hand, drew up the
curious ivory-topped chair. Thus seated, they formed the figure of an
isosceles triangle, with Ruth at the apex, the men at the angles of
the base. It is a rigid outline, that of the isosceles, bespeaking each
point an alien from the others.

There was an uncomfortable pause for some moments after she had seated
herself, during which Ruth noted how, as the candle-light from the
sconce behind fell upon her father's head, each silvery hair seemed to
speak of quiet old age.

Kemp was the first to speak, and, as usual, came straight to the point.

"Mr. Levice, there is no use in disguising or beating around the bush
the thought that is uppermost in all our minds. I ask you now, in
person, what I asked you in writing last Friday,--will you give me your
daughter to be my wife?"

"I will answer you as I did in writing. Have you considered that you are
a Christian; that she is a Jewess?"

"I have."

It was the first gun and the answering shot of a strenuous battle.

"And you, my child?" he addressed her in the old sweet way that she had
missed in the afternoon.

"I have also done so to the best of my ability."

"Then you have found it raised no barrier to your desire to become Dr.
Kemp's wife?"

"None."

The two men drew a deep breath at the sound of the little decisive word,
but with a difference. Kemp's face shone exultantly. Levice pressed his
lips hard together as the shuddering breath left him; his heavy-veined
hands were tightly clinched; when he spoke, however, his voice was quite
peaceful.

"It is an old and just custom for parents to be consulted by their
children upon their choice of husband or wife. In France the parents are
consulted before the daughter; it is not a bad plan. It often saves some
unnecessary pangs--for the daughter. I am sorry in this case that we are
not living in France."

"Then you object?" Kemp almost hurled the words at him.

"I crave your patience," answered the old man, slowly; "I have grown
accustomed to doing things deliberately, and will not be hurried in this
instance. But as you have put the question, I may answer you now. I do
most solemnly and seriously object."

Ruth, sitting intently listening to her father, paled slowly. The doctor
also changed color.

"My child," Levice continued, looking her sadly in the face, "by
allowing you to fall blindly into this trouble, without warning, with my
apparent sanction for any relationship with Christians, I