you were--_a Jew_."

At this sound, her features were instantly veiled with the deepest
sorrow and confusion. She put her hand to her eyes, the tears started,
and she sobbed. My surprise at this effect of my words was equal to my
contrition. I besought her to pardon me for having thus unknowingly
alarmed and grieved her.

After she had regained some composure, she said, "You have not offended,
Arthur. Your surmise was just and natural, and could not always have
escaped you. Connected with that word are many sources of anguish, which
time has not, and never will, dry up; and the less I think of past
events the less will my peace be disturbed. I was desirous that you
should know nothing of me but what you see; nothing but the present and
the future, merely that no allusions might occur in our conversation
which will call up sorrows and regrets that will avail nothing.

"I now perceive the folly of endeavouring to keep you in ignorance, and
shall therefore, once for all, inform you of what has befallen me, that
your inquiries and suggestions may be made and fully satisfied at once,
and your curiosity have no motive for calling back my thoughts to what I
ardently desire to bury in oblivion.

"My father was indeed a _Jew_, and one of the most opulent of his nation
in London,--a Portuguese by birth, but came to London when a boy. He had
few of the moral or external qualities of Jews; for I suppose there is
some justice in the obloquy that follows them so closely. He was frugal
without meanness, and cautious in his dealings, without extortion. I
need not fear to say this, for it was the general voice.

"Me, an only child, and, of course, the darling of my parents, they
trained up in the most liberal manner. My education was purely English.
I learned the same things and of the same masters with my neighbours.
Except frequenting their church and repeating their creed, and partaking
of the same food, I saw no difference between them and me. Hence I grew
more indifferent, perhaps, than was proper, to the distinctions of
religion. They were never enforced upon me. No pains were taken to fill
me with scruples and antipathies. They never stood, as I may say, upon
the threshold. They were often thought upon, but were vague and easily
eluded or forgotten.

"Hence it was that my heart too readily admitted impressions that more
zeal and more parental caution would have saved me from. They could
scarcely be avoided, as my society w