, in a
general day of his wealthy time. Hard labor tried to make him sour, but
did not succeed therein.

Yet one thing in all this experience vexed him more than any hardship,
to wit, that he never could win true fellowship among his new fellows in
the guild of labor. Some were rather surly, others very pleasant (from
a warm belief that he must yet come into money); but whatsomever
or whosoever they were, or of whatever land, they all agreed that
Christopher Bert was not of their communion. Manners, appearance,
education, freedom from prejudice, and other wide diversities marked him
as an interloper, and perhaps a spy, among the enlightened working-men
of the period. Over and over again he strove to break down this barrier;
but thrice as hard he might have striven, and found it still too strong
for him. This and another circumstance at last impressed him with the
superior value of his own society. Much as he loved the working-man--in
spite of all experience of him--that worthy fellow would not have it,
but felt a truly and piously hereditary scorn for "a gentleman as took
a order, when, but for being a blessed fool, he might have stood there
giving it."

The other thing that helped to drive him from this very dense array was
his own romantic marriage, and the copious birth of children. After the
sensitive age was past, and when the sensibles ought to reign--for then
he was past five-and-thirty--he fell (for the first time of his life)
into a violent passion of love for a beautiful Jewish maid barely turned
seventeen; Zilpah admired him, for he was of noble aspect, rich with
variety of thoughts and deeds. With women he had that peculiar power
which men of strong character possess; his voice was like music, and
his words as good as poetry, and he scarcely ever seemed to contradict
himself. Very soon Zilpah adored him; and then he gave notice to her
parents that she was to be his wife. These stared considerably, being
very wealthy people, of high Jewish blood (and thus the oldest of the
old), and steadfast most--where all are steadfast--to their own race of
religion. Finding their astonishment received serenely, they locked up
their daughter, with some strong expressions; which they redoubled when
they found the door wide open in the morning. Zilpah was gone, and they
scratched out her name from the surface of their memories.

Christopher Bert, being lawfully married--for the local restrictions
scorned the case of a for