f Eve.'

'She has been your most successful pupil, certainly, mother. You may
well be proud of her.'

The old hag chuckled to herself a while; and then suddenly turning to
Raphael--'See here! I have a present for you;' and she pulled out a
magnificent ring.

'Why, mother, you are always giving me presents. It was but a month ago
you sent me this poisoned dagger.'

'Why not, eh?--why not? Why should not Jew give to Jew? Take the old
woman's ring!'

'What a glorious opal!'

'Ah, that is an opal, indeed! And the unspeakable name upon it; just
like Solomon's own. Take it, I say! Whosoever wears that never need fear
fire, steel, poison, or woman's eye.'

'Your own included, eh?'

'Take it, I say!'and Miriam caught his hand, and forced the ring on his
finger. 'There! Now you're safe. And now call me mother again. I like
it. I don't know why, but I like it. And--Raphael Aben-Ezra--don't laugh
at me, and call me witch and hag, as you often do. I don't care about
it from any one else; I'm accustomed to it. But when you do it, I always
long to stab you. That's why I gave you the dagger. I used to wear it;
and I was afraid I might be tempted to use it some day, when the thought
came across me how handsome you'd look, and how quiet, when you were
dead, and your soul up there so happy in Abraham's bosom, watching all
the Gentiles frying and roasting for ever down below. Don't laugh at me,
I say; and don't thwart me! I may make you the emperor's prime minister
some day. I can if I choose.'

'Heaven forbid!' said Raphael, laughing.

'Don't laugh. I cast your nativity last night, and I know you have no
cause to laugh. A great danger hangs over you, and a deep temptation.
And if you weather this storm, you may be chamberlain, prime minister,
emperor, if you will. And you shall be--by the four archangels, you
shall!'

And the old woman vanished down a by-lane, leaving Raphael utterly
bewildered.

'Moses and the prophets! Does the old lady intend to marry me? What can
there be in this very lazy and selfish personage who bears my name, to
excite so romantic an affection? Well, Raphael Aben-Ezra, thou hast one
more friend in the world beside Bran the mastiff; and therefore one more
trouble--seeing that friends always expect a due return of affection
and good offices and what not. I wonder whether the old lady has been
getting into a scrape kidnapping, and wants my patronage to help her
out of it.... Three-quarters of a mile