She said that he must not wonder that she wanted to thank him for standing between her and insult yesterday at the synagogue—also must not wonder that she had a woman’s curiosity to know by what means he had managed to gain admittance to the house, and then to carry his point so fully with the leech. Would he explain? So he gave a modest account of his dealings with both the husband and the leech; and then smilingly demanded reciprocation. The lady must not wonder that he too had some curiosity to know something of her experience with the same rough customers. He found that, as the leech had surmised, she could not get admittance to the house till she had sent back her servants and had promised not to interfere personally with the treatment. She was very reluctant to do both things; but she felt that she could not desert her nurse at such a time. Besides, she was expecting Seti, and encouraged herself with the hope of his speedy arrival. However, she was almost afraid to come within doors—the man was so rude and surly. And she did not fail to tell what a weight was lifted from her mind as soon as Aleph made his appearance.
But what did he propose? Would not Miriam’s husband come back and break up all that had been done? And such a desperado! What threats! She trembled to think what he might do. Must not Aleph be on his guard? How sorry she was that his unselfish efforts for others should bring him into such perils! Her lips quivered, and she looked at him with moist, anxious eyes.
Aleph acknowledged that he thought the fellow capable of the worst. He would be on his guard. At the same time he did not think that they need fear his return. If he should come back he must find men in the house able to control him. So the leech and himself would remain till the coming of Seti; who perhaps would accompany her home and return with two strong and resolute men to take their places. So by alternation they must secure the patient till she could be taken elsewhere—which he thought would be very soon. What did the lady think of the plan?
She thought favorably of it; and had no doubt but that her father would do the same. But what trouble and danger Aleph was taking on himself in all this!
“Do I look as if troubled by it?” said the young man cheerfully. “You see, I am here partly for educational purposes; and I consider the opportunities which may daily come to me for dealing wisely and helpfully with men as so many valuable teachers; and, as to personal danger, I am quite willing to pay that price for my tuition. But pardon me, lady, when I say that you who leave your palace for such a place as this, and submit to bad air, and rude treatment, and risk of health for the sake of a very humble person who can never repay you, ought not to be surprised at my conduct. I am comparatively selfish in my conduct. In purity of motive, I fear that you have greatly the advantage of me. Still I hope that you will not on that account refuse my interested help in your disinterested work. By and by, when my education is finished, I hope my motives will be as unselfish as your own.” He smiled as he added, “But I should be sorry to have you think that I am, even now, quite without pity for suffering, and indignation at injustice and wrong.”
After a moment’s pause, during which his face resumed the serene gravity of expression which was habitual to it, he went on:
“But, lady, besides wanting to complete my education, I have another want in regard to which you may perhaps help me, and so amply compensate me on commercial principles for all I have done or may do for your friend. I am very much interested to get accurate information from Judea about Jesus. Any news that may reach you about that remarkable person will be to me like waters to a desert. Your father’s position is such that information will naturally come to him and to you.”
“I am not sure of that,” returned Rachel. “We get, it is true, a plenty of rumors and opinions about Jesus; but they come to us, I fear, shaped and colored by the strong prejudices and seeming interests of the chief people of our nation, who are mostly hostile to him. These are about the only ones with whom my father is in communication. But now and then we meet with a man, like Simeon, who heartily wishes to know the truth, whatever that may be.”
“Such was the impression he made on me,” said Aleph.
“Speaking of him,” said the maiden, “reminds me of a piece of news which he brought us this morning, and which my anxiety about Miriam had almost driven from my mind. He said that he had just heard from a friend whom he had engaged to make certain inquiries for him that in the birth-registers of Bethlehem is recorded the birth, some thirty years ago, of one Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary, both of whom are said to be descended from David. He also said that the same friend reported some additional particulars in regard to the reformer John, who made so great a stir a short time before Jesus became generally known, and whom many for a time took to be the Christ.”