t of obligation," cried Lycidas, playfully throwing a
veil of discontent over the gratitude and admiration which he felt
towards his preserver. "I would that it had been my part to play the
rescuer; that it had been _my_ sword that had shielded his head; and
that Maccabeus were not fated to eclipse me in everything, even in the
power of showing generosity to a rival But I must not grudge him the
harvest of laurels," added the young Athenian, with a joyous glance at
Zarah, "since the garland of happiness has been awarded to me."

On the morning after the battle of Bethsura, Simon and Eleazar, the
Asmoneans, both visited their youthful kinswoman in the goat-herd's
hut, where she and Anna had remained during the night. They regarded
her still as their future sister, and offered her their escort to the
house of Rachel, which was at no great distance from the fortress of
Bethsura. As Zarah desired as soon as possible to place herself under
the protection of a female relative, she gladly accepted the offer.
The horse-litter was brought to the door of the lowly hut; and with the
curtains closely drawn, the maiden and her attendant proceeded to the
dwelling of old Rachel, who joyfully welcomed the child of Hadassah.
Zarah, on that morning, saw nothing of Lycidas, and Judas Maccabeus
avoided approaching her presence. The chief could not trust himself to
look on that sweet face again.

Through the Hebrew camp all was bustle and preparation. Tents were
struck--all was made ready for the coming march to Jerusalem; the tired
warriors forgot their weariness, and the wounded their pain, so eager
were all to gather the rich fruits of their victory within the walls of
Zion.

But amidst all the excitement and confusion, with so many cares
pressing upon him from every side, the mind of the prince dwelt much
upon Zarah. He felt that she was lost to him--he would have scorned to
have claimed her hand when he knew that her heart was another's; but he
resolved at least to act the part of a brother towards the orphan
maiden. Painful to Maccabeus as was the sight of his successful rival,
the chief determined to have an interview with Lycidas, that he might
judge for himself whether the stranger were indeed worthy to win a
Hebrew bride. Lycidas had proved himself to be a brave warrior--he had
won the admiration even of the fanatic Jasher; but would the Greek
stand firm in his newly-adopted faith when fresh laurels were no longer
to be