“Who was with you?”

“Max, aunt.”

“What happened to make you look so strange?”

In the most self-possessed manner possible Susannah replied—

“He told me he loved me, and I promised to marry him.”

Old Schalk and his wife both gasped; then the old man broke out—

“You promised to marry him—a Jew—one of those who denied the Lord Jesus and crucified Him?”

“I am sure Max did not do that; for one thing, he was not born at the time.”

“Don’t tell me! If he did not do it himself his forefathers did, and the Lord laid a curse on the Jews.”

“Who ever heard of such a thing as marrying a Jew?” broke in Mrs Hattingh. “I am sure the minister would refuse you the sacrament if you were to do it.”