“What said you then?”

“Oh, I scarce know!  But I told her how dearly I loved her, and I asked her to be my wife.”

[Illustration:  With a great sob Bram laid his head against her breast]

“And she said what to thee?”

“’My father I must obey.  Though he told me to slay myself, I must obey him.  By the God of Israel, I have promised it often.’”

“Was that all, Bram?”

“I asked her again and again.  I said, ’Only in this one thing, Miriam, and all our lives after it we will give to him.’  But she answered, ’Obedience is better than sacrifice, Bram.  That is what our law teaches.  Though I could give my father the wealth and the power of King Solomon, it would be worth less than my obedience.’  And for all my pleading, at the last it was the same, ’I cannot do wrong; for many right deeds will not undo one wrong one.’  So she gave me her hands, and I kissed them,—­my first and last kiss,—­and I bade her farewell; for my hope is over—­I know that.”

“She is a good girl.  I wish that you had won her, Bram.”  And Lysbet put down her work and went to her son’s side; and with a great sob Bram laid his head against her breast.

“As one whom his mother comforteth!” Oh, tender and wonderful consolation!  It is the mother that turns the bitter waters of life into wine.  Bram talked his sorrow over to his mother’s love and pity and sympathy; and when she parted with him, long after the midnight, she said cheerfully, “Thou hast a brave soul, mijn zoon, mijn Bram; and this trouble is not all for thy loss and grief.  A sweet memory will this beautiful Miriam be as long as thou livest; and to have loved well a good woman will make thee always a better man for it.”

[Illustration:  Chapter heading]

XII.

“The town’s a golden, but a fatal, circle, Upon whose magic skirts a thousand devils, In crystal forms, sit tempting Innocence, And beckoning Virtue from its centre.”

The trusting, generous letter which Joris had written to his son-in-law arrived a few days before Hyde’s departure for London.  With every decent show of pleasure and gratitude, he said, “It is an unexpected piece of good fortune, Katherine, and the interest of five thousand pounds will keep Hyde Manor up in a fine style.  As for the principal, we will leave it at Secor’s until it can be invested in land.  What say you?”

Katherine was quite satisfied; for, though naturally careful of all put under her own hands, she was at heart very far from being either selfish or mercenary.  In fact, the silver cup was at that hour of more real interest to her.  It would be a part of her old home in her new home.  It was connected with her life memories, and it made a portion of her future hopes and dreams.  There was also something more tangible about it than about the bit of paper certifying to five thousand pounds in her name at Secor’s Bank.