fountain, and motioning at
the same time with her hand to Tancred not to rise, replied, 'We are so
near the desert that you must not doubt our hospitality.'

'I was tempted by the first sight of a palm tree to a step too bold; and
then sitting by this fountain, I know not how it was----'

'You yielded to our Syrian sun,' said the lady.

'It has been the doom of many; but you, I trust, will not find it
fatal. Walking in the garden with my maidens, we observed you, and one
of us covered your head. If you remain in this land you should wear the
turban.'

'This garden seems a paradise,' said Tancred. 'I had not thought that
anything so fair could be found among these awful mountains. It is a
spot that quite becomes Bethany.'

'You Franks love Bethany?'

'Naturally; a place to us most dear and interesting.'

'Pray, are you of those Franks who worship a Jewess; or of those other
who revile her, break her images, and blaspheme her pictures?'

'I venerate, though I do not adore, the mother of God,' said Tancred,
with emotion.

'Ah! the mother of Jesus!' said his companion. 'He is your God. He lived
much in this village. He was a great man, but he was a Jew; and you
worship him.'

'And you do not worship him?' said Tancred, looking up to her with an
inquiring glance, and with a reddening cheek.

'It sometimes seems to me that I ought,' said the lady, 'for I am of his
race, and you should sympathise with your race.'

'You are, then, a Hebrew?'

'I am of the same blood as Mary whom you venerate, but do not adore.'

'You just now observed,' said Tancred, after a momentary pause, 'that it
sometimes almost seems to you that you ought to acknowledge my Lord and
Master. He made many converts at Bethany, and found here some of his
gentlest disciples. I wish that you had read the history of his life.'

'I have read it. The English bishop here has given me the book. It is a
good one, written, I observe, entirely by Jews. I find in it many things
with which I agree; and if there be some from which I dissent, it may be
that I do not comprehend them.'

'You are already half a Christian!' said Tancred, with animation.

'But the Christianity which I draw from your book does not agree with
the Christianity which you practise,' said the lady, 'and I fear,
therefore, it may be heretical.'

'The Christian Church would be your guide.'

'Which?' inquired the lady; 'there are so many in Jerusalem. There is
the good bishop who