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trembling　impatience。

〃There　is　no　hope　left；〃　murmured　Lydia；　〃she　accepts　her　fate；　too；
and　submits。〃

〃She　follows　my　example；〃　thought　Esther；　〃she　consoles　herself　with
her　wealth　and　brilliant　position　in　society。　Indeed；　there　is　no
better　consolation　than　that。〃

At　that　moment　the　door　opened；　and　the　rabbi　in　his　black　robe；　a
skull…cap　on　his　head；　appeared　on　the　threshold；　followed　by　the
precentor　and　sexton。　Solemn　silence　ensued；　and　all　heads　were
lowered　in　prayer　while　the　rabbi　was　crossing　the　room　in　order　to
salute　the　parents　of　the　brides。




CHAPTER　XVI。

MARIANNE　MEIER。


At　that　moment　of　silent　devotion；　no　one　took　any　notice　of　a　lady
who　crossed　the　threshold　a　few　seconds　after　the　rabbi　had　entered。
She　was　a　tall；　superb　creature　of　wonderful　beauty。　Her　black　hair；
her　glowing　eyes；　her　finely…curved　nose；　the　whole　shape　of　her
face　imparted　to　her　some　resemblance　to　Fanny　Itzig；　the　banker's
beautiful　daughter；　and　indicated　that　she　belonged　likewise　to　the
people　who；　scattered　over　the　whole　world；　have　with　unshaken
fidelity　and　constancy　preserved　everywhere　their　type　and　habits。
And　yet；　upon　examining　the　charming　stranger　somewhat　more　closely；
it　became　evident　that　she　bore　no　resemblance　either　to　Fanny　or　to
her　sisters。　Hers　was　a　strange　and　peculiar　style　of　beauty；
irresistibly　attractive　and　chilling　at　the　same　timea　tall；
queenly　figure；　wrapped　in　a　purple　velvet　dress；　fastened　under　her
bosom　by　a　golden　sash。　Her　shoulders；　dazzling　white；　and　of　a
truly　classical　shape；　were　bare；　her　short　ermine　mantilla　had
slipped　from　them　and　hung　gracefully　on　her　beautiful；　well…rounded
arms；　on　which　magnificent　diamond　bracelets　were　glittering。　Her
black　hair　fell　down　in　long；　luxuriant　ringlets　on　both　sides　of
her　transparent；　pale　cheeks；　and　was　fastened　in　a　knot　by　means　of
several　large　diamond　pins。　A　diamond　of　the　most　precious
brilliants　crowned　her　high　and　thoughtful　forehead。

She　looked　as　proud　and　glorious　as　a　queen；　and　there　was　something
haughty；　imperious；　and　cold　in　the　glance　with　which　she　now　slowly
and　searchingly　surveyed　the　large　room。

〃Tell　me；〃　whispered　Baron　Arnstein；　bending　over　Fanny　Itzig；　〃who
is　the　beautiful　lady　now　standing　near　the　door？〃

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Fanny；　joyfully；　〃she　has　come　after　all。　We
scarcely　dared　to　hope　for　her　arrival。　It　is　Marianne　Meier。〃

〃What！　Marianne　Meier？〃　asked　Baron　Arnstein。　〃The　celebrated　beauty
whom　Goethe　has　lovedfor　whom　the　Swedish　ambassador　at　Berlin；
Baron　Bernstein；　has　entertained　so　glowing　a　passion；　and　suffered
so　muchand　who　is　now　the　mistress　of　the　Austrian　minister；　the
Prince　von　Reuss？〃

〃Hush；　for　Heaven's　sake；　hush！〃　whispered　Fanny。　〃She　is　coming
toward　us。〃

And　Fanny　went　to　meet　the　beautiful　lady。　Marianne　gently　inclined
her　head　and　kissed　Fanny　with　the　dignified　bearing　of　a　queen。

〃I　have　come　to　congratulate　you　and　your　sisters；〃　she　said；　in　a
sonorous；　magnificent　alto　voice。　〃I　wanted　to　see　how　beautiful　you
looked；　and　whether　your　betrothed　was　worthy　of　possessing　you　or
not。〃

Fanny　turned　round　to　beckon　Baron　Arnstein　to　join　them；　but　he　had
just　left　with　the　rabbi　and　the　other　officers　of　the　synagogue。

The　ladies　were　now　alone；　for　the　ceremony　was　about　to　begin。　And
now　the　women　entered；　whose　duty　it　was　to　raise　loud　lamentations
and　weep　over　the　fate　of　the　brides　who　were　about　to　leave　the
parental　roof　and　to　follow　their　husbands。　They　spread　costly
carpets　at　the　feet　of　the　brides；　who　were　sitting　on　armchairs
among　the　assembled　ladies；　and　strewing　flowers　on　these　carpets；
they　muttered；　sobbing　and　weeping；　ancient　Hebrew　hymns。　The　mother
stood　behind　them　with　trembling　lips；　and；　raising　her　tearful　eyes
toward　heaven。　The　door　was　opened；　and　the　sexton　in　a　long　robe；
his　white　beard　flowing　down　on　his　breast；　appeared；　carrying　in
his　hand　a　white　cushion　with　three　splendid　lace　veils。　He　was
followed　by　Mr。　Itzig；　the　father　of　the　three　brides。　Taking　the
veils　from　the　cushion；　and　muttering　prayers　all　the　while；　he　laid
them　on　the　heads　of　his　daughters　so　that　their　faces　and　bodies
seemed　to　be　surrounded　by　a　thin　and　airy　mist。　And　the　mourning…
women　sobbed；　and　two　tears　rolled　over　the　pale　cheeks　of　the
deeply…moved　mother。　The　two　men　withdrew　silently；　and　the　ladies
were　alone　again。

But　now；　in　the　distance；　the　heart…stirring　sounds　of　a　choir　of
sweet；　sonorous　children's　voices　were　heard。　How　charming　did　these
voices　reecho　through　the　room！　They　seemed　to　call　the　brides；　and；
as　if　fascinated　by　the　inspiring　melody；　they　slowly　rose　from
their　seats。　Their　mother　approached　the　eldest　sister　and　offered
her　hand　to　her。　Two　of　the　eldest　ladies　took　the　hands　of　the
younger　sisters。　The　other　ladies　and　the　mourning…women　formed　in
pairs　behind　them；　and　then　the　procession　commenced　moving　in　the
direction　of　the　inviting　notes　of　the　anthem。　Thus　they　crossed　the
roomsnearer　and　nearer　came　the　musicand　finally；　on　passing
through　the　last　door；　the　ladies　stepped　into　a　long　hall；
beautifully　decorated　with　flowers　and　covered　with　a　glass　roof
through　which　appeared　the　deep；　transparent　azure　of　the　wintry
sky。　In　the　centre　of　this　hall　there　arose　a　purple　canopy　with
golden　tassels。　The　rabbi；　praying　and　with　uplifted　hands；　was
standing　under　it　with　the　three　bridegrooms。　The　choir　of　the
singers；　hidden　behind　flowers　and　orange…trees；　grew　louder　and
louder；　and　to　this　jubilant　music　the　ladies　conducted　the　brides
to　the　canopy；　and　the　ceremony　commenced。

When　it　was　concluded；　when　the　veils　were　removed　from　the　heads　of
the　brides　so　that　they　could　now　look　freely　into　the　world；　the
whole　party　returned　to　the　parlor；　and　brides　and　bridegrooms
received　the　congratulations　of　their　friends。

Fanny　and　Marianne　Meier　were　chatting　in　a　bay…window　at　some
distance　from　the　rest　of　the　company。　They　were　standing　there；　arm
in　armFanny　in　her　white　bridal　costume；　like　a　radiant　lily；　and
Marianne　in　her　purple　dress；　resembling　the　peerless　queen　of
flowers。

〃You　are　going　to　leave　Berlin　to…day　with　your　husband？〃　asked
Marianne。

〃We　leave　in　an　hour；〃　said　Fanny；　sighing。

Marianne　had　heard　this　sigh。　〃Do　you　love　your　husband？〃　she　asked；
hastily。

〃I　have　seen　him　only　twice；〃　whispered　Fanny。

A　sarcastic　smile　played　on　Marianne's　lips。　〃Then　they　have　simply
sold　you　to　him　like　a　slave…girl　to　a　wealthy　planter；〃　she　said。
〃It　was　a　mere　bargain　and　sale；　and　still　you　boast　of　it；　and　pass
your　disgusting　trade　in　human　hearts　for　virtue；　and　believe　you
have　a　right　to　look　proudly　and　contemptuously　down　upon　those　who
refuse　to　be　sold　like　goods；　and　who　prefer　to　give　away　their　love
to　being　desecrated　without　love。〃

〃I　do　not　boast　of　having　married　without　love；〃　said　Fanny；　gently。
〃Oh；　I　should　willingly　give　up　wealth　and　splendorI　should　be
quite　ready　to　live　in　poverty　and　obscurity　with　a　man　whom　I
loved。〃

〃But　first　the　old　rabbi　would　have　to　consecrate　your　union　with
such　a　man；　I　suppose？otherwise　you　would　not　follow　him；
notwithstanding　your　love？〃　asked　Marianne。

〃Yes；　Marianne；　that　would　be　indispensable；〃　said　Fanny；　gravely；
firmly　fixing　her　large　eyes　upon　her　friend。　〃No　woman　should　defy
the　moral　laws　of　the　world；　or　if　she　does；　she　will　always　suffer
for　it。　If　I　loved　and　could　not　possess　the　man　of　my　choice；　if　I
could　not　belong　to　him　as　his　wedded　wife；　I　should　give　him　up。
The　grief　would　kill　me；　perhaps；　but　I　should　die　with　the
consolation　of　having　remained　faithful　to　virtue〃

〃And　of　having　proved　false　to　love！〃　exclaimed　Marianne；
scornfully。　〃Phrases！　Nothing　but　phrases　learned　by　heart；　my
child；　but　the　world　boasts　of　such　phrases；　and　calls　such
sentiments　moral！　Oh；　hush！　hush！　I　know　what　you　are　going　to　say；
and　how　you　wish　to　admonish　me。　I　heard　very　well　how
contemptuously　your　husband　called　me　the　mistress　of　the　Prince　von
Reuss。　Don't　excuse　him；　and　don't　deny　it；　for　I　have　heard　it。　I
might　reply　to　it　what　Madame　de　Balbi　said　the　other　day　upon　being
upbraided　with　being　the　mistress　of　the　Royal　Prince　d'Artois：　'Le
sang　des　princes　ne　souille　pas！'　But　I　do　not　want　to　excuse
myself；　on　the　contrary；　all　of　you　shall　some　day　apologize　to　me。
For　I　tell　you；　Fanny；　I　am　pursuing　my　own　path　and　have　a　peculiar
aim　steadfastly　in　view。　Oh；　it　is　a　great；　a　glorious　aim。　I　want
to　see　the　whole　world　at　my　feet；　all　those　ridiculous　prejudices
of　birth；　rank；　and　virtue　shall　bow　to　the　Jewess；　and　the　Jewess
shall　become　the　peer　of　the　most　distinguished　representatives　of
society。　See；　Fanny；　that　is　my　plan　and　my　aim；　and　it　is　yours
too；　we　are　only　pursuing　it　in　different　waysYOU；　by　the　side　of
a　man　whose　wife　you　are；　and　to　whom　you　have　pledged　at　the　altar
love　and　fidelity　WITHOUT　feeling　them；　I；　by　the　side　of　a　man
whose　friend　I　amto　whom；　it　is　true；　I　have　not　pledged　at　the
altar　love　and　fidelity；　but　whom　I　shall　faithfully　love　BECAUSE　I
have　given　my　heart　to　him。　Let　God　decide