'Nothing very dreadful, depend upon it,' said Hannah, a slight shade of bitterness crossing her wistful features. 'I know he's inclined to be wild, and he should never have been allowed to get the bit between his teeth; but I dare say it was only some ceremonial crime Levi was caught committing.'
'Certainly; that would be it,' said Esther. 'He confessed to me that he was very link. Judging by your tone, you seem rather inclined that way yourself,' she said, smiling and a little surprised.
'Do I? I don't know,' said Hannah simply. 'Sometimes I think I'm very froom.'
'Surely you know what you are?' persisted Esther.
Hannah shook her head.
'Well, you know whether you believe in Judaism or not?'
'I don't know what I believe. I do everything a Jewess ought to do, I suppose. And yet, oh, I don't know.'
Esther's smile faded; she looked at her companion with fresh interest. Hannah's face was full of brooding thought, and she had unconsciously come to a standstill.
'I wonder whether anybody understands herself,' she said reflectively. 'Do you?'
Esther flushed at the abrupt question without knowing why.