"He must judge for himself," said Trendellsohn, relenting somewhat.
"He must judge for himself and for me too," said Nina.
"He will be able, at any rate, to keep a house over your head."
"It is not for that," said Nina, thinking of her cousin Ziska's offer. She need not want for a house and money if she were willing to sell herself for such things as them.
"Anton will be rich, Nina, and you are very poor."
"Can I help that, father? Such as I am, I am his. If all Prague were mine I would give it to him."
The old man shook his head. "A Christian thinks that it is too much honour for a Jew to marry a Christian, though he be rich, and she have not a ducat for her dower."
"Father, your words are cruel. Do you believe I would give Anton my hand if I did not love him? I do not know much of his wealth; but, father, I might be the promised wife of a Christian to-morrow, who is, perhaps, as rich as he — if that were anything."
"And who is that other lover, Nina?"
"It matters not. He can be nothing to me — nothing in that way. I love Anton Trendellsohn, and I could not be the wife of any other but him."