Ephraim Phillips then placed fifteen shillings in silver before old Hyams, who thereupon inquired in Chaldaic:  “Which wouldst thou rather—­give me thy first-born son, the first-born of his mother, or redeem him for five selaim, which thou art bound to give according to the Law?”

Ephraim replied in Chaldaic:  “I am desirous rather to redeem my son, and here thou hast the value of his redemption, which I am bound to give according to the Law.”

Thereupon Hyams took the money tendered, and gave back the child to his father, who blessed God for His sanctifying commandments, and thanked Him for His mercies; after which the old Cohen held the fifteen shillings over the head of the infant, saying:  “This instead of that, this in exchange for that, this in remission of that.  May this child enter into life, into the Law, and into the fear of Heaven.  May it be God’s will that even as he has been admitted to redemption, so may he enter into the Law, the nuptial canopy and into good deeds.  Amen.”  Then, placing his hand in benediction upon the child’s head, the priestly layman added:  “God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh.  The Lord bless thee and keep thee.  The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.  The Lord turn His face to thee and grant thee peace.  The Lord is thy guardian; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.  For length of days and years of life and peace shall they add to thee.  The Lord shall guard thee from all evil.  He shall guard thy soul.”

“Amen,” answered the company, and then there was a buzz of secular talk, general rapture being expressed at the stolidness of Ezekiel’s demeanor.  Cups of tea were passed round by the lovely Leah, and the secrets of the paper bags were brought to light.  Ephraim Phillips talked horses with Sam Levine, and old Hyams quarrelled with Malka over the disposal of the fifteen shillings.  Knowing that Hyams was poor, Malka refused to take back the money retendered by him under pretence of a gift to the child.  The Cohen, however, was a proud man, and under the eye of Miriam a firm one.  Ultimately it was agreed the money should be expended on a Missheberach, for the infant’s welfare and the synagogue’s.  Birds of a feather flock together, and Miriam forgathered with Hannah Jacobs, who also had a stylish feather in her hat, and was the most congenial of the company.  Mrs. Jacobs was left to discourse of the ailments of childhood and the iniquities of servants with Mrs. Phillips.  Reb Shemuel’s wife, commonly known as the Rebbitzin, was a tall woman with a bony nose and shrivelled cheeks, whereon the paths of the blood-vessels were scrawled in red.  The same bones were visible beneath the plumper padding of Hannah’s face.  Mrs. Jacobs had escaped the temptation to fatness, which is the besetting peril of the Jewish matron.  If Hannah could escape her mother’s inclination to angularity she would be a pretty woman.  She dressed with taste, which is half the battle, and for the present she was only nineteen.