I shouldn't wonder.
There's no race like them for cunning in the men and beauty in the
women. I wonder what market he means that daughter for.' When I heard
this it darted into my mind that the unhappiness in my life came from
my being a Jewess, and that always to the end the world would think
slightly of me and that I must bear it, for I should be judged by that
name; and it comforted me to believe that my suffering was part of the
affliction of my people, my part in the long song of mourning that has
been going on through ages and ages. For if many of our race were
wicked and made merry in their wickedness--what was that but part of
the affliction borne by the just among them, who were despised for the
sins of their brethren?--But you have not rejected me."

Mirah had changed her tone in this last sentence, having suddenly
reflected that at this moment she had reason not for complaint but for
gratitude.

"And we will try to save you from being judged unjustly by others, my
poor child," said Mrs. Meyrick, who had now given up all attempt at
going on with her work, and sat listening with folded hands and a face
hardly less eager than Mab's would have been. "Go on, go on: tell me
all."

"After that we lived in different towns--Hamburg and Vienna, the
longest. I began to study singing again: and my father always got money
about the theatres. I think he brought a good deal of money from
America, I never knew why we left. For some time he was in great
spirits about my singing, and he made me rehearse parts and act
continually. He looked forward to my coming out in the opera. But
by-and-by it seemed that my voice would never be strong enough--it did
not fulfill its promise. My master at Vienna said, 'Don't strain it
further: it will never do for the public:--it is gold, but a thread of
gold dust.' My father was bitterly disappointed: we were not so well
off at that time. I think I have not quite told you what I felt about
my father. I knew he was fond of me and meant to indulge me, and that
made me afraid of hurting him; but he always mistook what would please
me and give me happiness. It was his nature to take everything lightly;
and I soon left off asking him any questions about things that I cared
for much, because he always turned them off with a joke. He would even
ridicule our own people; and once when he had been imitating their
movements and their tones in praying, only to make others laugh, I
could not restrain