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　the　wimple　aside；　but　so　slightly　that　the　face　remained　invisible。

At　length　the　man　was　accosted。

〃Are　you　not　Joseph　of　Nazareth？〃

The　speaker　was　standing　close　by。

〃I　am　so　called；〃　answered　Joseph；　turning　gravely　around；　〃And　youah；　peace　be　unto　you！　my　friend；　Rabbi　Samuel！〃

〃The　same　give　I　back　to　you。〃　The　Rabbi　paused；　looking　at　the　woman；　then　added；　〃To　you；　and　unto　your　house　and　all　your　helpers；　be　peace。〃

With　the　last　word；　he　placed　one　hand　upon　his　breast；　and　inclined　his　head　to　the　woman；　who；　to　see　him；　had　by　this　time　withdrawn　the　wimple　enough　to　show　the　face　of　one　but　a　short　time　out　of　girlhood。　Thereupon　the　acquaintances　grasped　right　hands；　as　if　to　carry　them　to　their　lips；　at　the　last　moment；　however；　the　clasp　was　let　go；　and　each　kissed　his　own　hand；　then　put　its　palm　upon　his　forehead。

〃There　is　so　little　dust　upon　your　garments；〃　the　Rabbi　said；　familiarly；　〃that　I　infer　you　passed　the　night　in　this　city　of　our　fathers。〃

〃No；〃　Joseph　replied；　〃as　we　could　only　make　Bethany　before　the　night　came；　we　stayed　in　the　khan　there；　and　took　the　road　again　at　daybreak。〃

〃The　journey　before　you　is　long；　thennot　to　Joppa；　I　hope。〃

〃Only　to　Bethlehem。〃

The　countenance　of　the　Rabbi；　theretofore　open　and　friendly；　became　lowering　and　sinister；　and　he　cleared　his　throat　with　a　growl　instead　of　a　cough。

〃Yes；　yesI　see；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　born　in　Bethlehem；　and　wend　thither　now；　with　your　daughter；　to　be　counted　for　taxation；　as　ordered　by　Caesar。　The　children　of　Jacob　are　as　the　tribes　in　Egypt　wereonly　they　have　neither　a　Moses　nor　a　Joshua。　How　are　the　mighty　fallen！〃

Joseph　answered；　without　change　of　posture　or　countenance；

〃The　woman　is　not　my　daughter。〃

But　the　Rabbi　clung　to　the　political　idea；　and　he　went　on；　without　noticing　the　explanation；　〃What　are　the　Zealots　doing　down　in　Galilee？〃

〃I　am　a　carpenter；　and　Nazareth　is　a　village；〃　said　Joseph；　cautiously。　〃The　street　on　which　my　bench　stands　is　not　a　road　leading　to　any　city。　Hewing　wood　and　sawing　plank　leave　me　no　time　to　take　part　in　the　disputes　of　parties。〃

〃But　you　are　a　Jew；〃　said　the　Rabbi；　earnestly。　〃You　are　a　Jew；　and　of　the　line　of　David。　It　is　not　possible　you　can　find　pleasure　in　the　payment　of　any　tax　except　the　shekel　given　by　ancient　custom　to　Jehovah。〃

Joseph　held　his　peace。

〃I　do　not　complain；〃　his　friend　continued；　〃of　the　amount　of　the　taxa　denarius　is　a　trifle。　Oh　no！　The　imposition　of　the　tax　is　the　offense。　And；　besides；　what　is　paying　it　but　submission　to　tyranny？　Tell　me；　is　it　true　that　Judas　claims　to　be　the　Messiah？　You　live　in　the　midst　of　his　followers。〃

〃I　have　heard　his　followers　say　he　was　the　Messiah；〃　Joseph　replied。

At　this　point　the　wimple　was　drawn　aside；　and　for　an　instant　the　whole　face　of　the　woman　was　exposed。　The　eyes　of　the　Rabbi　wandered　that　way；　and　he　had　time　to　see　a　countenance　of　rare　beauty；　kindled　by　a　look　of　intense　interest；　then　a　blush　overspread　her　cheeks　and　brow；　and　the　veil　was　returned　to　its　place。

The　politician　forgot　his　subject。

〃Your　daughter　is　comely；〃　he　said；　speaking　lower。

〃She　is　not　my　daughter；〃　Joseph　repeated。

The　curiosity　of　the　Rabbi　was　aroused；　seeing　which；　the　Nazarene　hastened　to　say　further；　〃She　is　the　child　of　Joachim　and　Anna　of　Bethlehem；　of　whom　you　have　at　least　heard；　for　they　were　of　great　repute〃

〃Yes；〃　remarked　the　Rabbi；　deferentially；　〃I　know　them。　They　were　lineally　descended　from　David。　I　knew　them　well。〃

Well；　they　are　dead　now；〃　the　Nazarene　proceeded。　〃They　died　in　Nazareth。　Joachim　was　not　rich；　yet　he　left　a　house　and　garden　to　be　divided　between　his　daughters　Marian　and　Mary。　This　is　one　of　them；　and　to　save　her　portion　of　the　property；　the　law　required　her　to　marry　her　next　of　kin。　She　is　now　my　wife。〃

〃And　you　were〃

〃Her　uncle。〃

〃Yes；　yes！　And　as　you　were　both　born　in　Bethlehem；　the　Roman　compels　you　to　take　her　there　with　you　to　be　also　counted。〃

The　Rabbi　clasped　his　hands；　and　looked　indignantly　to　heaven；　exclaiming；　〃The　God　of　Israel　still　lives！　The　vengeance　is　his！〃

With　that　he　turned　and　abruptly　departed。　A　stranger　near　by；　observing　Joseph's　amazement；　said；　quietly；　〃Rabbi　Samuel　is　a　zealot。　Judas　himself　is　not　more　fierce。〃

Joseph；　not　wishing　to　talk　with　the　man；　appeared　not　to　hear；　and　busied　himself　gathering　in　a　little　heap　the　grass　which　the　donkey　had　tossed　abroad；　after　which　he　leaned　upon　his　staff　again；　and　waited。

In　another　hour　the　party　passed　out　the　gate；　and；　turning　to　the　left；　took　the　road　into　Bethlehem。　The　descent　into　the　valley　of　Hinnom　was　quite　broken；　garnished　here　and　there　with　straggling　wild　olive…trees。　Carefully；　tenderly；　the　Nazarene　walked　by　the　woman's　side；　leading…strap　in　hand。　On　their　left；　reaching　to　the　south　and　east　round　Mount　Zion；　rose　the　city　wall；　and　on　their　right　the　steep　prominences　which　form　the　western　boundary　of　the　valley。

Slowly　they　passed　the　Lower　Pool　of　Gihon；　out　of　which　the　sun　was　fast　driving　the　lessening　shadow　of　the　royal　hill；　slowly　they　proceeded；　keeping　parallel　with　the　aqueduct　from　the　Pools　of　Solomon；　until　near　the　site　of　the　country…house　on　what　is　now　called　the　Hill　of　Evil　Counsel；　there　they　began　to　ascend　to　the　plain　of　Rephaim。　The　sun　streamed　garishly　over　the　stony　face　of　the　famous　locality；　and　under　its　influence　Mary；　the　daughter　of　Joachim；　dropped　the　wimple　entirely；　and　bared　her　head。　Joseph　told　the　story　of　the　Philistines　surprised　in　their　camp　there　by　David。　He　was　tedious　in　the　narrative；　speaking　with　the　solemn　countenance　and　lifeless　manner　of　a　dull　man。　She　did　not　always　hear　him。

Wherever　on　the　land　men　go；　and　on　the　sea　ships；　the　face　and　figure　of　the　Jew　are　familiar。　The　physical　type　of　the　race　has　always　been　the　same；　yet　there　have　been　some　individual　variations。　〃Now　he　was　ruddy；　and　withal　of　a　beautiful　countenance；　and　goodly　to　look　to。〃　Such　was　the　son　of　Jesse　when　brought　before　Samuel。　The　fancies　of　men　have　been　ever　since　ruled　by　the　description。　Poetic　license　has　extended　the　peculiarities　of　the　ancestor　to　his　notable　descendants。　So　all　our　ideal　Solomons　have　fair　faces；　and　hair　and　beard　chestnut　in　the　shade；　and　of　the　tint　of　gold　in　the　sun。　Such；　we　are　also　made　believe；　were　the　locks　of　Absalom　the　beloved。　And；　in　the　absence　of　authentic　history；　tradition　has　dealt　no　less　lovingly　by　her　whom　we　are　now　following　down　to　the　native　city　of　the　ruddy　king。

She　was　not　more　than　fifteen。　Her　form；　voice；　and　manner　belonged　to　the　period　of　transition　from　girlhood。　Her　face　was　perfectly　oval；　her　complexion　more　pale　than　fair。　The　nose　was　faultless；　the　lips；　slightly　parted；　were　full　and　ripe；　giving　to　the　lines　of　the　mouth　warmth；　tenderness；　and　trust；　the　eyes　were　blue　and　large；　and　shaded　by　drooping　lids　and　long　lashes；　and；　in　harmony　with　all；　a　flood　of　golden　hair；　in　the　style　permitted　to　Jewish　brides；　fell　unconfined　down　her　back　to　the　pillion　on　which　she　sat。　The　throat　and　neck　had　the　downy　softness　sometimes　seen　which　leaves　the　artist　in　doubt　whether　it　is　an　effect　of　contour　or　color。　To　these　charms　of　feature　and　person　were　added　others　more　indefinablean　air　of　purity　which　only　the　soul　can　impart；　and　of　abstraction　natural　to　such　as　think　much　of　things　impalpable。　Often；　with　trembling　lips；　she　raised　her　eyes　to　heaven；　itself　not　more　deeply　blue；　often　she　crossed　her　hands　upon　her　breast；　as　in　adoration　and　prayer；　often　she　raised　her　head　like　one　listening　eagerly　for　a　calling　voice。　Now　and　then；　midst　his　slow　utterances；　Joseph　turned　to　look　at　her；　and；　catching　the　expression　kindling　her　face　as　with　light；　forgot　his　theme；　and　with　bowed　head；　wondering；　plodded　on。

So　they　skirted　the　great　plain；　and　at　length　reached　the　elevation　Mar　Elias；　from　which；　across　a　valley；　they　beheld　Bethlehem；　the　old；　old　House　of　Bread；　its　white　walls　crowning　a　ridge；　and　shining　above　the　brown　scumbling　of　leafless　orchards。　They　paused　there；　and　rested；　while　Joseph　pointed　out　the　places　of　sacred　renown；　then　they　went　down　into　the　valley　to　the　well　which　was　the　scene　of　one　of　the　marvellous　exploits　of　David's　strong　men。　The　narrow　space　was　crowded　with　people　and　animals。　A　fear　came　upon　Josepha　fear　lest；　if　the　town　were　so　thronged；　there　might　not　be　house…room　for　the　gentle　Mary。　Without　delay；　he　hurried　on；　past　the　pillar　of　stone　marking　the　tomb　of　Rachel；　up　the　gardened　slope；　saluting　none　of　the　many　persons　he　met　on　the　way；　until　he　stopped　before　the　portal　of　the　khan　that　then　stood　outside　the　village　gates；　near　a　junction　of　roads。




CHAPTER　IX



To　understand　thoroughly　what　happened　to　the　Nazarene　at　the　khan；　the　reader　must　be　reminded　that　Eastern　inns　were　different　from　the　inns　of　the　Western　world。　They　were　called　khans；　from　the　Persian；　and；　in　simplest　form；　were　fenced　enclosures；　without　house　or　shed；　often　without　a　gate　or　entrance。　Their　sites　were　chosen　with　reference　to　shade；　defence；　or　water。　Such　were　the　inns　that　sheltered　Jacob　when　he　went　to　seek　a　wife　in　Padan…Aram。　Their　like　ma