t, she was lost!

But a sneeze did not come. The olfactory nerves remained placid, until
the visitors had departed. Then she retreated to the inner cave, drew
the grey shawl over her head, and awaited the development of her plans.

Presently she heard footsteps, and the voice of the Hebrew calling to
her softly, but she took no notice. After a moment or two it sounded
again, somewhat louder.

Still no answer.

Then Beniah shouted, with just a shade of anxiety, "Branwen!"

Receiving no reply, he ran in much alarm for one of his spare planks;
thrust it over the chasm; crossed, and next moment stood in the inner
cave the very embodiment of astonished consternation, for Branwen was
gone, and in her place stood a little old woman, with a bowed form, and
a puckered-up mouth, gazing at him with half-closed but piercingly dark
eyes!

The Hebrew was almost destitute of superstition, and a man of great
courage, but this proved too much for him. His eyes opened with
amazement; so did his mouth, and he grew visibly pale.

The tables were turned at this point. The man's appearance proved too
much for the girl. Her eyes opened wide, her brilliant teeth appeared,
and, standing erect, she burst into a fit of merry laughter.

"Child!" exclaimed Beniah, his usually grave mouth relaxing into a broad
smile, which proved that his teeth were not less sound than his
constitution, "you have shown to me that fear, or something marvellously
like it, is capable of lurking within my old heart. What mean you by
this?"

"I mean that there is an idea come into my head which I shall carry
out--if you will allow me. I had thought at first of staying with you
as your grand-daughter or your niece, but then it came into my head that
I could not live long here in such a character without some one who knew
me seeing me and finding me out--though, let me tell you, it would not
be easy to find me out, for I can change my look and voice so that none
but those who know me well could discover me. Then the idea of being an
old woman came into my head, and--you can speak to my success. There is
nothing more natural than that you should have an old woman to take care
of your house while you go on your travels; so I can stay till you go
and see my father and tell him to send for me."

"Your father lives very far from here," returned the Hebrew, with the
lines of perplexity still resting on his brow.

"That is true; but Beniah's legs are long a