We will talk of the glorious tidings which Abishai brought to us
to-day."

It was a great relief to Zarah to hear that such was to be the subject
of the coming conversation. She glanced timidly up into the face of
Hadassah; and, quite reassured by what she saw there, took her
favourite place at her grandmother's feet.

"Is it not evident," pursued Hadassah, "that the arm of the Lord is
stretched out to fight for Judah---that His blessing goes with Judas
Maccabeus? Do you not rejoice, Zarah, in the victory which has been
won by our Hebrew heroes?"

"I do rejoice; I thank God for it," replied the maiden. "I hope that a
time is coming when we shall go forth, like the women of Israel in
olden time, who went singing and dancing to meet Saul and David, after
the triumph over the Philistines."

"David, when he slew Goliath and won the hand of a king's daughter,
deserved not more of his country than does Maccabeus," observed
Hadassah. "Are you not proud of your kinsman, my child?"

"All Judaea is proud of her hero," said Zarah.

"Happy the woman whom he shall choose as his bride!" cried Hadassah.

The maiden gave no reply.

"Zarah, why should I longer conceal from you what has so long been in
my thoughts?" said the aged lady, after a pause of some minutes'
duration. "Why should you not know of the high honour awaiting my
daughter? From your early childhood both Mattathias, our revered
kinsman--on whose grave be peace!--and myself have looked forward to
the future espousals of my loved Zarah and Judas."

"Judas! Oh, no, no!" exclaimed Zarah, suddenly withdrawing her
trembling hand from that of her grandmother, in which it had been
clasped. "He is wedded to his country; he will never think of taking a
wife." She spoke rapidly, and with some emotion.

"His toils and triumphs may, and I trust will, lead to future peace,"
said Hadassah. "Then may he enjoy the happiness which he has earned so
well. Will you not give it to him, Zarah--you, whose very name
signifies 'brightness'?"

"I honour Maccabeus as a hero; I could reverence him as my prince; I
would kneel and wash the dust from his feet, or cut off my long hair to
string his bow; but I cannot be his bride," exclaimed Zarah. "I am so
weak, so unworthy! It would be like mating the eagle with the sparrow
that sits on the housetops. Maccabeus is the noblest of men."

"Blessed the wife who can so honour her lord!" said Hadassah.

"I do honour Maccabeus