“Permit the maid of Judah to thank her friend for that noble sentiment.”

Here the conversation was arrested by a signal from Barzello, and the young people went forward to join the other members of the family.

“This is Perreeza, of the royal line of Judah,” said Barzello, taking the maid gently by the hand, “whom I have the great pleasure of presenting to my illustrious friend Joram.”

The blushing maid modestly bowed while Joram took her by the hand and said, with unusual feeling, “May the blessing of the God of thy fathers, dear maid, accompany thy footsteps in a foreign land.”

This blessing from the lips of a Babylonian was deeply appreciated by the young woman, who was already touched by the kindness with which she was met on every hand.

“The Lily of the Valley,” said Joram, referring to Jupheena, “has found a sweet companion, and the maid of Judah, I trust, will not be displeased if, by the request of my good friend Barzello, I give her the name of an appropriate rose.”

“On the contrary,” said Perreeza, “thy young handmaiden is very grateful to the noble friend of Barzello for every token of his notice and kind regard.”

“Then, maid of Judah,” said Joram, “thy floral name, from this hour, is the Rose of Sharon.”

“The Rose of Sharon!” cried Jupheena.  “Oh, Perreeza, is not that delightful?  Rose of Sharon!”

“Beautiful, indeed!” said Perreeza, “and better than all, it is the sweet rose of my own native land.”

“True, young maid, true,” said Joram, “’tis the favorite rose of Judah.”

“The noble friend of Barzello will accept the thanks of his unworthy young acquaintance for his very happy compliment,” said Perreeza.

“Well,” responded Joram, “one Hebrew lay, accompanied by the harp of Judah, will recompense us a thousand times.”

“That shall be attended to with pleasure,” said Perreeza, and the two young women left to bring the harp.

“Now, my good friend, what thinkest thou of the maid of Judah?” asked Barzello.

“The Rose of Sharon is all loveliness,” said Joram.  “Ah, my friend, sawest thou not the majestic glance of that dark eye, the inimitable hue of those fair cheeks, the full perfection of those lips, the glossy richness of the profuse curls, and the marble whiteness of that model neck?  Add to this, my friend, the amiability of her character and her ripe accomplishments, and in her we find a charming and suitable companion for the daughter of Barzello.”

“Joram, are the Hebrew women noted for their beauty?”

“Perhaps no nation can boast of greater fairness of complexion among their females than the Jews.”

“Now the youthful maid of the royal line of Judah will make us happy with one of her Hebrew melodies, she having brought her favorite harp,” said Barzello.

“My kind friend may well say favorite harp,” replied Perreeza, with deep emotion; “for to me, surely, it is a very precious treasure.  For many years it has been in our family.  To me it was left by the dearest of mothers, and to her it was given by a brother beloved, who found an early grave.”