“Then I tell you I can never bring myself to approve of a marriage between you and a Christian. There can be no true happiness in such a union.”
“Why not? Inasmuch as all my life you have taught me to look upon my Christian friends as upon my Jewish, and since you admit him irreproachable from every standpoint, why can he not be my husband?”
“Have you ever thought of what such a marriage entails?”
“Never.”
“Then do so now: think of every sacrifice, social and religious, it enforces; think of the great difference between the Jewish race and the Christians; and if, after you have measured with the deadliest earnestness every duty that married life brings, you can still believe that you will be happy, then marry him.”
“With your blessing?” Her lovely, pleading eyes still held his.
“Always with my blessing, child. One thing more: did Dr. Kemp mention anything of this to you?”
“No; he must have forgotten it as I did, or rather, if I ever thought of it, it was a mere passing shadow. I put it aside with the thought that though you and I had never discussed such a circumstance, judging by all your other actions in our relations with Christians, you would be above considering such a thing a serious obstacle to two people’s happiness.”
“You see, when it comes to action, my broad views dwindle down to detail, and I am only an old man with old-fashioned ideas. However, I shall remind Dr. Kemp of this grave consideration, and then—you will not object to this?”
“Oh, no; but I know—I know—” What did she know except of the greatness of his love that would annihilate all her father’s forebodings?