s his hand on your head and gives you a good kiss. And you may
fancy him, too, as saying to himself: 'God in Heaven! if only my little
daughter, my Ruth may be such another as little Mary, grandchild of the
just Mukaukas!'"

And as he spoke, the vivacious but stout man, who had dropped on his
knees, rose panting, left the lid of his strong box open, hurried up to
the child, who had been standing at the window all the while, and bending
over her from behind pressed a kiss on her curly head, saying with a
laugh: "There, little pickpocket, that is my interest. But look out
still, till I call you again." He nimbly trotted back on his short little
legs, wiping his eyes; took from the strong box a little bag of gold,
which contained rather more than the desired sum, locked the chest again,
looking at Mary with a mixture of suspicion and hearty approbation; then
at last he called her to him. He emptied the money-bag before her,
counted out the sum she needed, put the remainder of the coins into his
girdle, and handed the bag to the little girl requesting her to count his
"advance", back into it, while he, with a cunning smile, quitted the
room.

He presently returned and she had finished her task, but she timidly
observed: "One gold piece is wanting." At this he clasped his hands over
his breast and raised his eyes to Heaven exclaiming: "My God! what a
child. There is the solidus, child; and you may take my word for it as a
man of experience: whatever you undertake will prosper. You know what you
are about; and when you are grown up and a suitor comes he will go to a
good market. And now sign your name here. You are not of age, to be sure,
and the receipt is worth no more than any other note scribbled with
ink--however, it is according to rule."

Mary took the pen, but she first hastily glanced through what Gamaliel
had written; the Jew broke out in fresh enthusiasm:

"A girl--a mere child! And she reads, and considers, and makes all sure
before she will sign! God bless thee, Child!--And here come the tarts,
and you can taste them before. . . . Just Heaven! a mere child, and such
important business!"

THE BRIDE OF THE NILE

By Georg Ebers

Volume 12.

CHAPTER XXI.

While Rustem, to whom Mary had entrusted the jeweller's gold, was making
his preparations for their journey with all the care of a practised
guide, and while Mary was comforting her governess and Mandane, to whom
she explained that Rustem's j