great respect, and
moved aside that we might have room to enter. As we neared the door I
could hear a babel of strange tongues and the voices of women calling
down the blessings of Heaven upon some one in their midst. It was Rayel.
He stood in a corner of the room holding two little children in his
arms, and the crowd was pressing forward as if eager to speak with him.
He was talking in a low voice to those nearest him, but I was unable to
catch his words. There were men and women of many nationalities in the
throng. I saw Italians, Celts, Poles, Germans and even men whose swarthy
faces and peculiar garb betokened Syrian origin. When we pressed nearer
to Rayel I saw some, as they came within reach, extend their hands
and touch him fondly, uttering exclamations as they did so, often in
a tongue that was strange to me. These simple-minded people seemed to
regard him as a supernatural being whom it was good to talk with, and
whose touch it was a blessing to feel. A look of love and gentleness and
sympathy irradiated his face and invited their confidence. These were
evidently the poor whom he had befriended, and he was now taking leave
of them, probably forever. It was a scene the like of which few can
ever hope to witness. After all, I thought, what manner of riches can
be compared to the satisfaction which Rayel feels at this moment? I was
quite ready then to applaud his unselfish generosity, for in that gloomy
and unclean place I first saw the full radiance of God's truth that it
is infinitely more blessed to give than to receive. We stood for a long
time looking upon this memorable meeting of Cadmus and Caliban. When at
length he caught sight of us, Rayel came where we stood, and said he was
ready to go home. Perceiving that we were about to go, the crowd hurried
from the building into the narrow alley leading out upon the street.
Some shouted endearing farewells as we passed them, and many of their
hardened faces were wet with tears. The sun was just going down and the
shadows were deepening between the high walls looming above us as we
started homeward. Hester insisted that we must dine with her and decide
upon the day of our departure. Rayel and I went directly home for a bath
and a change of clothing, after which we proceeded at once to Hester's
apartments. Evidently somewhat fatigued by the day's experience, Rayel
had little to say while we were eating dinner. It was arranged that we
would start for England by the fi