ben-hur-第103节
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ity of the wandering miracle…worker of whom they were all so expectant。
As to Simonides and Esther； they had arrived from Antioch only a few days before this their reappearancea wearisome journey to the merchant； borne； as he had been； in a palanquin swung between two camels； which； in their careening； did not always keep the same step。 But now that he was come； the good man； it seemed； could not see enough of his native land。 He delighted in the perch upon the roof； and spent most of his day hours there seated in an arm…chair； the duplicate of that one kept for him in the cabinet over the store…house by the Orontes。 In the shade of the summer…house he could drink fully of the inspiring air lying lightly upon the familiar hills； he could better watch the sun rise； run its course； and set as it used to in the far…gone； not a habit lost； and with Esther by him it was so much easier up there close to the sky； to bring back the other Esther； his love in youth； his wife； dearer growing with the passage of years。 And yet he was not unmindful of business。 Every day a messenger brought him a despatch from Sanballat； in charge of the big commerce behind； and every day a despatch left him for Sanballat with directions of such minuteness of detail as to exclude all judgment save his own； and all chances except those the Almighty has refused to submit to the most mindful of men。
As Esther started in return to the summer…house； the sunlight fell softly upon the dustless roof； showing her a woman nowsmall； graceful in form； of regular features； rosy with youth and health； bright with intelligence； beautiful with the outshining of a devoted naturea woman to be loved because loving was a habit of life irrepressible with her。
She looked at the package as she turned； paused； looked at it a second time more closely than at first； and the blood rose reddening her cheeksthe seal was Ben…Hur's。 With quickened steps she hastened on。
Simonides held the package a moment while he also inspected the seal。 Breaking it open； he gave her the roll it contained。
〃Read；〃 he said。
His eyes were upon her as he spoke； and instantly a troubled expression fell upon his own face。
〃You know who it is from； I see； Esther。〃
〃Yesfromour master。〃
Though the manner was halting； she met his gaze with modest sincerity。 Slowly his chin sank into the roll of flesh puffed out under it like a cushion。
〃You love him； Esther；〃 he said； quietly。
〃Yes；〃 she answered。
〃Have you thought well of what you do？〃
〃I have tried not to think of him； father； except as the master to whom I am dutifully bound。 The effort has not helped me to strength。〃
〃A good girl； a good girl； even as thy mother was；〃 he said； dropping into reverie； from which she roused him by unrolling the paper。
〃The Lord forgive me； butbut thy love might not have been vainly given had I kept fast hold of all I had； as I might have donesuch power is there in money！〃
〃It would have been worse for me had you done so； father； for then I had been unworthy a look from him； and without pride in you。 Shall I not read now？〃
〃In a moment；〃 he said。 〃Let me； for your sake； my child； show you the worst。 Seeing it with me may make it less terrible to you。 His love； Esther； is all bestowed。〃
〃I know it；〃 she said； calmly。
〃The Egyptian has him in her net；〃 he continued。 〃She has the cunning of her race； with beauty to help hermuch beauty； great cunning； but； like her race again； no heart。 The daughter who despises her father will bring her husband to grief。〃
〃Does she that？〃
Simonides went on：
〃Balthasar is a wise man who has been wonderfully favored for a Gentile； and his faith becomes him； yet she makes a jest of it。 I heard her say； speaking of him yesterday； 'The follies of youth are excusable； nothing is admirable in the aged except wisdom； and when that goes from them； they should die。' A cruel speech； fit for a Roman。 I applied it to myself； knowing a feebleness like her father's will come to me alsonay； it is not far off。 But you； Esther； will never say of meno； never'It were better he were dead。' No； your mother was a daughter of Judah。〃
With half…formed tears； she kissed him； and said； 〃I am my mother's child。〃
〃Yes； and my daughtermy daughter； who is to me all the Temple was to Solomon。〃
After a silence； he laid his hand upon her shoulder； and resumed： 〃When he has taken the Egyptian to wife； Esther； he will think of you with repentance and much calling of the spirit； for at last he will awake to find himself but the minister of her bad ambition。 Rome is the centre of all her dreams。 To her he is the son of Arrius the duumvir； not the son of Hur； Prince of Jerusalem。〃
Esther made no attempt to conceal the effect of these words。
〃Save him； father！ It is not too late！〃 she said； entreatingly。
He answered； with a dubious smile； 〃A man drowning may be saved； not so a man in love。〃
〃But you have influence with him。 He is alone in the world。 Show him his danger。 Tell him what a woman she is。〃
〃That might save him from her。 Would it give him to you； Esther？ No；〃 and his brows fell darkly over his eyes。 〃I am a servant； as my fathers were for generations； yet I could not say to him； 'Lo； master； my daughter！ She is fairer than the Egyptian； and loves thee better！' I have caught too much from years of liberty and direction。 The words would blister my tongue。 The stones upon the old hills yonder would turn in their beds for shame when I go out to them。 No； by the patriarchs； Esther； I would rather lay us both with your mother to sleep as she sleeps！〃
A blush burned Esther's whole face。
〃I did not mean you to tell him so； father。 I was concerned for him alonefor his happiness； not mine。 Because I have dared love him； I shall keep myself worthy his respect； so only can I excuse my folly。 Let me read his letter now。〃
〃Yes； read it。〃
She began at once； in haste to conclude the distasteful subject。
〃Nisan； 8th day。
〃On the road from Galilee to Jerusalem。
〃The Nazarene is on the way also。 With him； though without his knowledge； I am bringing a full legion of mine。 A second legion follows。 The Passover will excuse the multitude。 He said upon setting out； 'We will go up to Jerusalem； and all things that are written by the prophets concerning me shall be accomplished。'
〃Our waiting draws to an end。
〃In haste。
〃Peace to thee； Simonides。
〃BEN…HUR。〃
Esther returned the letter to her father； while a choking sensation gathered in her throat。 There was not a word in the missive for hernot even in the salutation had she a shareand it would have been so easy to have written 〃and to thine； peace。〃 For the first time in her life she felt the smart of a jealous sting。
〃The eighth day；〃 said Simonides； 〃the eighth day； and this； Esther； this is the〃
〃The ninth；〃 she replied。
〃Ah； then； they may be in Bethany now。〃
〃And possibly we may see him to…night；〃 she added； pleased into momentary forgetfulness。
〃It may be； it may be！ To…morrow is the Feast of Unleavened Bread； and he may wish to celebrate it； so may the Nazarene； and we may see himwe may see both of them； Esther。〃
At this point the servant appeared with the wine and water。 Esther helped her father； and in the midst of the service Iras came upon the roof。
To the Jewess the Egyptian never appeared so very； very beautiful as at that moment。 Her gauzy garments fluttered about her like a little cloud of mist； her forehead； neck； and arms glittered with the massive jewelry so affected by her people。 Her countenance was suffused with pleasure。 She moved with buoyant steps； and self…conscious； though without affectation。 Esther at the sight shrank within herself； and nestled closer to her father。
〃Peace to you； Simonides； and to the pretty Esther peace；〃 said Iras； inclining her head to the latter。 〃You remind me； good masterif I may say it without offence…you remind me of the priests in Persia who climb their temples at the decline of day to send prayers after the departing sun。 Is there anything in the worship you do not know； let me call my father。 He is Magian…bred。〃
〃Fair Egyptian；〃 the merchant replied； nodding with grave politeness； 〃your father is a good man who would not be offended if he knew I told you his Persian lore is the least part of his wisdom。〃
Iras's lip curled slightly。
〃To speak like a philosopher； as you invite me；〃 she said； 〃the least part always implies a greater。 Let me ask what you esteem the greater part of the rare quality you are pleased to attribute to him。〃
Simonides turned upon her somewhat sternly。
〃Pure wisdom always directs itself towards God； the purest wisdom is knowledge of God； and no man of my acquaintance has it in higher degree； or makes it more manifest in speech and act； than the good Balthasar。〃
To end the parley； he raised the cup and drank。
The Egyptian turned to Esther a little testily。
〃A man who has millions in store； and fleets of ships at sea； cannot discern in what simple women like us find amusement。 Let us leave him。 By the wall yonder we can talk。〃
They went to the parapet then； stopping at the place where； years before； Ben…Hur loosed the broken tile upon the head of Gratus。
〃You h
