relative, Rachel of Bethsura," replied Zarah,
"who, if she be yet living, will assuredly receive me into her home.
But my next of kin are the Asmonean brothers."

"The noblest family in the land!" exclaimed the Athenian. "If it be
indeed impossible for you to escape with me into Greece--"

"Not impossible, but wrong," said Zarah, softly; "it would be
disobeying what I know would have been the will of her whose wishes are
more sacred to me now than ever."

"Then be mine in your own land," cried Lycidas, "where I may show that
I merit to win you. Will the noble Judas and his brothers deem me
unworthy to unite with one of their race if I devote my sword to the
cause of which they are the champions--a cause as glorious as that for
which my ancestor died at Marathon?"

Still the cloud of doubt did not pass from the fair brow of Zarah.
There was a difficulty in her mind which she shrank from disclosing to
Lycidas. At last she timidly said, her cheeks glowing crimson as she
spoke, "Shall I be candid with you, Lycidas? shall I tell all--as to a
brother?"

"All, all," replied the Athenian, with painful misgiving at his heart.

"Beloved Hadassah is at rest, I can hear her dear voice no more,
but--but I am not ignorant of what were her views and wishes," said
Zarah. "I believe--indeed I know"--Zarah could hardly speak distinctly
enough, in her confusion, for the strained ear of Lycidas to catch her
words--"she had destined me for another; I am not quite certain whether
I be not even betrothed."

Lycidas could not refrain from a passionate outburst. "It was
wicked--cruel--infamous," he cried, "to dispose of your hand without
your consent!"

"Such words must never be applied to aught that she did," said Zarah.
"The revered mother ever consulted the happiness as well as the honour
of her child. She would never have urged upon me any marriage from
which my heart revolted, but she let me know her wishes. And the very
last day that we were together"--tears flowed fast from under Zarah's
long drooping lashes as she went on--"on that fatal day, ere I left her
to attend the Passover feast, Hadassah charged me, by the love that I
bore to her, never to take any important step in life without at least
consulting him in whom she felt assured that I should find my best
earthly protector."

"And who may this chosen individual be?" asked Lycidas, almost
fiercely; a pang of jealousy stirring in his breast as he demanded the
nam