“I feel sure that’s the explanation, if he’s not in London.  But what in Heaven’s name can your father have seen him doing?”

“Nothing very dreadful, depend upon it,” said Hannah, a slight shade of bitterness crossing her wistful features.  “I know he’s inclined to be wild, and he should never have been allowed to get the bit between his teeth, but I dare say it was only some ceremonial crime Levi was caught committing.”

“Certainly.  That would be it,” said Esther.  “He confessed to me that he was very link.  Judging by your tone, you seem rather inclined that way yourself,” she said, smiling and a little surprised.

“Do I?  I don’t know,” said Hannah, simply.  “Sometimes I think I’m very froom.”

“Surely you know what you are?” persisted Esther.  Hannah shook her head.

“Well, you know whether you believe in Judaism or not?”

“I don’t know what I believe.  I do everything a Jewess ought to do, I suppose.  And yet—­oh, I don’t know.”

Esther’s smile faded; she looked at her companion with fresh interest.  Hannah’s face was full of brooding thought, and she had unconsciously come to a standstill.  “I wonder whether anybody understands herself,” she said reflectively.  “Do you?”

Esther flushed at the abrupt question without knowing why.  “I—­I don’t know,” she stammered.

“No, I don’t think anybody does, quite,” Hannah answered.  “I feel sure I don’t.  And yet—­yes, I do.  I must be a good Jewess.  I must believe my life.”

Somehow the tears came into her eyes; her face had the look of a saint.  Esther’s eyes met hers in a strange subtle glance.  Then their souls were knit.  They walked on rapidly.

“Well, I do hope you’ll hear from him soon,” said Esther.

“It’s cruel of him not to write,” replied Hannah, knowing she meant Levi; “he might easily send me a line in a disguised hand.  But then, as Miriam Hyams always says, brothers are so selfish.”

“Oh, how is Miss Hyams?  I used to be in her class.”

“I could guess that from your still calling her Miss,” said Hannah with a gentle smile.

“Why, is she married?”

“No, no; I don’t mean that.  She still lives with her brother and his wife; he married Sugarman the Shadchan’s daughter, you know.”

“Bessie, wasn’t it?”

“Yes; they are a devoted couple, and I suspect Miriam is a little jealous; but she seems to enjoy herself anyway.  I don’t think there is a piece at the theatres she can’t tell you about, and she makes Daniel take her to all the dances going.”

“Is she still as pretty?” asked Esther.  “I know all her girls used to rave over her and throw her in the faces of girls with ugly teachers.  She certainly knew how to dress.”

“She dresses better than ever,” said Hannah evasively.

“That sounds ominous,” observed Esther, laughingly.

“Oh, she’s good-looking enough!  Her nose seems to have turned up more; but perhaps that’s an optical illusion; she talks so sarcastically now-a-days that I seem to see it.”  Hannah smiled a little.  “She doesn’t think much of Jewish young men.  By the way, are you engaged yet, Esther?”