Dinner that evening was considerably enlivened by the presence of Zillah Lorm, for coming direct from England, she had much to tell. Owing to her connection with influential Christian people she had evaded the Assimilation Act until a few weeks ago; but her origin having been eventually discovered, she had been given the option of taking the oath or leaving the country. Indeed, it was only by the prompt action on her behalf by a friendly peer that she had escaped the penalty meted out to such defaulters. Instead of viewing her position with anything approaching repentance, however, she seemed to regard it as a good joke. She was genuinely elated at having had the cleverness to defy the authorities for so long a time.
“It was Mrs. Athelstan Moore—the Countess of Chesterwood, I mean—who found me out,” she informed Lionel cheerfully. “You see, she had met me at your house and knew something about me; the others never dreamt that I was a Jewess. Of course, I took care to avoid all those who already knew.”
“I thought you had already taken the oath,” said Lady Montella, from the other side of the table. “Did you not give me to understand that such was the case?”
“Did I? I have forgotten.” Zillah looked up with an air of frankness. “To tell you the truth, I was very near taking it, but when it actually came to it, I couldn’t find it in my heart to give up all connection with things Jewish. Not that I care much for Yiddishkeit—I generally try to avoid it as much as I can; but as long as I was born a Jewess, I suppose I’d better die one too.”
“Was that your only reason for refusing to secede?” asked Lionel, with a curious smile. “That you might die a Jewess? Why not that you might live a Jewess too?”
Zillah gave a gesture of insouciance.
“To live is always more difficult than to die,” she returned lightly. “Besides, I could not make a Brocha[[10]] over the Sabbath candles to save my life. It is not in my nature to conform to that sort of thing.”
[10]. Blessing.
“But living in Israel, you will do as the Israelites do?”
“Certainly, as long as no great effort is expected of me. I should certainly not go out of my way to offend.”