ow silk.

"Sir Willmott Burrell is not well," replied Robin; "but I will take your
name, if it please ye, and return speedily with his commands."

"Manasseh Ben Israel demands instant parley with the Master of Burrell."

Robin did not bow, because, as a humble Cavalier and a proud Christian,
he held it a point of duty to hate and avoid the despised race to which
the stranger belonged; but he made a respectful answer, for the riches
of the Rabbi and the favour of Cromwell were not to be contemned. He
then proceeded along the hall, and up some narrow stairs, called
private, as they led only to the library, and was crossing the
apartment for the purpose of announcing Ben Israel, when the Jew, who
had closely and unobservedly followed his footsteps with so light a
tread as even to escape Robin's ears, passed him suddenly, and as
suddenly Burrell of Burrell sprang from his seat, as if struck by a
musket-ball. The old man stood before him, his features working, his
lips moving, but no articulate sound coming forth--his entire frame
agitated, almost convulsed; while Burrell, exerting every power of his
mind to the contest, was the first to move. He stepped towards the Jew,
extending his hand in token of amity. Ben Israel touched it not, but
raised his arm, pointing his skinny and shrivelled finger towards
Burrell, until it came on a level with his countenance; then, by a
desperate exertion, the cracked, strained voice forced a passage through
his parched throat, and he exclaimed,--

"My child!--my only one!--Zillah!--my beloved, my only, only child! Do
ye remember your own mother, who travailed for ye, brought ye forth in
pain, and carried ye, and nourished ye in her bosom? Do ye ever hope to
have a child, who will tend, and serve, and watch over you, as mine once
did over me? If so, tell, tell me where mine is!--I will bless you for
the knowledge! I, an old man, whose beard is white, implore you, who
have ruined her, to tell me where she is!"

The Jew flung his cap on the floor, and prostrated himself before
Burrell, who immediately raised him, and in his most persuasive tone
sought to soothe and assure the Rabbi he had been in every respect
misled and misinformed.

"Sit, good Ben Israel, and comfort yourself; you have, I swear to you,
been grossly imposed upon by some malignants whom I must---- Robin! hunt
out the knaves, and bring some wine--the best in the old bin, for my
good friend. How could you, sir, suppose me c