pirit of Barzello, her home must be
a happy one. Perreeza, does he appear like unto our noble friend?"

"The very image of him!" said the sister, laughing heartily. "Now,
brothers and cousin, let Perreeza undeceive you on this point. This noble
officer, whose house is to be my future home, is none other than our own
illustrious Barzello himself. This truth was made known to me in a way
that well-nigh prostrated me. Oh, brothers, is not this delightful?"

"Praised be Jehovah!" broke from the lips of the youths of Judah.

"For conversation we have but a short time," said Perreeza; "Barzello and
his lovely Jupheena are below, and will be here in a few moments, and
from hence I accompany them to their home. Hark ye! I hear their
footsteps."

Barzello, with a smiling countenance, entered the apartment, leading by
the hand his beautiful daughter. Perreeza ran to meet her young
companion, while the four youths were not wanting in appropriate
obeisance to the noble officer; all of which was closely watched by the
smiling young Chaldean maid.

"Have our young friends received any communications from any of the
king's officers since our last interview?"

"Thy servants have received no communication from any source, since the
departure of their kind friend, about the ninth hour," answered Daniel.

"To-morrow morning, peradventure, ye shall learn the pleasure of the king
in regard to your future course; and I trust ye will find that our noble
monarch is not wholly unmindful of your former rank and station in your
own land."

"Permit thy unworthy servants once more," said Azariah, "to acknowledge,
with grateful hearts, thy kind regards for their beloved sister, whom
thou hast taken as an inmate of thy hospitable mansion. Perreeza will
always delight to do thy pleasure, and to be the obedient servant of thy
amiable young daughter."

"Your sister, while under my roof, shall not be looked upon in an
inferior light. The chosen companion of my daughter will command due
respect from those in high circles. The maid of Judah need not feel
embarrassed, for her literary attainments will compare favorably with the
most polished maidens of her own age in Babylon. She is not a captive.
With the noble feeling of a sister's heart, and of her own accord, she
accompanied her brothers to a land of strangers. She is as free as any
daughter of Chaldea; and therefore my Jupheena will be happy to introduce
her to her friends in her real charact