is itself a mutilation.  I do not contest its value, mark you; but if thou deny’st that Jesus was right to leave a knife whereby the sinner might free himself from sin thou must also deny circumcision.  Circumcision is the sign of our race, Dan answered.  A physical sign, an outward sign, Joseph cried, and he asked his father to say if the Jews would ever forget priests and ritual; and he reminded his father that the once sinner, now a holy anchorite, did not bring an appetency into the world that could be overcome by prayer, and so had to resort to the knife that he might live in the spirit.  It seems to me, Joseph, that we should live as God made us, for better or worse.  But, Father, once you admit circumcision——­ A man should not be over-nice, Joseph, and though it be far from my thought to wish to see thee a fornicator or adulterer it would rejoice me exceedingly to see grandchildren about me.  There is a maiden——­ Another reason, Father, of which I have not yet spoken makes the marriage of the flesh seem a vanity to me, and that is——­ I know it well, Joseph, that the great day is coming when the world will be remoulded afresh.  But, Father, do ye believe in nothing but observances?  Tell me, Joseph, did thy prophet ever raise anybody from the dead?  Yes, and hoping to convince his father by another miracle he fell to telling eagerly how a young girl who was being carried to the grave was called back to life.

She was, he said, coming from her wedding feast.  And he told how there were in the village two young girls, one as fair as the other, rivals in love as well as in beauty, both having the same young man in their hearts, and for a long time it seemed uncertain which would get him; for he seemed to favour them alternately, till at length Ruth, unable to bear her jealousy any longer, went to the young man, saying that she was close on a resolve to see him no more.  Your lover? he answered, his cheek blanching, for he dearly loved her.  I haven’t gotten a lover, she said; only a share in a lover.  Your words, Ruth, relieve me of much trouble, he replied, and took her in his arms and said:  it was a good thought that brought you hither, for if you hadn’t come I might never have been able to decide between you, but your coming has given me strength, and now I know which I desire.  And then it was the girl’s cheek that grew pale, for he hadn’t answered at once which he would have.  Which? she asked, and he replied:  you, not Rachel.  If that be so, she answered, I am divided between joy and sorrow; gladness for myself, sorrow for my friend; and it behoves me to go to her and tell her of her loss.  I am the chosen one, she said to Rachel, who turned away, saying:  had I gone to him and asked him to choose between us he would have chosen me.  He couldn’t do else.