+Poynter was a Christian, a true Christian, regular in his attendance
+at church, and fairly liberal, also, in his charities, though his left
+hand always knew what his right hand did. And here he found another
+cause for hating Aaron. He heard his name quoted as a man of large
+benevolence, and he went so far as to declare that Aaron's charities
+were a means to an end. "He looks upon them as an investment," he
+said; "they bring him a good return. Did you ever know a Jew part with
+money without an eye to the main chance?" When he heard that it was
+generally reported that Aaron gave away in secret much more than he
+gave away in public, his comment was, "What is easier than to set such
+a rumour afloat? Any rich man can do it by an expenditure of ten
+pounds a year! If money is bestowed in secret, who is to know of it
+but the donor? If it becomes public, who could have spoken of it first
+but the donor? No one but a fool would be gulled by so transparent a
+trick!" These detractions were generally uttered to men who
+sympathised with the speaker, and they were not without effect. By
+which it will be seen that Aaron had enemies, as all men have. Mr.
+Poynter posed as a moral man, and it is the very essence of these
+usurpers of morality that each of them must stand alone, and that upon
+the pedestal he sets up there shall be no room for any other braggart.
+He was a married man, with sons and daughters, and a wife, who all
+looked upon the husband and father as a pattern. Whether his children
+followed the pattern or not does not concern this history, which has
+to do with the head of the family alone. Whatever a man may be in the
+prime of life, the earlier Adam, if it differ from the later, will
+very likely assert itself in the blood of his descendants, and this
+may have been the case with Mr. Poynter's children, despite the
+respect in which they held him. You come into contact with a
+sober-faced man whose distinguishing mark is one of intense
+respectability; you see him at home in the bosom of his family, whom
+he entertains with severely respectable platitudes; you hear his
+opinions on matters of current interest, a trial, a scandal in high
+life, tittle-tattle of the stage, the Court, the Church, and society
+in general. What an intensely respectable gentleman, what severely
+respectable views, what strict morality, what an estimable father of a
+family! Ah, but draw the curtain of years aside, and we behold another
+man--another man, yet still the same, a man about town, philandering,
+deceiving, lying, and playing the base part to serve his selfish
+pleasures. Where is the morality, where the respectability now--and
+which of the two is the true man?
+
+Was this the case with Mr. Poynter? The course of events may possibly
+supply the answer to this question presently. Meanwhile, nothing is
+more certain to-day than that he is accepted as he presents himself.
+But, if in the past life of such a man as Aaron Cohen may be found an
+episode of his own creating upon which he looks with dismay, why might
+it not be so with such a man as Mr. Poynter?
+
+In a country like England, where operations of magnitude are being
+continually undertaken, there is room for all who occupy the higher
+rungs of the ladder; it is only the lower rungs which are overcrowded,
+and which need clearing by means of emigration to lands where there is
+room for the toiling, suffering millions. But Mr. Poynter chose to
+believe that there was not room for Aaron and himself, and he nursed
+and fostered a venomous desire to drag Aaron down. This desire,
+indeed, had really become a disease with him, and had grown by what it
+fed on. He hunted about for the means, he asked questions. It was
+unquestionably true that there were Jews who had grown rich through
+dishonesty and usury, and Mr. Poynter did not stop to consider that
+this applied equally to Christians. Perhaps it was the knowledge of
+his own early life that made him think, "If I could find something in
+his past that would bring shame upon him--if I could only rake up
+something that would show him in his true light! It would be the
+commercial and social ruin of him. He would never be able to hold up
+his head again." He would gladly have paid for some such discovery.
+
+At the present time he had special reasons for hate. One reason was
+that the strike in the building trade was affecting him seriously. He
+was engaged in large contracts, in the carrying out of which thousands
+of men were needed, and it was chiefly against himself that the strike
+was ordered by the unions. He was on the brink of great losses, and
+Aaron had been called in as a mediator and arbitrator. The strike at
+an end, and the masters the victors, he was safe, and more prosperous
+than ever; but every day that it was prolonged meant so many hundreds
+of pounds out of his pocket. His fate seemed to hang upon the final
+advice to the men which Aaron was to give, and his profits would be
+large or small according to the nature of that advice. He laid the
+credit of the strike at Aaron's door; for in their enterprises he and
+Aaron employed different methods. Aaron had pursued in England the
+course he had pursued in France. He paid his men liberally, gave them
+bonuses, even to a certain extent acknowledged them as co-operators.
+In Mr. Poynter's eyes this was a crime, for it struck at the very root
+of his prosperity. "He is a rabid socialist," Mr. Poynter said; "men
+of his stamp are a danger to society."
+
+Another reason was that tenders had lately been called for works of
+exceptional magnitude, and he had entertained hopes of obtaining the
+contract. Again he was worsted by this insidious enemy. Within the
+last few hours he had heard that Aaron's tender had been accepted. He
+ground his teeth with rage. He could have undertaken the works in
+spite of the strike, for he had very nearly completed arrangements for
+the introduction of foreign workmen, whom he was determined to employ
+if the English workmen held out. There would be a row, of course, and
+the lower classes would cast obloquy upon him, for which he would have
+to thank his rival and enemy. When he heard that he had lost the
+contract he said to a friend, "I would give half I am worth to drag
+him down." And he meant what he said.
+
+The last meeting of the strikers was now being held. It had been
+called for seven o'clock, and it was known that the discussion would
+occupy several hours. Aaron was not asked to attend this discussion,
+which was to be private, even the representatives of the press not
+being admitted. Eleven o'clock was the hour at which he was expected,
+and it was understood that he would bring with him certain
+propositions from the masters, which, with the workmen's views, were
+to be discussed, and a decision arrived at. To-morrow morning's papers
+would announce whether the strike was to be continued or was at an
+end.
+
+He studied the papers before him--the arguments and statements of
+employers of labour, comparisons of wages here and in foreign
+countries, the comparative rates of living here and there, and the
+conflicting views of the living wage, documents of every description,
+among which were pathetic letters from wives of the strikers,
+imploring him to put an end to the strike. He had mastered them all,
+and was familiar with every detail, but he read them again in order to
+divert his attention for this night from his own private affairs. His
+mind must be free; he would think of them to-morrow. He had public
+duties to attend to. Before all, duty.
+
+The words haunted him, and he was dismayed to find that all his
+efforts to concentrate his attention upon his public duties were vain.
+Pictures of the past presented themselves: he saw his home in Gosport;
+he saw Rachel lying in bed with her dead babe by her side; he saw
+himself engaged in the task of completing the guilty deception,
+changing the clothing of the infants, and giving his own child to a
+strange woman,--every incident connected with his sin was stamped
+indelibly upon his brain, and now rose vividly before him. Very well.
+He had half an hour to spare before he left his house for the Jewish
+meeting; he would devote the time to a consideration of his private
+affairs.
+
+He gathered his papers, arranged them in order, and put them in his
+pocket. He dallied with them at first, but feeling that he was
+prolonging the simple task in order to shorten the time for serious
+thought, he smiled pitifully at his weakness, and completed it
+expeditiously.
+
+In admitting Ruth into his household, in adopting her as a daughter he
+had undertaken a sacred responsibility. He was fully conscious of this
+twenty years ago in Gosport, and what he had done had been done
+deliberately. It was a question then of the sacrifice of a precious
+life. The doctor had stated the case very clearly. The pregnant words
+they had exchanged were in his memory now, and might have been spoken
+only a few moments since. "Her life," the doctor had said, "hangs upon
+the life of her child." "If our child lives," Aaron had asked, "there
+is hope that my wife will live?" "A strong hope," the doctor had
+answered. "And if our child dies?" asked Aaron. The doctor answered,
+"The mother will die."
+
+He recalled the agony of those hours, the sufferings through which
+Rachel had passed with so much sweetness and patience, his poverty and
+helplessness, the dark future before him. Then came the ray of light,
+Mr. Moss, with the strange commission of the deserted child. He had
+not courted it, had not invited it; he had had no hand in it. He had
+regarded it as a message from heaven. What followed? The death of his
+own babe, the calm and peaceful death, the young soul taken to heaven,
+his beloved wife in an untroubled sleep by the side of her dead babe.
+It was a visitation of God. Could he be accused of having had a hand
+in it? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, who could blame him for
+believing that it was a Divine direction of the course he was to take?
+And who was wronged? Surely not the mother who had deserted her babe.
+Surely not the babe, who had found a happy home. The wrong--and herein
+was the sting--was to Rachel, whose life had been saved by the deceit.
+So far, then, was he not justified?
+
+But if, before the committal of a sin, we could see the consequences
+of the sin--if he had seen the consequences of his, would he not have
+paused, and said, "It rests with God; let it be as He wills; I will be
+no party to the deceit"? In that case Rachel's life would have been
+sacrificed. There was no human doubt of it. Rachel would have died,
+and the blessings she had shed around her, the good she had been
+enabled to do, the suffering hearts she had relieved, the light she
+had brought into despairing homes, would never have been. Against a
+little evil, so much good. Against a slight error, so much that was
+sweet and beautiful.
+
+But in these reflections he had taken into account only Rachel and
+himself--only their two lives. How about Ruth herself?
+
+He had never disguised from himself that there was much in Ruth's
+character which was not in accordance with Rachel's views or his own,
+which she did not assimilate with either of their natures. Being one
+of his family in the eyes of the world, he had brought her up as a
+Jewess. She was born a Christian. Was this not a crime of which she
+had been made the victim? He had experienced great difficulties in her
+education. He wished to correct the defect which exists in ninety-nine
+English Jewesses out of a hundred--he wished her to pray in the Hebrew
+tongue, and to understand her prayers. To this end he himself had
+endeavoured to teach her to read and translate Hebrew. She would not
+learn. Even now as a woman she understood but a very few words, and
+this scanty knowledge was mechanical. A parrot might have learned as
+much. She had an aversion to Jewish society. As a child, when she was
+necessarily in leading strings, she was taken by Rachel to the
+synagogue on every Sabbath day, but when she began to have intelligent
+ideas she rebelled; she would not go, and Rachel walked to the House
+of God alone. It was a grief to her that Ruth would not follow in her
+footsteps, and she and Aaron had frequently conversed upon the
+subject. "It is so with many Jewish women," Aaron said. "It would be
+wrong to force her; she will find out her error by-and-by." But Ruth
+never did, and Rachel suffered in silence.
+
+There was another sorrow. Between their son Joseph and Ruth did not
+exist that love which brother and sister should bear each other.
+Joseph was ready with demonstrative affection, but Ruth did not
+respond. Aaron had taken note of this, but he was powerless to remedy
+it, and the lad, who was as solicitous as his father to spare the dear
+mother pain, made no trouble of it. Ruth respected and admired her
+reputed father, and in the feelings she entertained towards him there
+was an element of fear, because of his strength of character, but she
+did not love him as a child should. He, knowing what he knew, found
+excuses for her. "It is in her blood," he said to himself.
+
+All this was hidden from Rachel, to whom Ruth was tender and kind. Who
+could be otherwise to so sweet a woman? But Rachel did not know of
+what she was deprived until Esther Moss began to make long visits to
+their home. "Esther is like a daughter to me," she said, and only
+Aaron was aware of the depth of meaning these simple words conveyed.
+In Rachel's association with Esther she had realised what a daughter
+might have been to her.
+
+But now he had to consider the matter, not from his or Rachel's point
+of view, but from Ruth's. She was a woman in her springtime, and love
+had come to her, and she had held out her arms to it. And the man she
+loved was a Christian.
+
+It was not within his right to take into consideration that the man
+she loved was a spendthrift and a scapegrace. The question had often
+intruded itself since she was grown to womanhood, whether he would not
+be adding sin to sin by encouraging her to marry a Jew. She had
+answered the question herself. What right had he to gainsay her? He
+might, as a true and sincere friend, say to her, "This man will not
+make you happy. He has vices and defects which will bring misery upon
+your home. You must not marry him." But he had no right to say to her
+"You must not marry this man because he is a Christian." It would be a
+detestable argument for one in his position, and in hers, to advance.
+
+Then Mr. Dillworthy might be wrong in his estimate of the young man's
+character. The only objection Lord Storndale had to the union was that
+Ruth was a Jewess. But she was not a Jewess, and it was in his power
+to go to the young man's father and make the disclosure to him. Lord
+Storndale's natural reply would be, "Let it be clearly understood. You
+have done this lady a grievous wrong. You are a wealthy man. Repair
+the wrong by making a suitable settlement upon her. But it must be
+publicly done, and the injustice of which you have been guilty must be
+publicly acknowledged." The only answer he could make would be, "It is
+just. I will do as you dictate."
+
+What would be the effect as regarded himself? Among his
+co-religionists he was held up as a pillar of the old Jewish faith.
+His voice had been raised against apostasy; he had taken a decided
+stand against the more liberal ideas of civilised life which prevailed
+and were adopted by a large section of his race. Even now he was
+pledged to deliver a public address against the backsliding of the
+modern Jew, who was disposed to adapt his life to the altered
+circumstances of the times. He had written this address, and public
+attention had been drawn to the coming event. His arguments were to
+himself convincing, and by them he hoped to stem the tide. He had
+always been orthodox, and he hoped to prevail against the wave of
+heterodoxy which was sweeping over modern Judaism. He had stepped
+forward as a champion. In the light of the domestic revelation which
+must presently be made, how dare he, himself a transgressor, presume
+to teach his brethren their religious duty? His sound judgment of
+things which interested or affected him was due to his common sense,
+which, he had been heard to say, was a rare quality.
+
+"You are always right," Mr. Moss once said to him. "How is it?"
+
+"If I form a correct opinion," he replied, with a smile, "it is
+because I exercise my common sense. I do not judge from my own
+standpoint."
+
+He did this now. He put himself in the place of other men. He listened
+to his own confession. He passed the verdict upon himself.
+
+"This man has been living the life of a hypocrite. He has accepted
+money for false service. Not perhaps by word of mouth, but most
+assuredly by his acts, he has lied. He has violated the canons of his
+religion. He has deceived his wife--for money, which he pretends to
+despise. He has robbed a young girl of her birthright. And he dares to
+preach to us of duty!"
+
+Who would believe him if he told the true story of his hard trial, if
+he described the bitter tribulation of his soul when his beloved wife
+was lying at death's door? He had counselled many men in their days of
+struggle and temptation to be brave and do their duty. How had he
+performed his in _his_ hour of temptation? No one would believe the
+only story he could plead in extenuation of his sin. He would be
+condemned by all.
+
+And he was in the zenith of his fame. On this very day, when exposure
+seemed to be approaching with, swift and certain steps, he had been
+honoured as few men live to be. If he felt pleasure in the position he
+had won, it was because it was a source of pride and pleasure to
+Rachel. Was he, with his own hand, to destroy the ideal he had
+created? Was this the plain duty that lay now before him?
+
+"The carriage is at the door, sir."
+
+It was a servant who interrupted his tortured musings; he had given
+orders to be informed when his carriage was ready. With slow steps he
+left his study.
+
+
+
+
+
+ BOOK THE SIXTH.
+
+ _RETRIBUTION_.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+ ESTHER MOSS RECEIVES A LETTER.
+
+
+There was an apartment in Aaron Cohen's house which was called the
+Cosy Room, where the family were in the habit of sitting when they had
+no visitors, and it was here that their real domestic happiness
+reigned. Here Aaron used to smoke his old silver-mounted pipe, and
+chat with his wife, and indulge in his entertaining pleasantries when
+he was in the humour; and here the feeling used to steal over him that
+life would hold more joy for him and those dear to him if they dwelt
+in a smaller house and his doings were less under the public eye.
+
+"I am convinced," he would say, "that those who are in the lower
+middle class are the best off. They have fewer cares, they have more
+time for domestic enjoyment, they can attend without hindrance to
+their own affairs. Their neighbours are not jealous of them; they are
+not high enough to be envied, nor low enough to be pitied. There is no
+happiness in riches. Miserable man that I am! Why do I continue to
+wish to accumulate more money?"
+
+"Because," Rachel would answer affectionately, "it enables you to
+contribute to the happiness of others. But I should be as contented if
+we were poor."
+
+On the occasion of Mr. Dillworthy's visit to Aaron a scene of a
+different nature was being enacted in the Cosy Room. Rachel was
+overpowered with languor, and she fell into a doze. The apartment was
+large; but an arrangement of screens, and the disposal of the
+furniture, made it look small; domestically speaking, there is no
+comfort in any but a small room. Esther, during her present visit, had
+noticed with concern that Mrs. Cohen appeared weak, that her
+movements, which were always gentle, were more languid than usual, and
+that her quiet ways seemed to be the result of physical prostration.
+She spoke of it to Rachel, who confessed that she had not felt strong
+lately, but cautioned the young girl to say nothing of it to Aaron.
+
+"He is so easily alarmed about me," she said, "and he has great
+anxieties upon him."
+
+"But you should see the doctor," urged Esther, solicitously.
+
+"I will wait a day or two," answered Rachel, and again enjoined Esther
+not to alarm her husband.
+
+On the evening of this exciting day she looked so pale and fatigued
+that she yielded to Esther's solicitations, and, without Aaron's
+knowledge, sent for the physician who was in the habit of attending
+her. While waiting for him she fell asleep in her armchair in the Cosy
+Room. At her request Esther played softly some of Rachel's favourite
+pieces; the piano was behind a screen at one end of the room, and
+Esther did not know that she had fallen asleep. While thus employed
+Prissy quietly entered the room. The faithful woman looked at her
+mistress, and stepped noiselessly to the screen.
+
+"Miss Esther," she whispered.
+
+The girl stopped playing immediately, and came from behind the screen.
+
+"Is it the doctor, Prissy?" she asked.
+
+"No, miss."
+
+Prissy pointed to her mistress, and Esther went to the armchair and
+adjusted a light shawl which was falling from the sleeping lady's
+shoulder. It was a slight action, but it was done with so much
+tenderness that Prissy smiled approvingly. She liked Esther much
+better than Ruth, who did not hold in her affections the place the
+other members of the family did. Humble as was her position in the
+household, she had observed things of which she disapproved. Ruth was
+from home more frequently than she considered proper, and had often
+said to her, "You need not tell my mother that I have gone out unless
+she asks you." Prissy had not disobeyed her, and the consequence was
+that Ruth was sometimes absent from the house for hours without her
+mother or father being aware of it. Prissy's idea was that her young
+mistress would bring trouble on the house; but she kept silence
+because she would otherwise have got into trouble herself with Ruth,
+and would also have distressed her dear lady if she had made mention
+of her suspicions, for which she could have offered no reasonable
+explanation. Prissy's distress of mind was not lessened because Ruth,
+when she enjoined secrecy upon her, gave her money, as if to purchase
+her silence. She would have refused these bribes; but Ruth forced them
+upon her, and she felt as if she were in a conspiracy to destroy the
+peace of the family.
+
+"I did not know she was asleep," said Esther, coming back to Prissy.
+
+"I'm sure you didn't, miss. She falls off, you know."
+
+"Yes, I know," said Esther, with affectionate solicitude.
+
+"As she used to do a good many years ago--long before you knew her,
+miss. She had gone through a severe illness, and was that delicate for
+months afterwards that you could almost blow her away. She never
+complained, and never did a cross word pass her lips. I'm glad you're
+with her, Miss Esther: you're a real comfort to her. I've got a letter
+for you, miss."
+
+"I didn't hear the postman."
+
+"The postman didn't bring it, miss," said Prissy, giving her the
+letter. "A boy. Said immejiet."
+
+"It must be from---- no." She was thinking of her lover as she looked
+at the letter, but she saw it was not his hand. She recognised the
+writing: it was Ruth's. "The envelope is not very clean, Prissy."
+
+"So I told the boy when he brought it to the back door."
+
+"The back door!" exclaimed Esther, rather bewildered.
+
+"It's curious, isn't it, miss, that it wasn't sent by post?"
+
+"Yes, it is. What did the boy say?"
+
+"It's what I said first, miss. 'You've been and dropped it in the
+gutter,' I said; but he only laughed, and said it was give to him this
+morning, and that he was to bring it to the servants' entrance and ask
+for Prissy."
+
+"But why didn't he deliver it this morning?" asked Esther, her
+bewilderment growing.
+
+"I don't know, miss. He's been playing in the streets all day, I
+expect. Anyway, he said I was to give it to you when nobody was
+looking. It's Miss Ruth's writing, miss."
+
+Esther made no remark upon this, but asked, "Did he say who gave it to
+him?"
+
+"A young lady, he said, miss."
+
+"That will do, Prissy."
+
+"Can I do anything for you, miss?"
+
+"Nothing, thank you."
+
+Prissy gone, Esther looked at the envelope, and saw written in one
+corner, "Read this when you are alone." Troubled and perplexed, she
+stood with the letter in her hand; but when the door was opened again
+and the doctor was announced, she put it hastily into her pocket, and
+went forward to meet him.
+
+Dr. Roberts had attended Rachel for some years past, and took the
+deepest interest in her.
+
+"Sleeping," he said, stepping to her side. He turned to Esther, and,
+questioning her, learned why he had been sent for. "She falls asleep,"
+he said, with his fingers on Rachel's pulse. "Ah, you are awake," as
+Rachel sat upright. "Now, let us see what is the matter. You are not
+in pain? No. That's good."
+
+"There is really nothing the matter with me, doctor," said Rachel.
+
+"But you feel weak and drowsy at times. We will soon set that right."
+
+Dr. Roberts was one of those cheerful physicians whose bright ways
+always brighten their patients. "Make the best of a case," was a
+favourite saying of his, "not the worst."
+
+He remained with Rachel a quarter of an hour, advised her to get to
+bed, gave her instructions as to food, ordered her a tonic, and took
+his leave. Esther went with him into the passage.
+
+"There is no danger, doctor?"
+
+"Not the slightest, my dear," he answered, in a fatherly manner. "But
+I would advise perfect rest. Don't tell her anything exciting. She
+must not be worried. Get a humorous story and read it to her. Make her
+laugh. Let everything be bright and cheerful about her. But I need not
+say that: it always is--eh? If you have any troubles, keep them to
+yourself. But what troubles should a young girl like you have?"
+
+He met Aaron at the street door.
+
+"Ah, Mr. Cohen, I have been to see your wife--in a friendly way."
+
+"She is not ill?" asked Aaron, in an anxious tone, stepping back.
+
+"No; a little weak, that is all. Don't go up to see her; I have just
+left her, and she will think there is something the matter, when
+there's nothing that cannot be set right in a few days. She wants
+tone, that is all, and rest, and perfect freedom from excitement. That
+is essential. Such a day as this, flattering and pleasant as it must
+have been, is not good for her. Keep her mind at rest, let her hear
+nothing that is likely to disturb her, speak of none but cheerful
+subjects to her, and she will be herself again in a week. Follow my
+advice, and there is not the least cause for alarm."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+ RUTH'S SECRET.
+
+
+Dr. Roberts spoke so heartily and confidently that Aaron's anxiety was
+relieved, and the counsel that Rachel should be told nothing that was
+likely to disturb her was something like a reprieve, as it prevented
+him from precipitating matters. A few days were still left for
+reflection, and he went forth to his public duties with a lighter
+heart.
+
+Esther, meanwhile, was busy for some time attending to Rachel, who
+wished the young girl to remain with her till she was asleep. With
+Ruth's letter in her pocket, which had been delivered almost
+clandestinely at the house, and which she was enjoined to read when
+she was alone, she was compelled to bridle her impatience. She did not
+dare to speak of it to Rachel, and the course the conversation took in
+the bedroom did not tend to compose her. Rachel spoke only of family
+matters, of her husband and children, and presently the conversation
+drifted entirely to the subject of Ruth.
+
+"Young girls," said Rachel, "confide in each other. There is a true
+affection between you, is there not, my dear?"
+
+"Yes," replied Esther, wondering what was coming, and dreading it.
+
+"It happens sometimes," continued Rachel, with a sigh, "that parents
+do not entirely win their children's confidence. Joseph has not a
+secret from me. Do you think Ruth is quite happy, my dear?"
+
+"I think so," said Esther.
+
+"I am not asking you to break a confidence she may have reposed in
+you----"
+
+Esther could not refrain from interrupting her.
+
+"But, dear mother, I know nothing."
+
+As she uttered the words a guilty feeling stole over her. What did the
+letter in her pocket contain?
+
+Rachel drew the girl's face to hers, and caressed her.
+
+"Now it is you," she said, "who are speaking as if you are in trouble.
+I am very inconsiderate; but love has its pains as well as its joys.
+You have no trouble, Esther?"
+
+"None, dear mother. I am perfectly happy."
+
+"See how mistaken I am; and I hope I am mistaken also about Ruth. I
+feared that she had some secret which she was concealing from me.
+Blind people are suspicious, and breed trouble for themselves and
+others."
+
+"Not you, dear mother," said Esther, kissing her. "Now you must go to
+sleep. This is quite against the doctor's orders."
+
+Rachel smiled and yielded. She took pleasure in being led by those she
+loved.
+
+In the solitude of her chamber Esther read the letter.
+
+
+"Darling Esther,--
+
+"I am in great trouble, and you must help me. You are the only friend
+I have in the world----but no, I must not say that; it is not true.
+What I mean is, you are the only friend at home I can trust.
+
+"Father and mother, and you, too, think I am in Portsmouth with your
+family. Dear Esther, I am in London; I have been in London all the
+week. The happiness of my life is in your hands; remember that.
+
+"I went down to Portsmouth, but I only stayed two days. I told your
+father I had to pay a visit to other friends, and he believed me. And
+now I hear he is in London, and of course will come to the house. He
+is the only person you may tell; you must beg him not to say a word
+about my going from Portsmouth; you must make him promise; you don't
+know what depends upon it. Speak to him quietly, and say he must not
+betray me; he will do anything for you.
+
+"Dear, darling Esther, I have a secret that I cannot disclose yet. I
+will soon--perhaps to-morrow, perhaps in a week; I cannot fix a time,
+because it does not depend upon me. But remember my happiness is in
+your hands.
+
+ "Your loving
+
+ "Ruth."
+
+
+The young girl was bewildered and distressed by this communication.
+They had all believed that Ruth was on a visit to Esther's family, and
+Esther had received letters from her with the Portsmouth postmark on
+them. It was true that Ruth had asked her, as a particular favour, not
+to reply to the letters, and though Esther considered it a strange
+request, she had complied with it. Ruth's stronger will always
+prevailed with her. But what did it all mean? If Ruth had been in
+London a week, where was she stopping? Esther's character could hardly
+as yet be said to be formed: it was sweet, but it lacked decision, and
+now that she was called upon to act in a matter of importance she
+looked helplessly round, as if for guidance. She was glad when Prissy
+knocked at her door and said that her father was downstairs. Part of
+the responsibility seemed to be already lifted from her shoulders.
+
+"Prissy," she said, before she went down, "you haven't spoken to
+anybody about the letter?"
+
+"No, miss."
+
+"Don't say anything about it, please. Mrs. Cohen is not well, and the
+doctor is very particular that she shall not be bothered or worried."
+
+"I won't say anything, miss." She shook her head gravely as Esther
+tripped downstairs, and muttered, "Trouble's coming, or my name ain't
+what it is."
+
+"I am so glad you are here, father," said Esther; "I have something to
+tell you."
+
+"I have something to tell _you_," said Mr. Moss. "Such an odd
+impression! Of course I must be mistaken. But first I want to know how
+Mrs. Cohen is. I thought she was not looking strong to-day."
+
+Esther told him of the doctor's visit and the instructions he had
+given, and then handed him Ruth's letter, which he read in silence.
+
+"I don't like the look of it," he said. "I hate mystery, and I cannot
+decide immediately whether it ought to be kept from Mr. Cohen."
+
+"Oh, father," cried Esther, "Ruth will never forgive me if I betray
+her."
+
+"I don't think it is a question of betrayal," said Mr. Moss. "She
+tells you to speak to me, and you have done so. I take the blame on
+myself, whatever happens. My dear, you are not old enough to
+understand such matters, and you must leave this to me. The letter
+will be better in my keeping than in yours. Just consider, Esther;
+would you have behaved so?"
+
+"No, father, I could not."
+
+"There is the answer. The odd impression I spoke of was that I saw
+Ruth to-night in a hansom cab. I thought I was mistaken, but now I am
+convinced it was she. If I had known what I know now I should have
+followed her. As to Ruth never forgiving you, what will Mr. Cohen's
+feelings be towards you when he discovers that you have acted in a
+treacherous manner towards him and his wife? Ruth is very little older
+than yourself, and I am afraid cannot discriminate between right and
+wrong; she must not be allowed to drag us into a conspiracy against
+the peace of the family."
+
+Esther was dismayed; she had not looked upon it in this light.
+
+"Was Ruth alone?" she asked, in a faltering voice.
+
+"No, she had a gentleman with her. It is a bad business--a bad
+business. I intended to return to Portsmouth to-morrow, but now I
+shall remain till the matter is cleared up."
+
+"Shall you speak to Mr. Cohen to-night, father?"
+
+"No. I shall do nothing till the morning; I must have time to consider
+how to act. Mr. Cohen will not be home till past midnight, and he will
+be completely tired out with the fatigues of the day. To think that it
+should turn out so! Good-night, my dear child. Get to bed, and try to
+sleep. Things may turn out better than we expect, after all."
+
+But despite that hope Mr. Moss, when he left Aaron's house, could find
+nothing more cheerful to occupy his mind than the _Miserere_ from "Il
+Trovatore," which he hummed dolefully as he trudged through the
+streets. There was very little sleep for his daughter on this night,
+and very little also for Aaron Cohen. The cloud that was gathering was
+too ominous for repose.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+ THE HONOURABLE PERCY STORNDALE MAKES AN APPEAL
+ TO AARON COHEN.
+
+
+On the following morning Aaron had a great deal of work before him
+which could not be neglected. He had returned home late on the
+previous night, after an exhausting interview with the strikers, in
+which he had won the battle. It is to be doubted whether any other man
+in London could have exercised so commanding an influence over men who
+were convinced that they had right on their side, and many of whom
+were still inclined to hold out for better terms than Aaron was
+empowered to offer them; but his arguments prevailed in the end, and
+the men gave way. Neither the masters nor the strikers obtained all
+they desired; each side had to concede something; though, in the main,
+the advantage lay with the men, whose delegates, in generous words,
+acknowledged the services which Aaron had rendered to the cause they
+were fighting for. The newspapers, in recording that the strike was
+over, were no less generous in their acknowledgments. "It will be long
+remembered," said the editor of a leading journal, "that a grave
+danger has been averted chiefly through the influence and high
+character of one of the most esteemed of our Jewish citizens. To Mr.
+Aaron Cohen, and to him alone, may be said to be due the credit of
+terminating a strike which, had it been much longer continued, would
+have had a disastrous effect upon an important industry, and in the
+performance of a service which was as disinterested as it was arduous
+he has established his claim to be ranked among the public benefactors
+of the country. Masters may well take a lesson from this gentleman,
+who, in the building up of his own fortunes, has been consistently
+mindful of the interests and well-being of his workmen. Herein we see
+the value of character and its influence on the masses. Were capital
+generally to follow the example of Mr. Cohen in its dealings with
+labour there would be less room for discontent. In another column will
+be found an account of the proceedings which took place at this
+gentleman's house yesterday, upon which occasion a deserved honour was
+paid to him. If he deserved, as he certainly did, such a tribute
+yesterday, he deserves it tenfold to-day when the thanks of the nation
+are due to him for his successful efforts in the builders' strike." At
+any other time Aaron would have been proud to read these remarks, but
+now he put the newspaper aside with a heavy sigh. The higher the
+position the greater the fall. He alone knew that his fair reputation
+was in danger, and that the honourable edifice he had built for
+himself was tottering to the ground. From these matters, however, his
+attention was diverted by a visit from his wife's physician.
+
+Dr. Roberts had not been quite ingenuous in his report of Rachel's
+condition: his ripe experience warned him that a crisis might occur,
+and that a few days must elapse before the extent of the danger, if
+any existed, could be ascertained. It was this that caused him to call
+early at the house to see Rachel, and when he left her he sought Aaron
+to confer with him. The moment the doctor entered the room Aaron's
+thoughts flew to his beloved, and he started up in alarm.
+
+"Doctor!" he cried.
+
+"Now what do you see in my face," said Dr. Roberts, with a smile, "to
+cause you to start up so suddenly? Sit down, sit down, and let me tell
+you at once that your wife is in no danger--only she requires a little
+care and attention. I have come to give you advice, if you will listen
+to it."
+
+"Of course I will listen to it."
+
+"Of course you will; and you will follow it."
+
+"To the letter."
+
+"That is right. My advice is that you send Mrs. Cohen at once to the
+seaside. She will be better out of London. I saw on her table a number
+of letters--begging letters, I was informed--which Miss Moss had been
+reading to her. Just now she is not equal to the strain. She must be
+free from the emotions created by these appeals, and from anything of
+an agitating nature. Perfect repose and rest--that is what she
+requires, with brighter sunshine and a balmier air, and in a week or
+two she will be well. I should recommend Bournemouth, and if you wish
+I will run down and see her there. Meanwhile, I will give you the name
+of a physician who will understand her case as well as I do. Let Miss
+Moss go with her; your wife is fond of her, and she is a cheerful
+companion, though she seems to be rather depressed this morning. I
+have been lecturing the young lady, and she tells me she has had a bad
+night. It will do them both good."
+
+"I cannot accompany her to-day," said Aaron. "I have so many important
+matters to attend to. We will go down to-morrow."
+
+"Send her to-day," urged the physician, "and you can follow on
+to-morrow, or later. It is good weather for travelling; in a few hours
+it may change. To-day, by all means. We doctors are autocrats, you
+know, and will not listen to argument. To-day."
+
+Had the business he had to attend to been of less importance, Aaron
+would have put it aside, and travelled with his wife to the seaside;
+but it was business which imperatively demanded his personal
+attention, and he had no alternative but to send her with Esther and
+the ever faithful Prissy, in whom he had every confidence. He
+accompanied them as far as the railway station, and held Rachel's hand
+in his as they drove to Waterloo. It was not only that they were still
+lovers, but that he felt the need of the moral support which he
+derived from the tender hand-clasp.
+
+"Do not be anxious about me, dear," said Rachel, "and do not come down
+till Friday. Then you can stop till Monday morning, and perhaps Joseph
+will be home by then, and he can come with you. He will not be able to
+keep away from Esther, and he has but a short time to remain in
+England. Nothing really ails me except a little weakness which I shall
+soon overcome. If Ruth is happy in Portsmouth let her remain there if
+she wishes. We are growing old, love, you and I, and we must not tie
+our children too closely to our sides. They will fly away as the young
+birds do, and make nests of their own. May their homes be as happy as
+ours has been--may their lives be as happy as you have made mine!"
+
+In such-like tender converse the minutes flew by, and as the train
+steamed out of the station Rachel's face, with a bright smile upon it,
+was turned towards her husband.
+
+On the road home Aaron telegraphed to Ruth in Portsmouth, addressing
+his telegram to Mr. Moss's house; he desired her to return to London
+to-day or to-morrow. He felt that he must speak to her with as little
+delay as possible respecting the disclosure which Mr. Dillworthy had
+made to him; it would be playing the coward's part, indeed, if he did
+not immediately ascertain the nature of her feelings for the
+Honourable Percy Storndale. Thus far the first step of his duty; what
+steps were to follow he had not yet determined upon.
+
+Arriving at his house, he found Mr. Moss waiting to see him. Esther
+had left a letter for her father acquainting him with their departure
+for the seaside, and giving him their address in Bournemouth, which
+she was enabled to do because Aaron had made arrangements by telegraph
+for their reception in a Jewish house there. After a few words of
+explanation of the cause of Rachel and Esther leaving so suddenly,
+Aaron informed his friend that he had telegraphed to Ruth to come home
+at once. Mr. Moss started.
+
+"You sent the telegram to my house?" he said.
+
+"Certainly. I am sorry to break her visit, which she must have
+enjoyed, but there is a necessity for it. As my oldest friend you
+should not be kept in ignorance of this necessity, and we will agree
+that it is not to be spoken of outside ourselves without my consent."
+
+Thereupon he related the part of his interview with Mr. Dillworthy
+that affected Ruth and the son of Lord Storndale.
+
+"There is another matter," he said, "of great importance which was
+mentioned during the interview, and which we may speak of presently.
+You now know my reason for sending to Ruth to come home. I must learn
+the truth from her own lips."
+
+"Strangely enough," said Mr. Moss, nervously, "I have come to say
+something about Ruth myself."
+
+"Surely not in connection with this matter?" exclaimed Aaron.
+
+"You must be the judge of that, Cohen. Did you notice whether Esther
+was looking well?"
+
+"She looked tired. Dr. Roberts said she had passed a bad night, and
+that the change would do her good."
+
+"A bad night. No wonder, poor child! I scarcely slept an hour with
+what is on my mind. You will be surprised at what I have to tell you.
+But first--Esther said nothing about Ruth?"
+
+"Nothing whatever."
+
+"You must not blame her; she acted by my directions, and her lips are
+sealed."
+
+"Why should I blame her? She is a dear good child; I have implicit
+faith and confidence in her. You alarm me, Mr. Moss. Speak plainly, I
+beg of you."
+
+"Yes, I will do so, but I would have liked to break it gradually.
+Cohen, Ruth is not in Portsmouth."
+
+"Not in Portsmouth! Where, then?"
+
+"If what she writes and my eyes are to be believed, she is in London,
+and has been there all the week, She remained with us two days, and
+then left, saying she was going to pay a visit to some other friends.
+We naturally thought, though we expected her to make a longer stay,
+that you were aware of it, and that the plan of her visit had been
+altered with your concurrence. Last night, as I passed through Regent
+Street, I saw a lady in a hansom in the company of a gentleman, and I
+could have sworn it was Ruth; but the cab was driving at a quick pace,
+and I thought I must have been deceived. I came on here to Esther, and
+the poor child was in deep distress. She had received a letter from
+Ruth, which she gave me to read. I do not offer any excuse for taking
+the letter from her; she is but a child, and is quite unfit for a
+responsibility which, without her consent, was imposed upon her. Here
+is the letter; it explains itself."
+
+Aaron read it with conflicting feelings. His first thought was that
+Ruth had taken her fate into her own hands. He had done his duty
+zealously by her in the past, whatever might be his duty in the
+present. If, as was his fervent hope, no dishonour to her was involved
+in her flight--for it was no less than flight, and desertion of the
+home in which she had been reared--if there had been a secret
+marriage, new contingencies of the future loomed dimly before him,
+contingencies in which the stern task it was his duty to perform was
+not so terrible in its import. The past could never be condoned, but
+in his consideration of the future one figure towered above all
+others, the figure of his wife. If for her the suffering could be made
+less--if the fact of Ruth taking her course without his prompting,
+even in defiance of the lessons he had endeavoured to inculcate, would
+mitigate the severity of the blow, was it not something to be grateful
+for? If, he argued mentally, she and the son of Lord Storndale were
+married, they had little to hope for from the Storndale family. Their
+dependence, then, rested upon him, and he resolved that he would not
+fail the rash couple. His hope of an honourable, though secret,
+marriage was based upon his knowledge of Ruth's character. She was not
+given to exaggerated sentiment, he had never known her to go into
+heroics, she possessed certain sterling qualities of strength and
+determination. Granted that she was led away by the glamour of wedding
+the son of a peer, he was convinced she would not so far forget
+herself as to bring shame upon herself and her connections. She was
+Christian born, and she had the right to marry a Christian; by her own
+unprompted act she had cut the Gordian knot. That the Honourable Percy
+Storndale had a double motive in pursuing her was likely enough; love,
+Aaron hoped, being one, the fact of her reputed father being a wealthy
+man the other. Well, he would fulfil the young man's expectations;
+there was nothing in the shape of worldly atonement which he was not
+ready and anxious to make.
+
+In the midst of his musings a servant presented himself with a
+telegram and a card. The card bore the name of The Hon. Percy
+Storndale, the telegram was from Mrs. Moss in Portsmouth.
+
+"Wait outside," Aaron said to the servant, who left the room.
+
+The telegram was to the effect that Ruth was not in Portsmouth, and
+that Mrs. Moss, in her absence, had taken the liberty of reading the
+message, under the idea that it might contain something which required
+an immediate answer. "Is Ruth coming to us again?" Mrs. Moss asked.
+
+Aaron passed the telegram and the card to Mr. Moss.
+
+"Keep in the house," he said, "while I have an interview with this
+gentleman. Wait in the library, and tell the servant to show Mr.
+Storndale into this room."
+
+In a few moments the young man was ushered in and Aaron motioned him
+to a seat.
+
+It is a human failing to run into extremes. No man is quite so good or
+bad as he is represented to be by his admirers or detractors. In his
+anxiety to prejudice Aaron against Lord Storndale's son Mr. Dillworthy
+had done the young man an injustice. A scapegrace he was, without
+doubt, but he had been educated into his vices and extravagances--it
+may be said with truth carefully reared into them--and he was
+certainly no worse than hundreds of other men who are brought up
+with no definite aim in life, and are educated without any sensible
+and serious effort being made to impress them with life's
+responsibilities. He had, indeed, the advantage of many, for although
+he considered it perfectly excusable to get into debt with tradesmen
+and to borrow from moneylenders without an expectation of being able
+to pay either one or the other, he would not have descended so low as
+to pick a pocket or to cheat at cards. More of the pigeon than the
+gull, he looked always to his family to get him out of his scrapes; he
+believed it to be their duty; and it was upon him, not upon them, that
+injustice was inflicted when he was thrown entirely upon his own
+resources and he was given to understand that for the future he would
+have to settle his own liabilities.
+
+He was fair-haired and blue-eyed, and passably good-looking; beyond
+this there was nothing remarkable in his appearance; but there was
+that air of good humour and careless ease about him which generally
+wins favour with women who do not look beneath the surface. Just now
+he was manifestly ill at ease, for he had never before been engaged
+upon a mission so awkward and embarrassing. That he was impressed by
+Aaron's dignified manner was evident; he had expected to meet a man of
+a different stamp. Each waited for the other to speak, and Aaron was
+not the first to break the silence.
+
+"I have taken the liberty of visiting you upon a rather delicate
+matter," said the young gentleman, "and it is more difficult than I
+anticipated."
+
+"Yes?" said Aaron, and said no more.
+
+The monosyllable was uttered in the form of a question, and did not
+lessen the difficulties in the young man's way.
+
+"Yes," he replied, and was at a loss how to continue; but again Aaron
+did not assist him.
+
+"Upon my honour," he said at length, "I would not undertake to say
+whether I would rather be in this room than out of it, or out of it
+than in it." He gave a weak laugh here, with a half idea that he had
+said something rather clever; but still he met with no encouragement
+from Aaron. "It is so difficult, you see," he added. "I do not suppose
+you know me."
+
+"No," said Aaron; "I do not know you."
+
+"I thought it possible that your daughter, Miss Cohen, you know, might
+have mentioned me to you."
+
+"She has never done so."
+
+"It was my fault entirely. I said, on no account; and naturally she
+gave in."
+
+"Did she wish to mention you to me?"
+
+"Oh yes; but I insisted. I don't exactly know why, but I did, and she
+gave in. I daresay I was a blockhead, but I hope you will find excuses
+for me."
+
+"At present I can find none. We shall understand each other if you
+come to the point."
+
+"I will try to do so, but it is not easy, I assure you Mr. Cohen,
+after the way I have behaved. Upon second thoughts I do not see, upon
+my honour I do not see, how you can be expected to find excuses for
+me. But it does happen sometimes that a fellow meets another fellow
+who helps a lame dog over the stile. I am the lame dog, you know."
+
+"It may assist you," said Aaron, "if I ask you one question, and if
+you frankly answer it. Are you a married man?"
+
+"Upon my soul, sir," exclaimed the Honourable Percy Storndale, "I
+cannot be sufficiently thankful to you. Yes, sir, I am a married man."
+
+"Long married?"
+
+"Four days, Mr. Cohen."
+
+"Can you show me proof of it?"
+
+"I thank you again, sir. But it wasn't my idea; it was my wife's.
+'Take the marriage certificate with you,' she said. She has wonderful
+ideas."
+
+"Let me see the certificate."
+
+The young man instantly produced it, and Aaron, with a deep-drawn
+breath of relief, saw recorded there the marriage of Miss Ruth Cohen
+and the Honourable Percy Storndale.
+
+"You married my--my daughter, I see," said Aaron, "in a registrar's
+office."
+
+"I don't know how to apologise to you, sir," said the young man, as
+relieved by Aaron's calm attitude as Aaron was himself at this proof
+of an honourable union. "I can't conceive anything meaner; but what
+could I do? Ruth--Miss Cohen, you know--being a Jewess, could not well
+have been married in a church, and I, being a Christian, could not
+well have been married in a synagogue. It was a very delicate point; I
+am not acquainted with the law on the subject, but no fellow can deny
+that it was a delicate point. Then there was another difficulty.
+Bridesmaids, bridesmaids' presents, and general expenses, to say
+nothing of the publicity when the parties principally concerned wanted
+to get it over quietly and quickly. Ruth said you would never consent;
+I said my family would never consent; so what else was there for it?
+Pray forgive me if I am expressing myself clumsily."
+
+"Your family did not encourage the match?"
+
+"Dead against it; from the first dead against it. Bullied and
+threatened me. 'What!' they cried, 'marry a Jewess!' 'As good as any
+Christian,' I retorted. But did you ever know a Storndale listen to
+reason, Mr. Cohen?"
+
+"You are a Storndale," said Aaron, quietly.
+
+"Had me there," chuckled the young man. "'Gad, sir, you had me there.
+Well, sir, that is how it stands, and if you show me the door I'll not
+say I don't deserve it."
+
+"I will not show you the door, but it is not correct to say that is
+how it stands, as if there were nothing more to explain. Mr.
+Storndale, if the lady you have married were a Christian, would your
+family have objected?" The young man laughed in a weak awkward way.
+"Answer me frankly, this and other questions it is my duty to put."
+
+"My family would not have objected," said the Honourable Percy
+Storndale, "if there had been settlements. You see, sir, we are not
+exactly rolling in money, and I am a younger son. No expectations,
+sir. A poor gentleman."
+
+"An imprudent marriage, Mr. Storndale."
+
+"No denying it, sir; and it has only come home to me the last day or
+two. Marriage in such circumstances pulls a fellow up, you see, makes
+him reflect, you know. My wife's an angel, and that makes it cut
+deeper. A married fellow thinks of things. As a bachelor I never
+thought of to-morrow, I give you my word on it. So long as I had a
+five-pound note in my pocket I was happy. To-morrow! Hang to-morrow!
+That was the way of it. I've only just woke up to the fact that there
+is a to-morrow."
+
+"Was it a love match, Mr. Storndale?"
+
+"On both sides, sir. Without vanity--and I don't deny I've got my
+share of that--I may speak for her as well as for myself."
+
+"From the first, a love match, Mr. Storndale? Did it never occur to
+you that I was a rich man?"
+
+"You drive me hard, sir, but I'm not going to play fast and loose with
+you. 'Be prepared, Percy,' Ruth says to me. 'My father is a wise as
+well as a just and kind man, and I don't know whether he will ever
+forgive me; but you will make a sad mistake if you don't speak the
+honest truth to him.' The truth it shall be, as I am a gentleman. I
+did think of Ruth's father being a rich man, and seeing us through it.
+But after a little while I got so over head and heels that I thought
+only of her. I give you my word, sir, I never had the feelings for any
+woman that I have for Ruth, and that, I think, is why I'm rather
+scared when I think of to-morrow. If I hadn't been afraid of losing
+her I might have come straight to you before we went to the registrar,
+but I didn't care to run the risk. What would you do, sir, for a woman
+you loved?"
+
+"Everything--anything."
+
+"You would stake everything against nothing, with a certainty of
+losing, rather than give her up?"
+
+"I would make any earthly sacrifice for her."
+
+"Well, sir, you know how I feel. I don't set myself up as a good man;
+I've done foolish things, and I dare say shall do more foolish things,
+but not half nor quarter as many with a clever woman by my side to
+keep me straight. What some of us want, sir, is ballast; I never had
+it till now, and even now perhaps it's of no use to me. Until a week
+ago I had to think for one; now I have to think for two. But thinking
+won't help me through, I'm afraid."
+
+Never before had the Honourable Percy Storndale expressed himself in
+so manly a fashion; it was as though contact with Aaron were bringing
+out his best qualities.
+
+"Was it your intention, Mr. Storndale, to come to me so soon after
+your marriage?"
+
+"I had no settled intention when to come, sir, but I have been forced
+to it sooner than I expected."
+
+"What has forced you to it?"
+
+"Writs. I give you my word they are flying about, and I am afraid I
+shall have to fly too. When needs must, you know, sir."
+
+"Are you heavily in debt?"
+
+"To the tune of three thousand, sir."
+
+"When a question of this kind is asked, the answer is generally below
+the mark."
+
+"True enough, sir, but I am pretty close to it this time. Ruth's an
+angel, but she's a sensible woman as well. She made me put everything
+down."
+
+"If I settle the claims against you"--the young man looked up with a
+flush on his face--"you will get into debt again."
+
+"I'll try not to, sir."
+
+"Honestly, Mr. Storndale?"
+
+"Honestly, Mr. Cohen. Ruth will keep me straight."
+
+"Leave me your address. I will come and see you to-night at eight
+o'clock. Make out a clear and truthful list of your debts; omit
+nothing. Meanwhile----"
+
+He wrote a cheque, and handed it to the young man, who received it in
+astonishment, which deepened when he saw the amount for which it was
+drawn. He was in no way prepared for such liberality and such a
+reception as he had met with.
+
+"I don't know how to thank you, sir."
+
+"Take care of Ruth. Be kind and considerate to her."
+
+"I will do my best, sir."
+
+He shook hands gratefully with Aaron, and with a light heart went to
+gladden his young wife with the good news.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XL.
+
+ A DUTY PERFORMED.
+
+
+Before Mr. Moss rejoined him, Aaron had repented of his promise to
+call and see the young couple in the evening. This vacillation was a
+proof of the effect recent events had had upon his mind; it was really
+unbalanced; the prompt decision of all matters, whether great or
+small, which presented themselves for consideration, seemed to have
+deserted him. He felt that he could not depend upon himself in the
+promised interview with Ruth, and that he might precipitate a
+discovery, the proper time for which, he believed, had not yet
+arrived. That it would have to be made eventually was certain; truth
+and justice demanded it, and the claim should be met, but not to-day,
+not until other plans with respect to his future were settled. For
+there had already grown in his mind a conviction that he was not
+worthy of the position he held among his co-religionists, that it was
+his duty to retire into obscurity, and not presume to teach what
+should be done in important issues where he himself had so signally
+failed. He mentally asked why had he not recognised this earlier; and
+the answer that trod upon the heels of the question brought a pitiful
+smile of self-despisal to his lips. He had been living deliberately in
+an atmosphere of deceit, trusting to chance to avoid detection and
+exposure. He could lay blame upon no other shoulders than his own; he,
+and he alone, was responsible for the consequences of his acts. Well,
+he would not shrink from them, he would accept them humbly, and rest
+his hopes in the mercy of God. If, when the hour arrived for open
+confession--and arrive it must before many weeks were past--he could
+still retain the love of his wife, if she would forgive him for the
+deception he had practised, he would be content, he might even be
+happy again, fallen as he would be from his high estate. Meanwhile
+there lay upon him the obligation of lifting Ruth and her husband from
+poverty, of placing them in an honourable and independent position,
+and this task he would ask his friend Mr. Moss to undertake for him.
+
+"All is explained," he said, when that gentleman re-entered the room.
+"Ruth has done what cannot be undone. She and Mr. Storndale are
+married."
+
+"Married!" exclaimed Mr. Moss. He was startled at the news, but no
+less startled at the calm voice in which it was communicated to him.
+"What are you going to do about it?"
+
+"Accept it," replied Aaron; "there is no alternative."
+
+"It is an outrage. He should be made to suffer for it."
+
+"He must not be made to suffer for it, nor must Ruth. Apart from the
+personal consideration of the matter so far as it affects myself, and
+from another consideration which doubtless is in your mind, Mr.
+Storndale has acted as honourably as we could expect from one in his
+position. There has been concealment and deception, but it is not for
+me to cast a stone against him. The young man is in difficulties, and
+I have resolved to clear him from them, and to provide for Ruth's
+future. They will expect to see me to-night; but I cannot trust
+myself. I wish you to undertake the task for me, and to carry the
+whole matter through. Mr. Moss, all through my life you have been my
+sincere friend, and I value your friendship; you will not fail me
+now?"
+
+"No, Cohen, no; I will do whatever you wish me to do; but it is hardly
+what I expected of you."
+
+"You are surprised that I do not show anger at this marriage, that I
+do not express resentment against Mr. Storndale?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Before long," said Aaron, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder,
+"you will understand why I am so calm. I can trust you, and when I
+confess that there was in my life an hour when temptation assailed me
+and I fell before it, I feel that my confidence will be respected
+until the time arrives when all the world will know what is hidden in
+my breast, what has been hidden for the last twenty years."
+
+"For the last twenty years! Cohen, that takes us back to the old
+Gosport days!"
+
+"It does. But ask me no questions now, for I am not prepared to answer
+them. Great changes are coming in my life, and I must arm myself to
+meet them. If only Rachel will forgive!"
+
+He covered his eyes with his hand, and turned away.
+
+"Cohen," said Mr. Moss presently, "I see that you are unstrung, that
+you are suffering. You are doing yourself an injustice; I am sure of
+it, I am sure of it. I do not pretend to understand what it is that
+distresses you, but I would like to say that you may depend upon me in
+any difficulty. You may turn against yourself, but you are not going
+to turn an old friend like me against you."
+
+Aaron pressed Mr. Moss's hand, and then explained the task he wished
+performed. Mr. Moss was to call upon Ruth and her husband, and obtain
+from them an honest and faithful account of their position. This done,
+he was to pay every shilling the young man owed; after which a
+settlement of a thousand pounds a year was to be made upon Ruth as a
+marriage portion, the money to be absolutely at her own disposal.
+
+"It is not a great deal," said Aaron, "for a gentleman, the son of a
+peer, to live upon; but his family in a little while, when they learn
+the truth about Ruth"--he paused, and Mr. Moss nodded gravely; a
+strange suspicion was beginning to haunt him--"may be disposed to
+forgive him, and through their influence he may obtain a lucrative
+appointment. From the way in which he spoke I am disposed to think
+that he may turn over a new leaf, and that an honourable future may
+lie before him and Ruth. Give her my love, and say that circumstances
+render it impossible for me to see her for a few days, and that when
+we meet I shall have something of great importance to disclose to her.
+Be patient with me, Mr. Moss. My words point to a mystery which will
+soon be public property. What you are about to do for me can scarcely
+be finished before the end of the week, but I cannot rest until it is
+finished. My own affairs will entirely occupy me, and I must run down
+to Bournemouth to see Rachel."
+
+"I will not waste a moment," said Mr. Moss. "How about the money
+necessary for the settlement and the payment of Mr. Storndale's debts?
+Have you calculated how much it will cost you? A large sum, Cohen."
+
+"It will be forthcoming; the means will be placed in your hands
+to-morrow. Do not return here tonight. Come and breakfast with me at
+nine in the morning."
+
+Aaron sat up till long past midnight, making calculations, and
+arranging his affairs. He was quite resolved to retire from public
+life, and altogether from business; and to effect this there was much
+to do. He had uncompleted contracts in hand which he would transfer to
+employers of whose methods he approved, and he had just obtained
+another which a dozen contractors would be eager to take off his
+hands. He thought of Mr. Poynter, and shook his head. To such a man he
+could not entrust any of his responsibilities. Then he devoted himself
+to an examination of his private financial position.
+
+After providing for Ruth he calculated that he could realise a sum of
+about ninety thousand pounds, in addition to which there were his
+house and furniture, which would realise another ten thousand. One
+third of this would be sufficient to provide for Ruth and her husband,
+one third should be divided among the Jewish charities, and one third
+should be invested for himself and Rachel. This would produce an
+income of between eight and nine hundred pounds, amply sufficient for
+the maintenance of a comfortable home either in London or the country.
+
+"Rachel will be content," he thought; "and the years that are left to
+us shall be passed in peace, away from the turmoil and fever of life.
+If she will but forgive me--if she will but forgive!"
+
+All depended upon that.
+
+He held offices of honour in the synagogue which he would immediately
+resign; there and then he wrote his letters of resignation. There had
+been a time when he was called upon to support a movement in respect
+of these honourable offices. A man who had grown rich by usury and
+fraud had succeeded in getting himself nominated for a high position
+in the synagogue, and this had aroused the displeasure of the more
+respectable members of the community, who had enlisted Aaron on their
+side. His all-powerful influence had settled the question, and the
+usurer was taught a salutary lesson. From that time a strict watch was
+kept upon these dignities, which were conferred upon none whose past
+lives would not bear strict scrutiny. Aaron thought of this as he drew
+forth the address upon modern Judaism he had undertaken to deliver,
+hoping thereby to counteract the loose views of religious obligations
+which threatened to sap the foundations of the old faith. He read the
+powerful arguments he had written to this end, and sighed as he read.
+
+"Not for me the task," he murmured. "Not for me. I am not worthy. It
+is for me to learn, not to teach."
+
+He tore the manuscript and burned it; he had forfeited the right to
+show his brethren the path of duty.
+
+At length he came to the end of his labours. Before he retired to rest
+he prayed long and fervently, and offered up supplications for
+forgiveness.
+
+At nine o'clock in the morning Mr. Moss presented himself, and
+reported what he had done.
+
+"Everything is in such straight order," he said, "that the whole
+business can be finished to-morrow."
+
+"It will be a great weight off my mind," said Aaron, "when all the
+papers are signed. I have letters from Rachel and Esther." He passed
+the young girl's letter to Mr. Moss. "She says there is no change in
+Rachel, but that she thinks the air and change of scene are doing her
+good. If you write to Esther do not hint at any impending trouble, and
+do not mention Ruth's name, lest Rachel should suspect that something
+was wrong. I ought to tell you, Mr. Moss, that I have resolved to
+retire into private life; I shall be much happier, and I am sure
+Rachel will be. It is a sudden resolution, and I daresay my friends
+will be surprised; but I am fixed, nothing can induce me to change my
+mind."
+
+"And your contracts, Cohen?" asked Mr. Moss, who was sufficiently
+familiar with Aaron's character to know that remonstrance at present
+would be thrown away.
+
+"I shall transfer them. My earnest wish is that I shall be forgotten,
+and allowed to live in peace. I am growing old; let my place, which I
+unworthily hold, be occupied by a better man."
+
+"That is hardly likely to come to pass," said Mr. Moss, gravely. "You
+are not old; you are in the prime of life, with very many years of
+usefulness before you. But I will not argue with you; when you have
+recovered from your depression, when Rachel is well again, you will
+think better of it. We need you; no other man can fill your place, and
+you will not be allowed to retire without remonstrance. But we will
+wait till Sunday, when you are to deliver your address upon 'Judaism,
+its Duties and Obligations.' After it is delivered it will be printed
+in pamphlet form, will it not?"
+
+"No; it will be neither delivered nor printed."
+
+"Cohen!" exclaimed Mr. Moss, amazed at this statement.
+
+"It is as I say, Mr. Moss," said Aaron, firmly.
+
+"But it is expected; it is looked forward to, and the best results are
+anticipated from it. You will not go from your word?"
+
+"I must. The address is destroyed. I must bear whatever is said of me;
+I accept it as part of my punishment."
+
+"Of your punishment! I do not understand you."
+
+"You will by-and-by. Mr. Moss, the man who presumes to set down laws
+of right and wrong should be above reproach. Can a thief preach
+honesty? Can a liar lift his voice in praise of truth?"
+
+"These are strange utterances, Cohen, from your lips."
+
+"There is a sad foundation for them. To know yourself--that is the
+height of human wisdom; and I have learned too late. Pray do not
+continue the subject; you stand in the dark, I in the light."
+
+"Well, well," said Mr. Moss, with a sigh, "we will speak of this
+another time. But I do not see what you can have to reproach yourself
+with."
+
+"Let every man search his own heart," replied Aaron, and his voice was
+very mournful. "He will find the answer there. And now we will waste
+no more time in idle conversation. We must go to the lawyers and the
+bank. Have you a list of Mr. Storndale's debts? Ah, thank you." He
+looked at the total, and drew a cheque for the amount. "The payment of
+these claims will keep you busy during the day. I will give
+instructions to the lawyers to prepare the deed of settlement, and
+tomorrow it can be signed. You will be a trustee; I will call upon a
+gentleman who will be the other. I shall spend to-night at
+Bournemouth, and will come back by an early train in the morning."
+
+"Will you not see Ruth before you leave?" asked Mr. Moss.
+
+"No, not till everything is finished. How is she?"
+
+"Well and happy, and overjoyed that you are not angry with her.
+Between ourselves, Cohen, it is not what she expected." Under his
+breath he added, "Nor what I expected, either."
+
+"She has all the more reason for contentment," said Aaron. "I wish her
+to be happy."
+
+They had a busy time with lawyers, stockbrokers, bank managers, and
+creditors, and Aaron just managed to catch the two-twenty train for
+Bournemouth. He passed a quiet evening with Rachel and Esther, and
+answered such questions put by his wife concerning Ruth in a manner
+which seemed to satisfy her, for she did not press him upon the
+subject. With Esther he had a private conversation, and cautioned her
+to preserve silence as to the letter she had received. On the
+following morning he took train for London, and arriving before noon,
+found everything prepared for a final settlement of his plans for
+Ruth's worldly future. When the deeds were signed, and the consols
+bought and deposited in the Bank of England, Aaron breathed more
+freely. He had made some small atonement to Ruth for the deception of
+which he had been guilty.
+
+"We have had no honeymoon trip," said the Honourable Percy Storndale
+to him, "and I am thinking of taking Ruth to the Continent tomorrow."
+
+"Yes," said Aaron, absently.
+
+"But," added Mr. Storndale, "the trip will have no pleasure for her if
+she does not see you before we go."
+
+"I will come with you now," said Aaron.
+
+They met and parted without any warm expression of affection. Such a
+demonstration from Ruth towards one whom she believed to be her
+father, but for whom she had never entertained a strong love, would
+have been a new feature in her character, and grateful as she was for
+his generosity she was held back by the feeling that she had given him
+a poor return for his life-long kindness towards her, and by her fear
+that he was quietly angry with her; while Aaron was held back by the
+consciousness of his wrong-doing. And so the young couple went forth
+to commence their new life, and the secret of Ruth's birth was still
+unrevealed.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XLI.
+
+ THERE IS A PROVIDENCE THAT SHAPES OUR ENDS.
+
+
+Two weeks had passed away. Joseph had come and gone. In the company of
+Esther and his parents he had spent three sad and happy days in
+Bournemouth, happy because he was in the society of those he loved,
+sad because he was so soon to part from them. Rachel's health was
+improved, and it touched Aaron deeply to observe how she clung to her
+son and Esther, as though she were seeking in them a recompense for
+what she was losing in Ruth. He exerted himself to be bright and
+cheerful, and flattered himself that he was succeeding; but, indeed,
+during these days he was not the only one who was playing a part.
+Rachel was also exerting herself to hide the cloud which was hanging
+over her spirits because of the prolonged absence of Ruth, as to whom
+both she and Aaron seemed now to have entered into a loving conspiracy
+of silence.
+
+With Joseph Aaron was compelled to be more open, and to the young man
+and his affianced he imparted the news of Ruth's secret marriage.
+
+"I have not yet broken it to your dear mother," said Aaron, "in
+consequence of the state of her health. But she is growing stronger
+every day, and when you are gone I will break it to her gently." He
+turned to Esther, and said, "You stand now in Ruth's place, and in you
+I also have gained a daughter. Do not let this news distress you. Be
+true to each other, be steadfast to the old faith, and all will be
+well. And be careful to say nothing to the dear mother. Leave that
+task to me."
+
+The carrying out of his intention to retire into private life, and to
+entirely give up the important business transactions in which he had
+been engaged for so many years, rendered it necessary that he should
+be in London the greater part of these two weeks; and Mr. Moss, who
+was endeavouring to get his own affairs in order, was his constant
+companion during this time. The private distribution of so large a sum
+of money as Aaron had set apart for charity was no easy matter, and
+the officers of the institutions which were the richer for his
+benevolence used much persuasion to induce him to make his
+benefactions public; but on this point he was resolved. The other
+important matter which occupied him was the transference of his
+existing contracts. His great rival, Mr. Poynter, was especially
+anxious to obtain a share of this business, and with that object in
+view he called upon Aaron. But the two men could not agree; it was not
+a question of terms, but a question as to certain stipulations with
+respect to wages and hours of labour which Aaron insisted upon.
+
+"Surely," protested Mr. Poynter, "you do not arrogate the right to
+dictate to other employers what they shall pay their workmen?"
+
+"Not at all," Aaron replied, "where I am not concerned. But these
+contracts are mine; numbers of the workmen have been in my employ for
+years, and I must protect them."
+
+"Protect them!" exclaimed Mr. Poynter, angrily. "Against me!"
+
+"Against all," said Aaron, firmly, "who would pay workmen less than a
+fair living wage, and would put too severe a strain upon bone and
+muscle."
+
+"Bone and muscle!" cried Mr. Poynter. "Bone and fiddlesticks! You are
+talking common cant, Mr. Cohen."
+
+The interview grew stormy, and did not last much longer. When Mr.
+Poynter departed it was with a burning anger against Aaron, and with a
+burning desire for revenge. From that moment he looked about for the
+means of compassing this revenge. "If I could only bring him down!" he
+thought, "if I could only bring him down!"
+
+At the end of the fortnight Aaron was in London, his labours over, and
+at this time his own fortune amounted to something over forty-five
+thousand pounds, a larger sum than he had anticipated would be left to
+him.
+
+It must be mentioned that Ruth and her husband had just returned to
+London, as he was informed by letter, their honeymoon trip having come
+suddenly to an end in consequence of Ruth's indisposition It was she
+who wrote to him, and she was so earnest in the expression of her wish
+that he would come and see her, that he had sent her a telegram saying
+that he would call at eight or nine o'clock, by which time he expected
+to be free. He would have called earlier, but he had an appointment
+with Mr. Moss at six, his intention being to make to his old friend a
+full disclosure of his secret respecting Ruth. On the following day
+Rachel and Esther were coming back to London, as Rachel did not wish
+to remain longer in Bournemouth.
+
+Aaron was waiting now in his study for Mr. Moss. The cares and sorrows
+of the past few months had left their mark upon him. The grey hairs
+had multiplied fast, the lines in his face had deepened, and in the
+kind eyes and benevolent countenance there was a touch of childlike
+pathos, as though the strong man had suddenly grown weak, and was
+mutely appealing for mercy.
+
+Mr. Moss's face was flushed with excitement as he entered the room
+with an evening paper in his hand.
+
+"Have you heard the rumour, Cohen?" he asked, excitedly.
+
+"What rumour?" inquired Aaron, rising to meet his friend.
+
+"About your bank, the Colonial Alliance?"
+
+"No, I have heard nothing. I have not been out of the house since the
+morning."
+
+"It came on me like a thunderclap, but it cannot be true."
+
+"What cannot be true, Mr. Moss?" Aaron spoke quite calmly.
+
+"Well, there's nothing definite, but you know there has been something
+like a panic in the City."
+
+"I am aware of it, but it cannot affect me. I have no investments now,
+with the solitary exception of my bank shares. All my affairs are
+settled, and what is left of my fortune is in the bank until I decide
+how to invest it."
+
+Mr. Moss groaned "I wish you had it safely tied up in consols. Is all
+your money there?"
+
+"Every shilling. The only investments I have not realised are the
+shares I hold in the bank."
+
+"That makes it all the worse. The shareholders are liable to the
+depositors?"
+
+"Certainly--to the extent of the unpaid portion of their shares.
+Perhaps beyond that--I am not quite sure."
+
+The flush had died out of Mr. Moss's face, which was now white with
+apprehension. "They're calling it out in the streets; but here's the
+paper."
+
+He pointed to a paragraph, which stated that one of the largest banks
+in the City had closed its doors half an hour before its time, and
+that the panic had in consequence reached an alarming height.
+
+"There is no name mentioned, Mr. Moss."
+
+"No, Cohen, no; but I passed through the City on my way here, and the
+name of the bank was on every one's lips. If your bank stops payment
+tomorrow how will you stand?"
+
+"If it stops payment for sufficient cause," said Aaron, in a steady
+voice, "I shall be a ruined man."
+
+"Good heavens! And you can speak of it so calmly!"
+
+"Why not? To work myself into a frenzy will not help me. There are
+worse misfortunes."
+
+"I cannot imagine them, Cohen. Ruined? Absolutely ruined?"
+
+"Absolutely ruined," answered Aaron, with a smile.
+
+"And it is only yesterday that you were----" He could not continue,
+and Aaron took up his words.
+
+"It is only yesterday that I was on the top of the tree. A dangerous
+height, Mr. Moss, but I must bear the fall. If, when they climb the
+ladder of fortune, men would but be careful to make the lower rungs
+secure! But prosperity makes them reckless. Do not look so mournful.
+Happiness is as easily found in poverty as in riches."
+
+"It may be, after all, a false alarm," groaned Mr. Moss.
+
+"Let us hope so; though there is no smoke without a fire. We will wait
+till to-morrow."
+
+"Will you not come with me to the City now to ascertain whether it is
+true or false?"
+
+"No. It will only trouble me, and it will not affect the result. I
+will wait till to-morrow."
+
+So marked was the contrast between his cheerful and Mr. Moss's
+despondent mood that it really seemed as if it were his friend's
+fortune that was imperilled instead of his own. He was standing by the
+door, and hearing a knock he opened it.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said the servant, "but this gentleman is
+below, and wants to see Mr. Moss."
+
+Aaron took the card without looking at it, and handed it to Mr. Moss,
+who exclaimed,--
+
+"Dr. Spenlove! What can he want here?"
+
+"Show the gentleman up," said Aaron to the servant, after a moment's
+consideration.
+
+"Had I not better see him alone?" asked Mr. Moss.
+
+"If you have no objection," replied Aaron, "I should prefer that you
+receive him here in my presence."
+
+They both seemed to scent a coming danger, but Aaron appeared to hail
+it gladly, while Mr. Moss would rather have avoided it.
+
+"A thousand apologies," said Dr. Spenlove to Aaron upon his entrance,
+"for intruding upon you; but hearing that Mr. Moss had come to your
+house I took the liberty of following him. My errand is an urgent
+one."
+
+"I am happy to see you, Dr. Spenlove," Aaron responded; "if your
+business with Mr. Moss is not quite private you can speak freely
+before me."
+
+"I think," said Dr. Spenlove, half hesitating, "that it is quite
+private."
+
+"I have a distinct reason," continued Aaron, as though Dr. Spenlove
+had not spoken, "for making the suggestion; it is more than likely
+that I have a distinct connection with your business, and this must be
+my excuse for wishing to be present. If it is of an incident in the
+past you wish to speak, when you and Mr. Moss were acquainted in
+Portsmouth----"
+
+"How singular that you should have guessed it!" exclaimed Dr.
+Spenlove. "It is such an incident that brings me here."
+
+"The time was winter," pursued Aaron, "the season an inclement one. I
+remember it well. For some days the snow had been falling----"
+
+"Yes, yes. It was a terrible season for the poor."
+
+"For one especially, a lady driven into misfortune, and who had no
+friend but a stern and honourable gentleman who would only lift her
+from the depths into which she had fallen on the condition that she
+submitted to a cruel sacrifice. His demand was that she should give
+her infant into the care of strangers, and that only in the event of
+his death should she be free to seek to know its fate. Is that the
+incident, Dr. Spenlove?"
+
+"It is. I see you know all, and with Mr. Moss's consent I will speak
+openly." Mr. Moss looked at Aaron, who nodded, and Dr. Spenlove
+continued. "There is no need to recall all the particulars of that
+bitter night when you so kindly assisted me in the search for the
+unhappy mother and her child."
+
+"None at all," said Mr. Moss; "they are very vivid in my memory."
+
+"And in mine. Your kindness has not been forgotten either by me or by
+the lady whose life, and whose child's life, were saved by you. He
+shakes his head in deprecation, Mr. Cohen, but what I say is true. Had
+he not, out of the kindness of his heart, accompanied me, these two
+hapless human beings would have perished in the snow. I had a motive
+to serve; he had none. On the night we parted in Portsmouth, Mr.
+Moss, you were on the point of seeking a home for the poor babe, for
+whom"--he turned to Aaron--"a liberal provision was made."
+
+"I am acquainted with every detail of the strange story," said Aaron.
+"I was residing in Gosport at the time."
+
+Dr. Spenlove gave him a startled look. "It was in Gosport he hoped to
+find this home, with a friend of whom he spoke in the highest terms.
+The commission entrusted to me by Mr. Gordon--I perceive you are
+familiar with the name--ended on that night, and what remained to be
+done was in the hands of Mr. Moss and Mr. Gordon's lawyers. The
+following morning I came to London, where I have resided ever since.
+From that day until two or three weeks ago Mr. Moss and I have not
+met. It was here in your house, Mr. Cohen, that, seeing him for the
+first time after so long an interval, I made inquiries concerning the
+infant entrusted to him. He informed me that she died very shortly, as
+I understood, after she entered her new home. I was not surprised to
+hear it; the exposure on that bitter night was sufficiently severe to
+kill a child much older. In order that my visit to Mr. Moss to-night
+may be properly understood I will relate in a few words the subsequent
+history of the mother. She married Mr. Gordon, and accompanied him to
+Australia, where she has resided for twenty years. She has had no
+children by him, and is now a widow, and very wealthy. Unknown to Mr.
+Gordon she, in her last interview with me, entrusted to me a small
+iron casket--it was one I gave her, and I can identify it--in which
+she deposited some articles, of the nature of which I was ignorant.
+She entreated me to take steps that this box should be delivered to
+the people who received her child into their home, and to obtain from
+them a promise that if the child lived till she was twenty-one years
+of age it was to be handed over to her, or, in the event of her child
+dying or of herself claiming the box at any future time, to be handed
+over to her. I informed Mr. Moss of the mother's desire, and he
+promised that it should be attended to. I have looked over some old
+papers, and I find that, had the child lived, she would be twenty-one
+in the course of a couple of months. But the child is dead, and the
+mother has appealed to me to obtain the box which she delivered into
+my charge."
+
+"The mother has appealed to you!" exclaimed Aaron. "In person?"
+
+"In person," replied Dr. Spenlove. "She has returned to England, and
+is at this moment awaiting me in my carriage below. It is not the only
+appeal she has made to me. She is overwhelmed with grief at the news
+of her child's death, and I have the sincerest pity for her. She
+desires to know where her child is buried. Mr. Gordon's lawyers, it
+appears, were so bound to secrecy by their client that they do not
+feel warranted in giving her any information or assistance. She has
+communicated with another firm of lawyers in London, who are unable to
+assist her. As a last resource she has come to me to entreat my aid,
+which, in the circumstances, I cannot refuse to give her. My errand is
+now fully explained. Mr. Moss, will you see the poor lady, and give
+her the information she has a right to demand?"
+
+"I will reply for my friend," said Aaron. "Dr. Spenlove, I was the
+person to whose care the child was entrusted. The casket is in this
+house, and it is for me to satisfy her. Will you step down and ask her
+to come up, or shall I send a servant to her?"
+
+"It will be best for me to go," said Dr. Spenlove. "How strangely
+things turn out! It is fortunate that I came here to seek Mr. Moss."
+
+"I must speak to Mrs. Gordon alone, without witnesses," said Aaron.
+"You and Mr. Moss will not mind waiting in the adjoining room for a
+few minutes? The poet's words are true: 'There is a Providence that
+shapes our ends, rough-hew them as we will.' The mother may have cause
+to bless this night."
+
+He bent his head humbly and solemnly as Dr. Spenlove and Mr. Moss left
+the room together.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XLII.
+
+ A MOTHER'S JOY.
+
+
+For the first time in their lives these two beings, whose fates were
+so strangely linked together, faced each other--the mother who
+believed her child to be dead, the father who had brought up that
+child in ignorance of her birthright. It was a solemn moment, as
+trying to the man who had erred as to the woman who had fallen. To him
+the truth was as clear as though it were proclaimed with a tongue of
+fire, to her it had yet to be revealed. How feeble was the human act
+when brought into juxtaposition with destiny's decree!
+
+Aaron's sin had been ever before him; the handwriting had been ever on
+the wall. Scarcely for one day during the last twenty years had the
+voice of conscience been stilled, and it had been part of his
+punishment that the inherited instincts of the child had worked
+inexorably against all his efforts; her silent resistance to the
+lessons he would have inculcated had been too powerful for him; and in
+the end she had turned resolutely from the path into which, with
+inward reproaches, he had endeavoured to lead her, and had obeyed the
+promptings of her nature in mapping out her own future.
+
+Keen as were Aaron's sufferings, he experienced a sense of relief that
+the bolt had fallen, and that the hour of retribution had arrived; the
+agony of suspense had been almost unbearable, and he accepted with
+mournful resignation the decree which ordained that he should pass
+judgment upon himself.
+
+A difficult task lay before him; the revelation he had to make must be
+made with tact and delicacy, in consideration for the mother's
+feelings. Joy, as well as sorrow, has its fears.
+
+Forgetful for the moment of his own domestic grief, a sympathetic pity
+for the bereaved woman stirred Aaron's heart. Her tribulation was
+expressed in her face, which was pale with woe; her eyes were suffused
+with tears; her limbs trembled as she sank into the chair which he
+placed for her. It was not he alone who was experiencing the tortures
+of remorse.
+
+Mrs. Gordon was in mourning, and Aaron knew it was as much for her
+child as for her husband. Except that time had told its tale there was
+little change in her, and few persons who had known her in her
+springtime would have failed to recognise her in her middle age. Her
+union with Mr. Gordon had not been entirely unhappy; he had performed
+his duty towards her, as she had done towards him, and though he had a
+suspicion that through all the long years she never lost sight of her
+secret sorrow, he made no reference to it, and she, on her part, did
+not intrude it upon him. Only on his deathbed had he spoken of her
+child, and had given her an imperfect clue, which she was now
+following up. Bitter was the knowledge she had gained. Her child was
+dead. Free, and in possession of great wealth, she was alone, without
+a tie in the world. All her bright dreams had faded. She had indulged
+the hope that her child still lived, and as she travelled back to
+England had raised up mental pictures of her daughter which filled her
+with joy. The presumption was that the young girl was living in a poor
+home, and was perhaps working for a livelihood. To lift her from
+poverty to wealth, to make a lady of her, to load her with gifts, to
+educate her for the new and higher station in life in which she was
+now to move, to love and caress her, to travel with her through the
+pleasure grounds of Europe--these were the dreams in which she had
+indulged. Innumerable were the pictures she had raised on her voyage
+home of the joy and delight of her daughter, and of the happy days in
+store for them. The information she received from Dr. Spenlove had
+killed these hopes, and her yearning desire now was to visit the grave
+of the babe she had deserted, and to weep over it tears of bitter
+repentance. It was not so much to reclaim the iron box containing the
+clue to a shameful episode in her youthful life, as to learn where her
+babe was buried, that she wished to learn into whose care her child
+had been given. There was a time when she nursed a fierce desire for
+revenge upon the man who had betrayed her, but this desire had burnt
+itself away, and she would be content that the melancholy memories of
+the past should be buried in oblivion. No good result would accrue
+from rekindling the smouldering ashes of an experience so mournful.
+She had lived down the shame; no word of reproach had been uttered
+against her; let the dead past bury its dead.
+
+For a few moments there was silence between her and Aaron, and she was
+the first to speak.
+
+"Dr. Spenlove has told me all," she said.
+
+"He has told you what he knows," said Aaron, "but you have something
+more to hear. Mrs. Gordon, it was I who undertook the charge of your
+child. Mr. Moss brought her to me in Gosport, and delivered to me also
+the casket which you entrusted to Dr. Spenlove. I return it to you
+now, in the same condition as it was handed to me. You will oblige me
+by convincing yourself that it has not been tampered with."
+
+She unlocked the box with a key she carried in her purse, and taking
+from it the letters she had deposited therein, glanced over them with
+a bitter smile, then replaced them in their hiding-place, and relocked
+the casket.
+
+"There was nothing else in it?" asked Aaron.
+
+"Nothing else," she replied; "it is as I delivered it to Dr. Spenlove.
+Tell me about my child. Did she live long? Was she buried in Gosport?
+You will tell me the truth; you will conceal nothing from me?"
+
+"I will tell you the truth; I will conceal nothing from you; but what
+I have to say must be said in my own way. Prepare yourself for a
+strange story, but have no fear. You are the first person to whom it
+will be revealed. When Mr. Moss left your child with me there were two
+babes in my house of the same age, and we were in deep poverty and
+distress. My wife--my beloved wife lay at the point of death"--he
+covered his eyes with his hands. "Bear with me; these recollections
+overcome me." Presently he resumed. "But a short time before her
+confinement she had been stricken with blindness. Her own child, whose
+face she had never seen, lay quiet and still in her arms. The doctor
+who attended her feared the worst, and said that her life depended
+upon the life of her babe. If our child died on the morrow the mother
+would die; if our child lived, the mother would live. Temptation
+assailed me, and to save the life of my beloved wife I yielded to it.
+How can I expect you to forgive me for what I did in the agony of my
+heart?"
+
+Again he paused, and tears gushed from his eyes. Mrs. Gordon sank back
+in her chair; there was not a vestige of colour in her face.
+
+"My God! My God!" she murmured. "Have I not suffered enough?"
+
+The words recalled him to himself. He begged her to have courage, to
+be strong; there was no new suffering in store for her, he said; what
+he had to relate would bring joy into her life. He gave her wine, and
+when she had recovered he proceeded with his story, and gradually and
+tenderly revealed to her the truth. As he proceeded her face shone
+with incredulous joy, her heart beat tumultuously with the prospect of
+this unexpected happiness; and when his story was finished, and he sat
+before her with bowed head, there was a long, long silence in the
+room. He dared utter no further words; in silent dread he waited for
+his condemnation.
+
+He felt a hand upon his knee, and looking down he saw her kneeling at
+his feet. She was transfigured; the spirit of youth shone in her
+countenance, and she took his hand, and kissed it again and again,
+bedewing it with happy tears. He gazed at her in wonder. He had
+expected revilings, and she was all tenderness.
+
+"Is it true?" she murmured. "Oh! is it true? At such a time as this
+you would not deceive me!"
+
+"Heaven forbid!" he answered. "What I have related is the solemn
+truth."
+
+"And my child lives?"
+
+"She lives."
+
+"God in heaven bless you! She lives--my daughter lives!"
+
+"And you do not blame me--you do not reproach me?"
+
+"I shall bless you to my dying day! Oh, my heart, my heart! It will
+burst with happiness!"
+
+He entreated her to be composed, and in a little while she was calmer.
+Then for the first time he wrested himself from the environment of his
+own selfish sorrows; he put himself in her place, and understood the
+sacred joy which animated her. She was all eagerness to see her child,
+but Aaron bade her restrain her impatience; he had much more to relate
+which it was necessary she should hear.
+
+"But I must see her to-night!" she cried.
+
+"You shall see her to-night. I will take you to her."
+
+She was fain to be satisfied with this assurance, but she would not be
+content till she saw a portrait of Ruth. He gave her a cabinet
+photograph, and she gazed at it longingly, yearningly.
+
+"She is beautiful, beautiful!"
+
+"Yes, she is a beautiful girl," said Aaron; and then proceeded with
+the story, saying nothing, however, of what he had done for the young
+couple. At first she was grieved to hear that Ruth was married, but
+she found some consolation in the reflection that she had married into
+an honourable family. When Aaron related the particulars of the
+lawyer's visit to him, commissioned by Lord Storndale because of his
+stern objection to his son marrying a Jewess, she exclaimed,--
+
+"But Ruth is not a Jewess!" and was appalled by the thought that her
+daughter was not born in wedlock. A child of shame! How would she be
+received? It was her turn now to fear, and Aaron, whose native
+shrewdness had returned to him, divined her fear; but it was not for
+him to moot the subject.
+
+"My child," she said, with hot blushes on her face, "believes herself
+to be your daughter?"
+
+"She does. It was my intention to undeceive her to-night."
+
+"You know my story?"
+
+"It was imparted to me," he replied, with averted head, "when I was
+asked to receive your child."
+
+"Who knows the truth," she asked, trembling and hesitating, "about
+me?"
+
+"I, Mr. Moss, Dr. Spenlove, and your husband's lawyers."
+
+"No other persons?"
+
+"No other persons." He took her hand. "Dear lady, from my heart I pity
+and sympathise with you. If I can assist you in any way----"
+
+"You can--you can!" she cried. "For God's sake do not destroy the
+happiness that may be mine!"
+
+"As Heaven is my judge, no word shall pass my lips. Be comforted, be
+comforted. The lawyers' lips are sealed, as you have already learned,
+and I will answer for Mr. Moss and Dr. Spenlove. Say to her and to her
+husband's family what you will--it will be justified. Your secret is
+safe."
+
+She thanked him humbly and gratefully; it was she who was abashed; it
+was she who had to implore for mercy; and it was due to his wisdom
+that her aching heart was eased.
+
+"If I can repay you--if I can repay you!" she murmured.
+
+"You can repay me by saying you forgive me for the sin I committed."
+
+"Your sin!" she cried, in amazement. "You, who have brought up my
+child in virtue and honour! At my door lies the sin, not at yours."
+
+"You forget," he groaned; "I have sinned against my wife, whom I love
+with a love dearer than life itself, and she has yet to receive the
+confession I have made to you. It was my love for her that led me into
+the error."
+
+"An error," said Mrs. Gordon, in tender accents, "that has saved a
+daughter from regarding her mother with abhorrence. Dear friend, God
+sees and judges, and surely He will approve what you have done. A
+grateful mother blesses you!"
+
+"Remain here," said Aaron. "I will speak to my friends and yours, and
+then I will conduct you to your daughter."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+ A PANIC IN THE CITY.
+
+
+On the following morning Aaron was up earlier than usual, and in the
+daily papers he read the confirmation of the intelligence which Mr.
+Moss had imparted to him. The panic on the Stock Exchange had grown to
+fever heat, and fortunes were already being won and lost. The bank in
+which his money was deposited, and in which he held a large number of
+shares, was tottering, and he knew that he was ruined if it could not
+weather the storm.
+
+Mr. Moss found him reading the news over his breakfast-table.
+Business, as we know, had not prospered with Mr. Moss of late years;
+his investments had turned out badly, and he was in low water himself.
+He had placed his dependence upon Aaron to pull him through, and the
+rock he had depended upon was crumbling away.
+
+"You are also in trouble, Mr. Moss," said Aaron, as his friend made
+his appearance.
+
+"I have brought the second edition of the morning papers," replied Mr.
+Moss, with a white face. "The Stock Exchange is in a blaze, and the
+world is coming to an end."
+
+"There will be misery in many homes," said Aaron. "It is the innocent
+who will chiefly suffer. I pity them sincerely."
+
+"Everything is going to the dogs," groaned Mr. Moss.
+
+"Have you breakfasted?"
+
+"Had breakfast at seven o'clock. Couldn't sleep a wink all night, and
+could hardly eat a mouthful!"
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Why?" exclaimed Mr. Moss. "What a question to ask when ruin stares a
+man in the face!"
+
+"I hope," said Aaron, gravely, "that you are not deeply involved."
+
+"I am up to my neck. But what is my position compared with yours?
+Cohen, you are a mystery."
+
+"Because I accept the inevitable? Can you show me how I can improve
+matters?"
+
+"No, I can't," answered Mr. Moss, with a deep groan; "only if I had
+capital I could make a fortune."
+
+"In what way?"
+
+"By joining the bears. Cohen, you have a grand chance before you. Your
+credit is good. There is nothing for it but a plunge. It will set you
+right. Luck has been with you all your life; it will be with you now."
+
+"How if it goes the other way, Mr. Moss?"
+
+"What if it does? You will be no worse off than a thousand men who are
+plunging."
+
+"The majority of whom, before another sun rises, will find themselves
+disgraced. No, Mr. Moss, no. I have never dabbled in stocks and shares
+at the risk of my good name, and I never will. There is but one way to
+meet misfortune, and that is the straight way. We will go to the City
+and ascertain, if we can, exactly how matters stand. Rachel and Esther
+do not return from Bournemouth till the afternoon."
+
+In the City they learned the worst, and Aaron realised that he was
+beggared.
+
+"Can you save nothing from the wreck?" asked Mr. Moss.
+
+"Nothing," replied Aaron. "It may be that all I possess will not be
+sufficient to clear me. I think you had better take Esther back with
+you to Portsmouth; you have been absent from your business too long."
+
+"I must go this evening," said Mr. Moss; "but Esther can stay. She
+will be a comfort to Mrs. Cohen."
+
+"No, take her with you. In this crisis Rachel, I know, would prefer to
+be alone with me. Besides," he added, with a sad smile, "I have to
+provide another home, and I must be careful of my shillings."
+
+"Another home, Cohen! What do you mean?"
+
+"With certain ruin staring me in the face, and with claims coming upon
+me which I may not be able to meet, I must begin immediately to
+retrench. Our establishment is an expensive one, and I dare not carry
+it on a day longer than is necessary. Rachel and I will sleep in the
+house to-night for the last time. To-morrow I will pay off the
+servants, and we shall move into humbler quarters. So tumble down all
+our grand castles. Well, it has happened to better men, who, after
+many years of toil, have to begin life all over again. Rachel will not
+mind; we have faced poverty before to-day, and will face it again
+cheerfully."
+
+"It drives me wild to hear you speak like that," exclaimed Mr. Moss.
+"You are looking only on the black side. If you had the money you have
+got rid of the last two or three weeks----"
+
+"Hush, Mr. Moss, hush!" said Aaron, interrupting him. "It is a
+consolation to me to know that the greater part of my legitimately
+earned fortune has been so well bestowed. I am glad I did not wait to
+make reparation for the great error of my life. Rachel has yet to hear
+my confession. If I obtain her forgiveness I can face the future
+bravely and cheerfully."
+
+Under the seal of confidence Aaron had made Mr. Moss and Dr. Spenlove
+acquainted with the particulars of the story of the two babes, and of
+the deception he had practised in his home in Gosport. Mr. Moss was
+not greatly astonished, for the hints lately dropped by his friend had
+prepared him for some disclosure of a strange nature. "Besides," he
+said inwardly to himself, "Ruth bears no likeness to either Mr. or
+Mrs. Cohen. It is a mercy she fell in love with that Storndale fellow;
+it would never have done for her to marry a Jew. Cohen would not have
+permitted it. But how blind we have all been!" In his weak moments Mr.
+Moss was rather inclined to be wise after the event. Both he and Dr.
+Spenlove had pledged themselves to secrecy, but when they proceeded to
+commend Aaron for the act and to find justification for it he stopped
+them. "It is a matter between me and my conscience," he said, and
+added mentally, "and between me and my beloved."
+
+On this disastrous morning, as they walked from the City, Mr. Moss
+asked Aaron when he intended to reveal the secret to his wife.
+
+"As soon as I can summon courage to speak," Aaron answered. "She has
+first to hear that we are beggared; it will be as much, perhaps, as
+she can bear in one day, but in any case I must not delay too long."
+
+"If I were in your place," said Mr. Moss, "I should not delay at all.
+There are women who become strong through misfortune, and Mrs. Cohen
+is one. I wish Mrs. Moss were like her--don't think I am complaining
+of her. She is the best wife in the world, but she breaks down under
+reverses. If only I could be of some assistance to you, Cohen----"
+
+"Your friendship counts for much, Mr. Moss," responded Aaron, pressing
+his companion's hand, "but every man must fight his own battle. I am
+not without hope, hard as is the trial through which I am passing. It
+is kind of you to be so solicitous about my affairs when you have such
+heavy troubles of your own to contend with. Are things very bad with
+you?"
+
+"Oh, I shall weather the storm, but it will leave me rather crippled.
+What matters? _Nil desperandum_. And there is just one ray which may
+become a perfect sunbeam."
+
+"Ah, I am glad to hear that."
+
+"My eldest boy has started in business as a dentist, and has commenced
+well. Once a dentist makes his name the money rolls in. It is a
+favourite business with our people."
+
+"Yes," said Aaron, somewhat absently, "I have observed it."
+
+"It is a kind of revenge, Cohen."
+
+"A kind of revenge!" echoed Aaron. "How so?"
+
+"Well, you know, in old times the Christians used to extract our teeth
+to get our money from us, and now it's our turn. We extract theirs at
+a guinea a tooth. See?"
+
+Aaron could not help smiling at the joke, and the friends parted with
+mutual expressions of goodwill.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+ THE CONFESSION.
+
+
+On the evening of the same day Aaron and Rachel were alone in their
+house in Prince's Gate, which was soon to know them no more. Esther
+had taken an affectionate leave of them, and she and her father were
+travelling to Portsmouth. Esther was bright and cheerful, but Mr.
+Moss's heart was heavy; he was older than Aaron, and confident as he
+was in speech he was not inwardly so courageous in the hour of
+adversity. Ordinarily, when he and his daughter were travelling
+together, his blithe spirits found vent in song; on this occasion,
+however, he was moody and silent. Esther looked at him in surprise,
+and asked what made him so melancholy.
+
+"When you reach my age," he replied, "I hope you will not discover
+that life is a dream."
+
+The remark seemed to him rather fine and philosophical, and afforded
+him some kind of melancholy satisfaction; but had he been asked to
+explain its precise meaning he would have found it difficult to do so.
+
+"I hope I shall, father," said Esther, as she leant back and thought
+of her lover; "a happy dream."
+
+"I am glad to get back to you and to our dear home," Rachel was saying
+to her husband at the same moment. "You must not send me away again.
+Indeed, dear Aaron, if you ever have such an intention I shall for
+once in my life be rebellious, and shall refuse to go. I am happiest
+by your side."
+
+She spoke tenderly and playfully, and held his hand in hers, as in the
+olden days.
+
+"Nevertheless, my love, your short visit to the seaside has done you
+good."
+
+"Yes, dear, I am almost well; I feel much stronger."
+
+"There is the justification," said Aaron. "Neither am I happy away
+from you, but there are occasions when it is our duty to make
+sacrifices. This is the longest separation there has been between us
+in the twenty-six years of our married life."
+
+"How time has flown!" she mused. "Twenty-six years of peace and joy.
+It has always been the same, dear husband, whether we were poor or
+rich. I cannot recall a day in the past without its flower of dear
+remembrance which money could not purchase."
+
+"You make my task easier, Rachel," said Aaron. "I have something to
+disclose to you."
+
+"And it is not good news, love," she said, in a tone of much
+sweetness.
+
+"It is not good news, Rachel. By what means have you divined that?"
+
+"I see without eyes. In the early days of my blindness I used to tell
+you that I was acquiring new senses. It is true. Some accent in your
+voice, the touch of your hand, conveys the message to my mind, and I
+wait in patience, as I am waiting now. Aaron, my dear husband, I have
+known for some time past that you have a sorrow which one day you
+would ask me to share. How have I known it? I cannot tell, but it is
+clear to me. You have not had a joy in your life apart from me. It is
+my right, is it not, to share your sorrows?"
+
+"It is your right, Rachel, and you shall share them. I have not been
+without my errors; once in the past my footsteps strayed, but in the
+straying I inflicted suffering upon no human being."
+
+"Of that I am sure, my love. It is human to err, but it is not in your
+nature to inflict suffering or commit an injustice. I am not pressing
+you to confide in me before in your judgment the proper time arrives.
+Nothing can shake my faith and trust in you."
+
+He regarded her in silence awhile. The turn the conversation had taken
+favoured the disclosure of his secret respecting Ruth, but he still
+feared to speak of that and of his ruin in the same hour. The latter
+was the more imperative, because it demanded immediate action, and he
+nerved himself to the task.
+
+"Your loving instinct, Rachel, has not misled you. For many years I
+have had a secret which I have concealed from you."
+
+"Fearing to give me pain, dear husband?"
+
+"Yes; and fearing that it would disturb the faith you have in me. I
+place so high a value upon it that my life would be dark indeed were I
+to lose it."
+
+"That is impossible, dear. Banish the fear from your mind. Were the
+hands of all men raised against you I would stand before you as your
+shield, and they would not dare to strike. So long as we are together
+I am happy and content."
+
+"Dear life of my life, you inspire me with hope. But it is not of this
+secret I must speak first. There is another trouble which has come
+upon me quite suddenly, and which demands immediate action. Rachel,
+for twenty years Heaven has showered prosperity upon me; not a venture
+I have made has failed, and many of my undertakings have succeeded far
+beyond my expectations. I have heard it said, 'Everything Aaron Cohen
+touches turns to gold.' It really has been so. I accumulated a large
+fortune, and--with humbleness I say it--no man, however high or low
+his station, was the loser by it. But a breath may destroy what the
+labours of a lifetime have created. If such a reverse has come to me,
+Rachel, how would you accept it?"
+
+"Without murmuring, love," she said, drawing him close to her, and
+kissing his lips. "I should have but one regret--that I could not work
+for you as you have worked for me. But that, also, was God's will, and
+I have never repined. Who would presume to question His wisdom? His
+name be praised for ever and ever!"
+
+"Amen. In our old home in Gosport you were happy."
+
+"I have never been happier, Aaron. I have sometimes felt pride in your
+successes, but surely that is pardonable. Many and many a time have I
+thought of our early life and struggles with gratitude, because of the
+love which sustained us and gave us strength. It is the most precious
+gift that life can bestow. All else is nought. It is our soul-life,
+and dies not with the body."
+
+"You do not value money, Rachel?"
+
+"For the good it may do to others, not for the good it can do to the
+possessor; for the suffering it may be made the means of relieving,
+for the blessings it may bring into the lives of the afflicted and
+unfortunate. Then it becomes God-like, and when so used the angels
+smile approval."
+
+"Dear love, you lighten my burden. When I won you my life was blessed.
+Listen, Rachel. This is a dark day for many men who find themselves
+fallen from their high estate. Despair sits in many homes at this
+hour."
+
+"But not in ours, Aaron, whatever has happened."
+
+"Thank God! It is my happy belief that this hour is not dark for us.
+It was my intention, Rachel, to retire altogether from business and
+public life, and to that end I took advantage of your absence from
+London to settle my affairs. My resolution was prompted by the secret,
+the burden of which, although I have not yet disclosed it to you, you
+have made lighter for me to reveal. Brought to public knowledge, which
+I fear its peculiar nature will render inevitable, it will be
+immediately said that I am unfitted to retain my position as a leader
+and teacher. To tarry until that judgment was pronounced upon me would
+be to aggravate the disaster, and I resolved to anticipate the verdict
+by resigning the honours which have been conferred upon me. I have
+done so, and I have withstood the pressure that has been put upon me
+to withdraw my resignation. An examination of my worldly affairs
+resulted in my finding myself in possession of nearly a hundred
+thousand pounds. I divided this into three portions, one of which I
+intended to retain in order that we might pass what years of life
+remained to us in comfort; the second portion I devoted to charity,
+and it has thus been distributed; the third portion was devoted to
+repairing to some extent the error of which I have been guilty."
+
+He looked at Rachel after he uttered these words, which he had spoken
+with averted head. There was no change in her. Sweetness and sympathy
+were expressed in her beautiful face, and it seemed as if her soul's
+light dwelt thereon.
+
+"Do you approve, Rachel?"
+
+"Entirely, love. Let me hold your hand."
+
+He continued. "The money I intended for our private use was lodged in
+a City bank, and in this bank I hold shares for which I am liable to
+the depositors. Yesterday Mr. Moss brought me news of a commercial
+crisis in which I discerned----"
+
+"Go on, dear husband. I am prepared for the worst."
+
+"In which I discerned my ruin. This morning I convinced myself that
+the news was true."
+
+"And we are poor again," said Rachel, in a gentle voice.
+
+"And we are poor again. Everything is lost. I do not know the extent of
+my liabilities upon the shares I hold in the bank, but it is certain
+that my property--even down to the smallest possession--will scarcely
+be sufficient to meet them. I have nothing more to tell of my worldly
+trouble, Rachel."
+
+"Dear love," said Rachel, sweetly, with her arms around him, "it is a
+small trouble, and we will meet it bravely. With all my heart and
+strength I will help you to meet it, and it will not make the future
+less happy. We cannot remain in this house; the expenses are too
+great."
+
+"You echo my thought, Rachel. I have already discharged the servants,
+and have paid what is due to them. They expressed their sorrow, for I
+think they have an affection for us, but the separation is
+unavoidable. To-morrow they take their departure, and to-morrow, dear
+love, we must move into humbler quarters."
+
+"I am content," said Rachel, "I am happy. We have each other. Do all
+the servants go--all?"
+
+"No; one insists upon remaining. I could not convince her that it
+would be for her good to leave us."
+
+"Prissy!" cried Rachel.
+
+"Yes, Prissy, the foolish woman. With or without my consent she
+insists upon sharing our poverty."
+
+"Dear, faithful Prissy! Do you remember the first night she came to us
+in Gosport? What changes there have been since that time! Let it be as
+she wishes, love; I know her constant, devoted nature. She will be a
+comfort to both of us."
+
+"It shall be as you say, Rachel; a faithful heart like hers is a
+treasure."
+
+Rachel paused before she spoke again, and Aaron, gazing upon her, held
+his breath, for he divined what was coming. She took his hand, and
+held it between her own.
+
+"Kiss me, love," she said, her voice trembling from emotion. He
+pressed his lips to hers in silence. "I have been a great trouble to
+you, dear."
+
+"You have been the blessing of my life, Rachel," he said in a low
+tone.
+
+"Not only your love, dear, but the thought that you believed me worthy
+of your confidence, has brought great sweetness into mine. You have
+made me truly happy; and yet, dear husband, my heart is aching--not
+for myself, not because we are poor again, but for you, for you; for
+your heart, also, is charged with sorrow. We commence a new life
+to-morrow, and it affects not ourselves alone, but those who are dear
+to us. Let this night end your sorrows, and let me share them now,
+before I sleep. Aaron, not once have you mentioned the name of Ruth.
+Is it the thought of her that oppresses you? It oppresses me, too, and
+it is no new grief. For a long time past I have felt as if something
+had come between us, weakening the tie which should unite mother and
+child. If anything has been hidden from me which I should know, let it
+be hidden no longer. I am well, I am strong. Give me all your
+confidence. There is nothing I cannot bear for your dear sake."
+
+He could not resist the appeal. In a voice as tremulous as her own he
+related the story of his sin. He recalled all the incidents of their
+life in Gosport, of the calamities which had trodden upon each others'
+heels, of the desperate state of poverty he was in when the fire
+occurred which deprived her of sight, of the birth of their child, of
+the doctor's words that Rachel's life depended upon the life of her
+babe and upon his taking her away to a warmer clime, of his giving her
+the sleeping draught and leaving her, wrapt in slumber, to admit Mr.
+Moss who had come from Portsmouth charged with a startling commission,
+the acceptance of which would be the saving of Rachel, of his
+reluctance to accept the guardianship of a strange child, and of his
+requesting time to consider it. Here he faltered; he stood, as it
+were, upon the threshold of his sin, and but for Rachel's tender
+urging he would have been unable to proceed.
+
+"Dear love, dear love," she said, "my heart bleeds for you! Ah, how
+you must have suffered! Be strong, dear husband, and tell me all. I am
+prepared--indeed, indeed I am!"
+
+In hushed and solemn tones he told her of the death of their
+offspring, of the desperate temptation that assailed him, of his
+yielding to it, of the transposition of the babes, and of his agony
+and joy as he watched her when she awoke and pressed the stranger to
+her breast.
+
+"By my sin you were saved," he said.
+
+"By your agony was I saved," she murmured, and still retained and
+fondled his hand while the tears ran down her face. But love was there
+in its divinest aspect, and tenderest pity; and thus fortified, he
+continued to the end, and waited for the verdict that was to mar or
+make his future. He had not long to wait. Rachel held him close in her
+embrace, and mingled her tears with his.
+
+"Can you forgive me, Rachel?"
+
+"It is for me to bless, not to forgive," she sobbed. "For me you
+strayed, for me you have suffered. Comfort his bruised heart, O
+all-merciful God, who sees and judges! And, Aaron, dear and honoured
+husband, we have still a son to bless our days!"
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XLV.
+
+ A POISONED ARROW.
+
+
+Had it not been that public attention was directed mainly to events of
+greater importance Aaron Cohen's affairs would have furnished a
+liberal theme for the busy hunters of sensational and personal
+journalism, but to a certain extent he was protected by the fever of
+the financial panic in which numbers of unfortunate families were
+caught and ruined, and the fortunes of famous historic houses
+imperilled. He would have been grateful to slip into obscurity
+unnoticed, but this could scarcely be expected. He had occupied too
+high a station to be passed over in complete silence, and he had one
+bitter enemy, Mr. Poynter, who rejoiced in his downfall and neglected
+no opportunity to wing a poisoned arrow against his old rival. This
+man was furious with disappointment at having been unable to secure
+his rival's contracts, and when the excitement of the panic was over
+these arrows became more numerous, and Aaron's name was frequently
+mentioned in a slighting manner in those second- and third-class
+journals whose columns are too freely open to personal spite and
+malice. He saw but few of the paragraphs in which he was attacked, and
+those he read did not wound him; they made his friends angry (for he
+was not deserted by all), and they urged him to reply to them; but he
+shook his head, and said, "I shall not assist my enemies to stir up
+muddy waters. To every word I wrote they would reply with twelve. Let
+them do their worst." He was, however, greatly concerned lest the
+slanders should reach Rachel's knowledge; and here her blindness aided
+him. Either he or the faithful Prissy was ever by her side, and if his
+traducers hoped to make him suffer through the being whose love was
+the most precious jewel in his life, they were doomed to
+disappointment. Perhaps Aaron had never been happier than he was
+during these dark days of adversity. Now that the weight of a secret
+sin was lifted from his heart he had no fears of poverty. He had full
+confidence in his being able to obtain some employment which would
+keep the wolf from the door; however lowly it might be he was ready to
+accept it thankfully. He was not immediately free to enter a
+situation, for the whole of his time was occupied in settling his
+affairs. He had left his home in Prince's Gate, and was living in
+lodgings in Brixton. Everything he had in the world was given up to
+the creditors of the bank, and when he quitted the house, neither he
+nor Rachel had taken from it a single article of the slightest value.
+Small personal gifts which had been given by one to the other,
+articles of dress which they might legitimately have retained,
+mementos of little value, endeared to them by some affectionate
+association, even the old silver-mounted pipe in its jeweled
+case--all were left behind. Simply dressed, without a piece of
+jewellery about them, they turned their faces towards the new home and
+the new life without a murmur, and, hand in hand, walked to their
+humble rooms with contented hearts.
+
+Prissy, who had gone before to get the place ready, received them with
+a smiling face. Grandeur was nothing to Prissy, so long as she could
+be with those whom she loved to serve. As happy in a cottage as in a
+palace, she proved herself to be a true philosopher, accepting
+fortune's rubs with equanimity, and making the best of them with a
+cheerful willingness it were well for loftier folk to emulate. Bird
+never trilled more happily than Prissy as she moved hither and
+thither, upstairs and down, setting things to rights, shifting the
+furniture and studying each new arrangement with a critical eye,
+interrupting herself every minute by running to the window to see
+if her master and mistress were coming. The rooms were sweet and
+clean, there were flowers about, and blooming flowers in pots on the
+window-sill. The fragrance of the flowers greeted Rachel as she
+entered, and her bright face was Prissy's reward.
+
+"Where did the flowers come from, Prissy?" asked Aaron, when Rachel
+was out of hearing.
+
+"From the flower-man, sir," she answered.
+
+"Surely not a gift?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said the unblushing Prissy; "wasn't it good of him?"
+
+"Prissy!" said Aaron, with warning finger uplifted.
+
+"Well, sir, they cost next to nothing, and they're paid for."
+
+"But, Prissy----"
+
+"Please don't, sir," she interrupted, and there were tears in her eyes
+and a pleading rebellion in her voice. "I know what you're going to
+say, Mr. Cohen, but please don't. You'd like me to keep good, wouldn't
+you, sir?"
+
+"Why, of course, Prissy," said Aaron, astonished at the question.
+
+"Well, sir, I can't, if you blow me up now you're in misfortune; I
+can't keep good if you don't let me have my way in little things. I'll
+be very careful, I will, indeed, Mr. Cohen. It's almost the first time
+in my life I've bought any flowers at all for any one else, and it
+ain't in you, sir, to take away pleasure from anybody--and did you
+see, sir, how happy missis looked when she came in?"
+
+Thus inconsequentially Prissy, mixing her arguments in the strangest
+manner.
+
+"But, my good girl," said Aaron, kindly, "you have no business to
+waste your money; you must think of your future."
+
+"It's what I am thinking of, sir; I don't want to grow wicked, and
+flowers are the only things that will prevent me. It's the honest
+truth, sir; they make me feel good. Mr. Cohen, if it hadn't been for
+you, where should I have been? In the gutter, I daresay. You took me
+out of it, sir. I don't forget the first night I come to you with
+Victoria Regina in Gosport; if I lived to be as old as Methusalem I
+couldn't never forget it. And then when missis got me the gillard
+water to bathe my eyes--I should be the ungratefullest woman that ever
+drew breath if I could forget those things. Do, please, sir, let me
+have my way. You've paid me a lot more wages than I was worth, and all
+my money is in the post office savings bank, and it ain't mine at all,
+it's yours----"
+
+"My good Prissy," said Aaron, much affected, for Prissy could not
+continue, her voice was so full of tears, "do as you wish, but be very
+careful, as you have promised. Perhaps fortune will turn again, and
+then----"
+
+"And then, sir," said Prissy, taking up his words, "you shall give it
+all back to me--and I'll take it then, sir, you see if I don't. It
+will turn, if there's any fairness anywhere. And now, if you'll
+forgive me, sir, I must go and look after the dinner."
+
+Aaron was very busy for several days after this making a careful
+inventory of his possessions in the house in Prince's Gate, which he
+sent to the appointed liquidators of the bankrupt bank. Of all the
+debtors he was the only one who did not wait for the law's decree to
+give up his fortune to the last farthing, and perhaps he was the only
+one whose conscience was free of the intention of wrong.
+
+He had his gleams of sunshine. First, the sweet contentment and
+happiness of his beloved wife. The affection she lavished upon him was
+of so tender and exalted a nature that it made their humble home a
+paradise. She listened for his footstep, she stood at the door to meet
+him, she drew him to her side, as a young maiden in the springtime of
+life might have done to the lover she adored. Spiritual flowers grew
+about her feet, and everything and every one was made purer and better
+by contact with her. Then, as ill news travels fast, his son Joseph,
+when his ship stopped at a not-distant port to take in cargo, was made
+acquainted through the public journals with the condition of affairs;
+and, divining that his father was in need of money, he cabled home
+advices which assisted Aaron in his extreme need. The young man had
+saved some money, and he placed it all at the disposal of his parents,
+who derived an exquisite pleasure from this proof of affection. As in
+Gosport twenty years before, Rachel did not know the stress to which
+her husband was put; he kept from her knowledge everything of a
+distressing nature, and in this loving task he was silently assisted
+by Prissy, whose thoughtfulness and devotion were not to be excelled.
+She watched her mistress's every movement, and anticipated her
+lightest wish. The dishes she liked best were always on the table, and
+everything she wanted was ready to her hand. Prissy was no less
+attentive to her master, brushing his clothes, and polishing his boots
+till she could see her face in them.
+
+"What should we do without you, Prissy?" said Rachel.
+
+"I hope you'll never want to do without me, ma'am," answered Prissy.
+
+Another gleam of sunshine came to him in the offer of a situation from
+a merchant who had known him in his days of prosperity. He was not
+asked to occupy a position of responsibility, and the offer was
+conveyed to him in apologetic terms.
+
+"I cannot displace men who have been long in my employ," the merchant
+said, "but a desk is vacant which you can have if you think it worthy
+of you."
+
+Aaron accepted it gladly, and expressed his thanks.
+
+"Fortune has not deserted us," he said to his wife. "I shall not only
+be able to pay our expenses, but I shall even be able to save a
+little. The hours are short, the labour is light; and in time I may
+rise to something better."
+
+So, like a young man commencing life, he went every morning to his new
+duties, and returned in the evening to a peaceful and happy home.
+
+During all this time he had heard no word of Ruth or Mrs. Gordon, and
+the sin of which he had been guilty had not reached the public ear.
+His house and furniture still remained unsold, law's process being
+proverbially slow and tedious. At length, passing his house one
+evening, he saw bills up, announcing that the mansion and its contents
+were to be sold by auction in the course of the following week. He was
+not a stoic, and it gave him a pang, but the pain soon passed away.
+"What have I to repine at," he thought, "with heavenly love awaiting
+me at home?" It was his intention to attend the auction for the
+purpose of purchasing two or three small mementos, towards which he
+had saved a few pounds. The sale was to take place on Thursday, and on
+Wednesday night he was looking through the catalogue, and talking with
+Rachel about his intended purchases.
+
+"There are dumb memorials," he said, "which from long association
+become like living friends. Something of our spirit seems to pass into
+them, imbuing them with life. I shall not be quite happy till I get
+back my silver-mounted pipe; of all my possessions it was my dearest.
+Tobacco has lost its flavour since I left it behind me; but I had no
+right to bring away anything of value, and I have always looked
+forward to possessing it again. Great misfortunes are really easy to
+bear in comparison with such-like trifles."
+
+Aaron seldom indulged now in those touches of humour to which Rachel
+in the old days loved to listen. The Aaron of to-day and the Aaron of
+yesterday were the same in everything but that; the tender gaiety was
+replaced by a tender sadness, and Rachel often thought with regret of
+the play of fancy which used to stir her to mirth.
+
+On this night they expected a visit from Mr. Moss, who was coming to
+London on business; and at about nine o'clock he made his appearance.
+An hour afterwards Rachel retired to bed, and left the friends
+together. Aaron had observed that Mr. Moss looked anxious and uneasy,
+but he was careful not to refer to it in the presence of his wife.
+
+"You have something on your mind," he now said. "No new misfortune, I
+hope?"
+
+"Not to me personally," replied Mr. Moss, with a reluctant air.
+
+"To none of your family, I trust."
+
+"No; they are all quite well. My dentist son is getting along
+famously; I saw him before I came here, and he told me that he had
+pulled out three Christian teeth to-day. Isaac of York is avenged!"
+
+Dolefully as he spoke, Aaron could not help smiling. "But what is it?"
+he asked.
+
+"I am the harbinger of trouble, it seems," groaned Mr. Moss, "and to
+my best friend. I was the first to bring you the news of the panic,
+and now----"
+
+"Yes," said Aaron, gently, "and now? Speak low, or Rachel may overhear
+us."
+
+"You do not see many papers, Cohen?"
+
+"Not many."
+
+"I hardly like to tell you," said Mr. Moss, "but you will be sure to
+hear of it to-morrow. They never spare a man who is down, For God's
+sake, Cohen, don't blame me! I've never opened my lips--I'd have cut
+my tongue out first."
+
+"Let me know the worst," said Aaron. "It relates to me, I see. As for
+blaming you, set your mind at ease. You have been too good a friend to
+me to do anything to distress me. Come, shake hands. Whatever it is, I
+can bear it like a man, I hope. I have passed through the fire, and it
+has left me humble and patient."
+
+In silence Mr. Moss took a newspaper from his pocket, and handed it to
+Aaron. It was folded in a particular place, and there Aaron read an
+article headed "A Strange Revelation," in which the whole story of his
+sin was circumstantially detailed. He was not referred to by name, nor
+was Ruth's name or Mrs. Gordon's mentioned; but the name of the place
+in which the incident occurred and the year of the occurrence were
+accurately set down, and certain allusions to himself could not be
+mistaken. He was spoken of as a Jew who, until lately, had occupied an
+eminent position in society, who had posed as a friend of the working
+man, and had been instrumental in putting an end to the late great
+strike in the building trade.
+
+"Ostensibly this may be said to have been of service to society, but
+in our judgment of a man's character the public issue must be set
+aside. The question of private motive has to be considered: if it be
+worthy it reflects credit upon him; if unworthy, it passes to his
+dishonour."
+
+From this argument was drawn the conclusion that there was not a
+public act performed by "the eminent Jew" that was not undertaken
+with a view to self-interest and self-aggrandisement. He was a dealer
+in fine phrases, which, with a stock of empty professions and mock
+moralities which he kept always on hand, had helped to set him on the
+pedestal from which he had toppled down. For years he had been
+successful in throwing dust into the eyes of the multitude whom he had
+cajoled into sounding his praises; but at length the sword had fallen,
+and the life of duplicity he had led both publicly and privately was
+laid bare to view. His charities were so many advertisements, and were
+undoubtedly turned to profit; his religious professions, unceasingly
+paraded, served as a cloak for his greed and self-seeking.
+
+"This man's life of hypocrisy points a moral. He was in affluence, he
+is in want; he was a leader, he has become a drudge. He has been
+justly served, and we hold him up as a warning and an example to all
+pretenders of his class and creed."
+
+Then followed a promise of further revelations to be furnished by a
+competent authority, and probably by the publication of the
+delinquent's name, for the benefit of society at large.
+
+As Aaron read this scandalous article the colour deserted his cheeks,
+his hands and mouth trembled, his heart sank within him. What could he
+say in his defence? Nothing. The deductions and conclusions were
+false, but the story was true. There was but one answer to the
+question whether he had perpetrated a domestic fraud, and had brought
+up as a Jewess a child whom he had allowed to grow to womanhood in
+ignorance of her parentage and rightful faith. This answer would be
+fatal, and would give the impress of truth to the entire article. How
+could he show himself in public after such an exposure? His intended
+appearance at the sale to-morrow must be relinquished: he would be
+pointed at with scorn and contempt. Not for him the open paths where
+he would meet his fellowman face to face; he must creep through the
+byways, close to the wall. It seemed to him as if his life were over.
+His head drooped, his arms sank listlessly down, his whole appearance
+was that of a man who had received a mortal stroke.
+
+"It is abominable, abominable!" cried Mr. Moss. "Is there no law to
+punish such a slander? Is there no protection for such a man as you?"
+
+"For such a man as I?" echoed Aaron, sadly. "Ah, my friend, you
+forget. There is no grave deep enough for sin and wrong-doing; you may
+bury it fathoms deep, but the hour will arrive when the ghost rises
+and points at you with accusing hand. The punishment meted out to me
+is just."
+
+"It is not--it is not!"
+
+"Hush! You will disturb Rachel."
+
+He stepped softly into the bedroom; Rachel was slumbering, with a
+smile on her lips. As he stood by her side, contemplating her sweet
+and beautiful face, she awoke.
+
+"Aaron!"
+
+"Yes, my life!"
+
+"Is it late? Has Mr. Moss gone?"
+
+"He is still here, Rachel. It is quite early."
+
+She encircled his neck with her arms, and drew him to her. "I have had
+such happy dreams, dear love! Some good fortune is going to happen to
+us."
+
+"What would life be without its delusions?" he said, in a sad tone.
+
+"Do not speak sadly, dear. You have borne up so bravely; you must not
+break down now. Come, come--for my sake, love!"
+
+"For your sake, beloved," he said; and as he spoke the tormenting
+demon which had been torturing him lost its power.
+
+"What made you sad, love?" said Rachel. "Surely not because we are
+poor?"
+
+"No, love; it was not that. But if your dreams should not come true"
+
+"Why, then," she answered, and her voice was like music in his ears,
+"we have faced trouble before, and can face it again. It will make no
+difference so long as we are together. Aaron, with you by my side I
+would walk barefoot through the world, and bless the gracious Lord
+that made me. He is all-merciful and all-powerful, and in Him I put my
+trust. To the last, to the last, dear and honoured husband, we will
+not lose our trust in Him! Do not be sad again. All will come right--I
+feel it will. It is as if a Divine voice is whispering to me."
+
+When Aaron rejoined his friend the colour had returned to his face,
+his step was firmer, his eye brighter.
+
+"There is an angel in my home," he said. "Let my enemies do their
+worst. I am armed against them. Does this article make any change in
+our friendship?"
+
+"It binds me closer to you, Cohen."
+
+Aaron pressed Mr. Moss's hand.
+
+"Love and friendship are mine," he said simply. "What more can I
+desire?"
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+ RETRIBUTION.
+
+
+The following morning Aaron went to the office as usual, and quickly
+discovered that the poisoned arrow had found its mark. He was received
+with coldness, and the principals of the firm passed his desk without
+speaking to him. He observed the older employes whispering together,
+and looking at him furtively, avoiding his eye when he returned their
+gaze. His mind was soon made up; sending in his name to his employers
+he requested an interview with them. Upon entering the private room he
+saw upon the table a copy of the paper containing the scandalous
+attack; he did not change colour, he thought of Rachel's love, and his
+voice was firm and resigned.
+
+"You have read this article, Mr. Cohen?" said the principal member of
+the firm.
+
+"Yes, sir; I read it last night."
+
+"And you have come to explain----"
+
+He interrupted his employer mildly.
+
+"No, sir; I have not come to explain anything. I am here to tender my
+resignation."
+
+"You save us from a difficulty, Mr. Cohen. It was our intention to
+speak to you before the day was over. But still, if the story we have
+seen in the paper is not true--if it does not, after all, refer to
+you----"
+
+"The story is true," he said, "and it refers to me."
+
+"In that case," was the reply, "there is nothing more to be said. We
+regret the necessity, but it appears unavoidable. The cashier will pay
+you a month's salary in lieu of notice."
+
+"I can accept only what is due to me," said Aaron; and shortly
+afterwards he left the office.
+
+Not one of his fellow-clerks offered to shake hands with him as he
+went away; but the pang he felt was momentary.
+
+"Patience, patience," he murmured, raising his eyes to heaven. "To Thy
+decree, O God, I humbly submit. My punishment is just."
+
+He did not return home until evening, and then he said nothing to
+Rachel of his dismissal. The next day he went out and wandered
+aimlessly about the streets, choosing the thoroughfares where he would
+be least likely to be recognised. So the days passed, and still he had
+not the courage to speak to Rachel.
+
+"Perhaps in another country," he thought, "I may find rest, and Rachel
+and I will be allowed to pass the remainder of our life in peace."
+
+On Tuesday, in the ensuing week, he went forth, and with bowed head
+was walking sadly on, when, with a sudden impulse, he wheeled round in
+the direction of his home. The feeling that impelled him to do this
+was, that he was behaving treacherously to Rachel in keeping the
+secret from her. He would make her acquainted with his disgrace and
+dismissal, and never again in his life would he conceal anything from
+her knowledge. This resolution gave him the courage he had lacked.
+
+"It is as if I were losing faith in her," he murmured. "Love has made
+me weak where it should have made me strong."
+
+He hastened his steps, and soon reached his home. As he stood for a
+moment at the door of the sitting-room he heard a voice within which
+he recognised as that of his old rival, Mr. Poynter, and upon his
+entrance he found that gentleman and his wife together.
+
+Rachel was standing in a dignified attitude, as though in the presence
+of an enemy; her face was pale and scornful, and Mr. Poynter was
+manifestly ill at ease. Hearing her husband's footsteps she extended
+her hand, and taking his, pressed it to her lips. In this position
+they must be left for a brief space while an explanation is given of
+another incident which was to bear directly upon the scene, and to
+bring into it a startling colour.
+
+Prissy had conducted Mr. Poynter into the presence of her mistress,
+and had scarcely done so when she was called down to a lady, who had
+inquired for Mr. and Mrs. Cohen.
+
+"Mr. Cohen is out," said Prissy, "and Mrs. Cohen is engaged."
+
+"I wish to see them particularly," said the lady, giving Prissy a
+card, upon which the name of Mrs. Gordon was engraved. "Are you
+Prissy?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am," Prissy answered in wonder; "but I don't remember ever
+having seen you."
+
+"You have never seen me before," said Mrs. Gordon with a smile, "but I
+have heard of you. Can I wait until your mistress's visitor is gone? I
+bring good news."
+
+"You can sit in my room, if you don't mind, ma'am," said Prissy, who
+was greatly excited at the promise of good news.
+
+"Thank you," said Mrs. Gordon; and she followed the servant upstairs
+to a room next to that in which Mr. Poynter and Rachel were
+conversing, and where, the wall being thin, she could hear every word
+that was being spoken in the adjoining apartment.
+
+"This gentleman," said Rachel to her husband, pointing in the
+direction of Mr. Poynter, "has called to see you on business, and has
+taken advantage of your absence to offer me a bribe."
+
+"One moment, Rachel," said Aaron; "let me first hear the nature of Mr.
+Poynter's business."
+
+"I will explain it," said Mr. Poynter. "I have not been fortunate
+enough to win Mrs. Cohen's favour, but ladies are not accustomed to
+discuss business matters."
+
+"Did you come here to discuss a business matter with my wife?"
+inquired Aaron, calmly.
+
+"Well, hardly; but as you were absent I thought I might mention the
+matter to her."
+
+"What matter?"
+
+"The business I came upon," said Mr. Poynter, irritated by Aaron's
+composure. "I am ready to hear it, sir."
+
+"Very well. We will not beat about the bush, but will come straight to
+the point. You are down in the world, Mr. Cohen?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I am, as you say, down in the world."
+
+"The newspapers," continued Mr. Poynter, "have been saying
+uncomplimentary things of you, and I have heard a threat of further
+revelations. I considered it my duty--in the interests of truth, Mr.
+Cohen--to make your wife acquainted with these public disclosures."
+
+Rachel pressed her lips again upon Aaron's hand, which she held in a
+firm and loving grasp. His face brightened.
+
+"You have rendered me a service," he said. "Possibly I have you to
+thank, also, for the statements which have been made in the papers
+concerning me."
+
+"Possibly," said Mr. Poynter.
+
+"Nay," said Aaron, "you suggested just now the advisability of not
+beating about the bush, and you proclaim that you are here in the
+interests of truth. Have I, or have I not, to thank you for this
+unfavourable publicity?"
+
+"I have never shrunk from the truth," replied Mr. Poynter, with a
+lofty air, "nor from a duty, however distressing the truth or the duty
+might be. Society has to be considered, and we must ignore the feeling
+of the individual. I became possessed of certain information, and I
+considered it my imperative duty not to withhold it from the public
+ear."
+
+"I thank you. Without further circumlocution I must ask you to come
+straight to the business which brings you here."
+
+"It is very simple, and will put money in your pocket, of which, it
+seems to me, you stand in need."
+
+"I do stand in need of money."
+
+"Then the matter can be arranged. Some little while since we had a
+conversation concerning certain contracts which you were not in a
+position to complete."
+
+"You solicited a transference of those contracts to your firm," said
+Aaron, "and I declined to grant your request."
+
+"You use high-sounding words for one in your position," said Mr.
+Poynter, with a frown, "but I will not quarrel with you. You gave the
+worst of all bad reasons for your refusal."
+
+"Whether my reasons were good or bad, you have taken your revenge."
+
+"God-fearing men do not seek revenge, but justice. To continue. The
+firm to which you transferred the most important of these contracts
+happens at the present time to need some assistance, and hearing of
+it, I offer what it needs. But it appears that you have hampered them,
+and that in the deed of transference you expressly stipulate that no
+part of the contracts shall be executed by me unless I bind myself to
+a scale of wages and hours which you have tabulated."
+
+"I considered it fair to the men," said Aaron, "and it is as you have
+stated."
+
+"It is my belief," pursued Mr. Poynter, "that the firm will accept my
+aid if I adhere to the scale, which I decline to do. I know what is
+right, and I will not be dictated to. My business here is to make you
+the offer of a sum of money--I will go as far as a hundred pounds--if
+you will cancel this stipulation by which my friends are bound. A
+hundred pounds is a large sum, Mr. Cohen; it would come in useful to
+you just now."
+
+"It would. It is likely you would increase the sum."
+
+"Oh, you Jews, you Jews!" exclaimed Mr. Poynter, jocosely, thinking
+he had gained his point. "Always on the look-out for the main
+chance--always screwing out the last penny. Well, I am not a mean man,
+Mr. Cohen. We will say a hundred and twenty."
+
+Aaron turned to Rachel, and asked, "Is this the bribe you spoke of?"
+
+"It is not," she replied. "Mr. Poynter will explain it to you in his
+own words."
+
+"I haven't the smallest objection," said Mr. Poynter. "You see, Mr.
+Cohen, it is sometimes necessary to put the screw on. Who knows that
+better than you? There is a material screw, and a moral screw, in this
+particular case. The material screw is money; the moral screw is an
+iron safe, of which, as yet, no mention has been made in the
+newspapers."
+
+"Ah!" said Aaron.
+
+"It is almost a waste of words to speak of it to you, who are so
+familiar with the circumstances. This iron safe, it appears, was given
+into your charge when you received the infant into your house in
+Gosport. You were a pauper at the time, and from that day you
+prospered. In a manner of speaking you became suddenly rich. Well,
+well, the temptation was too strong for you. You could not resist
+opening the safe, and appropriating what it contained--undoubtedly
+treasure of some sort in money or jewels. But, Mr. Cohen, there is an
+all-seeing Eye."
+
+"I acknowledge it In the event of my refusing your money, you threaten
+to accuse me through the columns of the press of breaking open the
+safe and stealing the contents."
+
+"You have expressed it clearly, Mr. Cohen. The moral screw, you know."
+
+"And of further blackening my character."
+
+"It can scarcely be made worse than it is. In the event of your
+refusal I shall certainly do my duty."
+
+"Mr. Poynter," said Aaron, with dignity, "I refuse your offer."
+
+"It is not enough?"
+
+"Were you to multiply it a hundred times, it would not be enough."
+
+Through Aaron's veins ran the sweet approval conveyed in Rachel's
+close clasp upon his hand. "You beggar!" exclaimed Mr. Poynter. "You
+hypocrite! You defy me?"
+
+"I do not defy you; I simply tell you to do your worst."
+
+"It shall be done!" cried Mr. Poynter, furiously. "You are ruined; I
+will ruin you still more; I will bring you to your knees; you shall
+lie in the gutter and beg for mercy! You paragon of sanctity, all the
+world shall know you for what you are!"
+
+"You can use no harsher words," said Aaron. "Relieve me now of your
+presence."
+
+As he said this the communicating door between the rooms opened, and
+Mrs. Gordon appeared on the threshold.
+
+"Yes, I will go," said Mr. Poynter, but fell back when Mrs. Gordon
+advanced.
+
+"Not yet," she said, and turned to Aaron. "I have a word to say to
+this gentleman. Your servant admitted me, and allowed me to wait in
+the adjoining apartment till you were disengaged. I have heard all
+that has passed between you, and I am thankful for the chance that
+enabled me to do so. Mr. Cohen, look upon that man, and mark how
+changed he is from braggart to coward. It is not the infamous
+falsehoods he has spoken, it is not the cowardly threats to which he
+has dared to give utterance in the presence of a lady, that cause him
+to shrink, that blanch his face, and bring terror into his eyes. It is
+because he sees me stand before him, the woman he betrayed and
+deserted long years ago. He believed me dead, driven to death by his
+treachery and baseness; he beholds me living, to cover him, if I wish,
+with shame and ignominy. Heaven knows I had no desire to seek him, but
+Heaven directed me here in a just moment to expose and baffle him. It
+is my turn now to threaten, it is my turn to dictate. You unutterable
+villain, you shall make some sort of retribution for the infamy of the
+past!"
+
+"Psha!" said Mr. Poynter, with white lips. "Who will believe you? You
+have no proofs."
+
+"I have. God's justice has turned your weapon against yourself. The
+safe entrusted to this noble gentleman, and which he delivered to me
+intact, untampered with, when I came to claim it, contained no
+treasure in money or jewels. When I parted with my child--and yours--I
+was too poor to deposit even one silver coin in it, but in its stead I
+placed there the letters you wrote to me, in your own hand, signed in
+your own name, the name by which you are known. These letters are now
+in my possession. How would you stand in the eyes of the world if I
+published them, you God-fearing man, with the story attaching to them?
+I will do it, as Heaven is my judge, if you do not repair the injury
+you have done this gentleman, whom, with all my heart and soul, I
+honour and revere. It is him you have to thank that your child has
+been reared in honour and virtue. Go! I never wish to look upon your
+face again; but as you are a living man I will bring the good name you
+falsely bear to the dust if you do not make reparation!"
+
+As he slunk past her, uttering no word, she held her dress so that it
+should not come in contact with him. His power for evil was at an end,
+and Aaron had nothing more to fear from his malice.
+
+Then, after Aaron had introduced her to Rachel, she poured glad
+tidings into their ears. She had not sought them earlier, she said,
+because she wished first to execute a plan which was in her head
+respecting them, and she had also to reconcile Lord Storndale to his
+son's marriage with Ruth. Her great wealth had enabled her, after much
+labour, to succeed in this endeavour, and Ruth was recognised by her
+husband's family. The fortune which Aaron had settled upon Ruth had
+not been used in the carrying out of her desire; it was deposited in
+the bank, where only Aaron's signature was needed to prove his right
+to it. And now she begged them to accompany her; she wished to show
+them something, and her carriage was at the door. It conveyed them to
+a handsome house in a good neighbourhood, which they supposed to be
+Mrs. Gordon's residence. A neatly dressed maid answered the bell, and
+to their surprise Mrs. Gordon immediately left them, and saying she
+would call on the morrow, drove away before they could reply. The
+maid, holding the door open to allow them to enter, handed Aaron a
+letter and a packet, both addressed to him. The letter was from Mrs.
+Gordon, and upon reading it the mystery was explained. The house had
+been purchased by her in the name of Aaron Cohen, and the packet
+contained the deeds. "In furnishing the house," Mrs. Gordon wrote,
+"Ruth has been the guiding spirit; she knew what was most precious to
+you and your dear wife." Aaron's heart throbbed with gratitude as he
+and Rachel walked through the rooms, and he saw all the memorials of
+their old home which they held most dear. On the walls were the
+portrait of himself and the picture of Rachel in the garden in France,
+which had been presented to him on the day when all his friends had
+assembled to do him honour. Joyful tears ran down Rachel's face as he
+described these treasures to her; the love she had lavished on Ruth
+met now with its return. In the study Aaron paused, and lifting
+something from the table, placed it in Rachel's hands.
+
+"Your silver-mounted pipe!" she exclaimed.
+
+"My silver-mounted pipe," he answered. "My life, with this pipe, and
+the dear picture of you sitting under the cherry tree, and holding
+your dear hand, I can pass my days in perfect happiness and content."
+
+"O Lord of the Universe," said Rachel, clasping her hands, and raising
+her lovely face, "I thank Thee humbly for all Thy goodness to me and
+mine!"
+
+
+
+
+ THE END
+
+
+
+
+ * * * * * *
+Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Aaron the Jew, by B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42972 ***
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