Suddenly he stopped, and his voice broke with a sigh of inexpressible longing and insatiable desire. Again he was silent for a while, and then added softly:
"I would like to be as happy as was Rabbi Akiba."
"And who was Rabbi Akiba?" asked Golda shyly.
Meir's thoughtful eyes lit up and shone.
"He was a great man, Golda. I read his story often, and I was reading it again when you came."
"I know a great many beautiful stories," said Golda; "they grow in my soul, like red, fragrant roses! Meir, give me one more such rose that it may shine for me when I may not see you."
Their looks met and a soft smile played about Meir's mouth.
"Do you understand Hebrew?"
She hastily nodded in the affirmative.
"Yes, I understand. Zeide taught me." Meir turned a few pages of the book which his lap and read aloud: