"Always Bram has been promised the Guilderland cup and the server that

goes with it."

"That is the truth; but I will tell you something, Lysbet. The

Middelburg cup was given by the Jews of Middleburg to my ancestor

because great favours and protection he gave them when he was mayor of

the city. Bram is very often with Miriam Cohen, and"-Then Joris stopped, and Lysbet waited anxiously for him to finish the

sentence; but he only puffed, puffed, and looked thoughtfully at the

bowl of his pipe.

"What mean you, Joris?"

"I think that he loves her."

"Well?"

"That he would like to marry her."

"Many things that are impossible, man would like to do: that is most

impossible of all."

"You think so?"

"I am sure of it."

"Not impossible was it for Katherine to marry one not of her own race."

"In my mind it is not race so much as faith. Far more than race, faith

claims."

"Hyde is a Lutheran."

"A Lutheran may also be a Christian, I hope, Joris."

"I judge no man, Lysbet. I have known Jews that were better Christians

than some baptized in the name of Christ and John Calvin,--Jews who,

like the great Jew, loved God, and did to their fellow-creatures as they

wished to be done by. And if you had ever seen Miriam Cohen, you would

not make a wonder that Bram loves her."

"Is she so fair?"

"A beautiful face and gracious ways she has. Like her the beloved Rachel

must have been, I think. Why do you not stand with Bram as you stood

with Katherine?"

"Little use it would be, Joris. To give consent in this matter would be

a sacrifice refused. Be sure that Cohen will not listen to Bram; no, nor

to you, nor to me, nor to Miriam. If it come to a question of race, more

proud is the Jew of his race then even the Englishman or the Dutchman.

If it come to a question of faith, if all the other faiths in the world

die out, the Jew will hold to his own. Say to Bram, 'I am willing;' and

Cohen will say to him, 'Never, never will I consent.' If you keep the

'Jew's cup' for Bram and Miriam, always you will keep it; yes, and they

that live after you, too."

Why it is that certain trains of thought and feeling move to their end

at the same hour, though that end affect a variety of persons, no one

has yet explained. But there are undoubtedly currents of sympathy of

whose nature and movements we are profoundly ignorant. Thus how often we

think of an event just before some decisive action relating to it is

made known to us! How often do we recall some friend just as we are

about to see or hear from him! How often do we remember something that

ought to be done, just at the last moment its successful accomplishment

was possible to us!




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