e began, "I will tell you what I have thought of. It would
be easy enough, if it was not for him. He's so big, and so red, and
he doesn't speak German.

"Oh dear, he's very tiresome!" and she shook her head at Tim; who
smiled, laid his hand on his breast, and endeavored to look
affecting.

Christine laughed.

"The only thing I can think of, for him, is that he shall go out as
a Jew peddler; with one of their broad hats, and a tray of little
trinkets. He might pass, if none of the soldiers took it into their
heads to buy."

The proposition was translated to Tim Doyle.

"Is it me, your honor--me, Tim Doyle, a good Catholic, and come of
honest people--that's to turn myself into a haythin Jew?" the
Irishman burst out, with great indignation. "It was bad enough that
I should be made into a woman, but a haythin Jew! I put it to your
honors, it's nayther sinsible nor dacent."

The boys went off in screams of laughter. Christine laughed for a
moment, too, when they translated Tim's speech to her; and then
looked indignant that the proposition, which had cost her so much
thought, should be so scornfully rejected.

Tim saw the look, and at once went on, persuasively:

"Sure now, darlint Miss Christine, don't be angry wid me, out of
your bright blue eyes! But is it raisonable--is it natural to ask a
Christian man to make a haythin Jew of himself? Would you like it,
yourself?"

When the boys could stop laughing, they translated Tim's appeal.

"Did you ever see such an absurd man?" she said, laughing. "As if
it could make any difference to his religion. Tell him I am a good
Catholic, too, but I should not mind dressing up as a Jewess."

"Sure, thin, darlint," Tim exclaimed, when her speech was
translated, "I will go as a Jew, directly, if you'll go with me and
be my Jewess."

Christine laughed, blushed, shook her head and said, "Nonsense!"
upon hearing Tim's proposition.

"But seriously, Christine," Ralph said, "the objection which you
mention to the Jew pedlar's disguise is important. Full as the
streets are of soldiers looking about, he could hardly hope to go
from here through the streets, and out at the gate, without someone
asking him about the contents of his box."

Christine allowed--a little pettishly, at the failure of her
plan--that it certainly was likely.

"The real difficulty is to get outside the gate," Ralph said,
thoughtfully. "After that, I should have no fear."

"What are you thinking of doin