left strong in Lapidoth was the sensibility to his own claims, and he
appeared to himself to have a claim on any property his children might
possess, which was stronger than the justice of his son's resentment.
After all, to take up his lodging with his children was the best thing
he could do; and the more he thought of meeting Ezra the less he winced
from it, his imagination being more wrought on by the chances of his
getting something into his pocket with safety and without exertion,
than by the threat of a private humiliation. Luck had been against him
lately; he expected it to turn--and might not the turn begin with some
opening of supplies which would present itself through his daughter's
affairs and the good friends she had spoken of? Lapidoth counted on the
fascination of his cleverness--an old habit of mind which early
experience had sanctioned: and it is not only women who are unaware of
their diminished charm, or imagine that they can feign not to be worn
out.

The result of Lapidoth's rapid balancing was that he went toward the
little square in Brompton with the hope that, by walking about and
watching, he might catch sight of Mirah going out or returning, in
which case his entrance into the house would be made easier. But it was
already evening--the evening of the day next to that which he had first
seen her; and after a little waiting, weariness made him reflect that
he might ring, and if she were not at home he might ask the time at
which she was expected. But on coming near the house he knew that she
was at home: he heard her singing.

Mirah, seated at the piano, was pouring forth "_Herz, mein Herz_,"
while Ezra was listening with his eyes shut, when Mrs. Adam opened the
door, and said in some embarrassment--

"A gentleman below says he is your father, miss."

"I will go down to him," said Mirah, starting up immediately and
looking at her brother.

"No, Mirah, not so," said Ezra, with decision. "Let him come up, Mrs.
Adam."

Mirah stood with her hands pinching each other, and feeling sick with
anxiety, while she continued looking at Ezra, who had also risen, and
was evidently much shaken. But there was an expression in his face
which she had never seen before; his brow was knit, his lips seemed
hardened with the same severity that gleamed from his eye.

When Mrs. Adam opened the door to let in the father, she could not help
casting a look at the group, and after glancing from the younger man to