be forced upon her. Not personally to
Leo, of whom she knew nothing; but to this tie contemplated for her,
which was to be an impassable barrier between her and all her Christian
friends.

"Well!" sighed Abraham. He evidently did not like it. "I suppose,
then, I must let the Cohen [Note 1] know about it."

"If it be not already too late," responded Licorice, dubiously. "If
only this second visit had not happened! There was less harm done the
first time, and I do not quite understand it. Some stronger feeling has
taken possession of her now. Either her faith is shaken--"

"May the All-Merciful defend us from such horror!"

"Well, it is either that, or there is love in her heart--a deeper love
than for the Gentile woman, and the girls of whom she talks. She likes
them, I do not doubt; but she would never break her heart after them.
There is somebody else, old man, of whom we have not heard; and I
counsel thee to try and find out him or her. I am sadly afraid it is
_him_."

"But, Licorice, she has not seen any one. The Lady passed her word that
not a soul should come near her."

"Pish! Did the shiksah keep it? Even if she meant to do--and who can
trust a Gentile?--was she there, day and night? Did Emendant not tell
thee that he saw her at the Coronation?"

"Well, yes, he did," admitted Abraham, with evident reluctance.

"And had she Belasez there, tied to her apron-string, with a bandage
over her eyes? Son of Ursel, wilt thou never open thine? Who knows how
many young gallants may have chattered to her then? `When the cat is
away--' thou knowest. Not that the shiksah was much of a cat when she
was there, I'll be bound. Dost thou not care if the child be stolen
from us? And when they have stolen her heart and her soul, they may as
well take her body. It won't make much difference then."

"Licorice--"

Belasez listened more intently than ever. There was a world of tender
regret in Abraham's voice, and she knew that it was not for Licorice.

"Licorice,"--he said, and stopped.

"Go on," responded her mother sharply, "unless thou wert after some
foolery, as is most likely."

"Licorice, hast thou forgotten that Sabbath even, when thou broughtest
home--"

"I wish thou wouldst keep thy tongue off names. I have as good a memory
as thou, though it is not lined like thine with asses' skin."

"And dost thou remember what thou toldest me that she said to thy
reproaches?"

"Well, what then?"