"Yes, my son, it is I. I am late. I have been hindered."
"Come!" said he.
And we entered the little passage, and then into the chamber where Zeffen, my daughter, lay pale and happy, upon her bed.
She had recognized my voice. As for me, my heart beat with joy; I could not speak; and I embraced my daughter, while I looked around to find the little one. Zeffen held it in her arms under the coverlet.
"There he is!" she said.
Then she showed him to me in his swaddling-clothes. I saw at once that he was plump and healthy, with his little hands closed tight, and I exclaimed:
"Baruch, this is Esdras, my father! Let him be welcome!"
I wanted to see him without his clothes, so I undressed him. It was warm in the little room from the lamp with seven burners. Tremblingly I undressed him; he did not cry, and my daughter's white hands assisted me:
"Wait, my father, wait!" said she.
My son-in-law looked on behind me. We all had tears in our eyes.