"Ah," exclaimed Rose, "that is a beautiful notion!"
"When however," continued Edward, "heart truly bends to heart, when two souls meet and give up themselves to each other in love, this faith and feeling of theirs invests the invisible with a palpable reality, and brings it for all eternity before them."
"That again I don't understand," said the maiden pondering; "but if you mean that sort of love which is necessary for a wedding, and to make a truly happy marriage, I think very differently on that score."
"How so?" asked the young man.
"That is a hard matter to explain," answered the girl, putting on a look of deep thought.
"Supposing now," said Edward, forcing himself to laugh, that he might hide his emotion, "you had to marry tomorrow, whom would you choose? Which of all the men you have hitherto met with, do you like the best? Have you enough confidence in me to answer me this question honestly?"
"Why should not I?" she replied: "for I need not even spend a moment in considering the point."
"And … and the man you have already chosen?"
"Is of course our Eleazar."
Edward started back in utter amazement. "A moment ago you did not understand me, he said after a pause; and now you have told me a riddle that terrifies me."