Some acquaintance of Mr. Marion, passing down the steps, recognized him, and called back:
"What time does your speech come on the program, Frank? I understand you are to hold forth to-day."
Mr. Marion hastily excused himself for a moment, to speak to his friend.
Bethany sat silent, thinking intently, while she drew unmeaning dots and dashes over the cover of her note-book.
Mr. Lessing turned to her abruptly. "Did you ever speak to a Jew about your Savior?" he asked, with such startling directness, that Bethany was confused.
"No," she said, hesitatingly.
"Why?" he asked.
He was looking at her with a penetrating gaze that seemed to read her thoughts.
"Really," she answered, "I have never considered the question. I am not very well acquainted with any, for one reason; besides, I would have felt that I was treading on forbidden grounds to speak to a Jew about religion. They have always seemed to me to be so intrenched in their beliefs, so proof against argument, that it would be both a useless and thankless undertaking."