There was a long pause.  He did not hurry her, but sat patiently waiting, with his eyes fixed upon the book in his hand.

“I do not want to marry, grandfather.  I am so young.  I do not know Judah Belasco.”

“You shall have time, my dear.  It is part of the agreement that he shall now live in New York.  He is a rich young man, my dear.  He is of the sephardim, as you are too, my dear.  You must marry in your own caste; for we are of unmixed blood, faithful children of the tribe of Judah.  All of our brethren here are Ashkenasem:  therefore, I have had no rest until I got a husband fit for you, my dear.  This was my duty, though I brought him from the end of the earth.  It has cost me moneys, but I gave cheerfully.  The thing is finished now, when you are ready.  But you shall not be hurried, my dear.”

“Father, I have been a good daughter.  Do not make me leave you.”

“You have been good, and you will be good always.  What is the command?”

“Honor thy father and thy mother.”

“And the promise?”

“Then long shall be thy days on the earth.”

“And the vow you made, Miriam?”

“That I would never disobey or deceive you.”

“Who have you vowed to?”

“The God of Israel.”

“Will you lie unto Him?”

“I would give my life first.”

“Now is the time to fulfil your vow.  Put from your heart or fancy any other young man.  Have you not thought of our neighbour, Bram Van Heemskirk?”

“He is good; he is handsome.  I fear he loves me.”

“You know not anything.  If you choose a husband, or even a shoe, by their appearance, both may pinch you, my dear.  Judah is of good stock.  Of a good tree you may expect good fruit.”

“Bram Van Heemskirk is also the son of a good father.  Many times you have said it.”

“Yes, I have said it.  But Bram is not of our people.  And if our law forbid us to sow different seeds at the same time in the same ground, or to graft one kind of fruit-tree on the stock of another, shall we dare to mingle ourselves with people alien in race and faith, and speech and customs?  My dear, will you take your own way, or will you obey the word of the Lord?”

“My way cannot stand before His way.”

“It is a hard thing for you, my dear.  Your way is sweet to you.  Offer it as a sacrifice; bind the sacrifice, even with cords, to the altar, if it be necessary.  I mean, say to Bram Van Heemskirk words that you cannot unsay.  Then there will be only one sorrow.  It is hope and fear, and fear and hope, that make the heart sick.  Be kind, and slay hope at once, my dear.”

“If Judah had been my own choice, father”—­

“Choice? My dear, when did you get wisdom?  Do not parents choose for their children their food, dress, friends, and teachers?  What folly to do these things, and then leave them in the most serious question of life to their own wisdom, or want of wisdom!  Choice!  Remember Van Heemskirk’s daughter, and the sin and suffering her own choice caused.”