the costliest description, King Henry dismissed them in disgrace.
"God gave us this child," exclaimed a blunt Norman noble, "but the King
sells him to us!"

Four days after the Prince's birth came another event, which to one at
least in Bury Castle, was enough to account for any portentous eclipse.
The Countess found Beatrice drowned in tears.

"Beatrice!--my dear maiden, what aileth thee? I have scarcely ever seen
thee shed tears before."

The girl answered by a passionate gesture.

"`Oh that mine head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that
I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!'"

"_Ha, chetife_!--what is the matter?"

"Lady, there has been an awful slaughter of my people." And she stood
up and flung up her hands towards heaven, in a manner which seemed to
the Countess worthy of some classic prophetess. "`Remember, O Adonai,
what is come upon us; consider, and behold our reproach!' `O God, why
hast Thou cast us off for ever? why doth Thine anger smoke against the
sheep of Thy pasture? We see not our signs: there is no more any
prophet.' `Arise, O Adonai, judge the earth! for Thou shalt inherit all
nations.'"

The Countess stood mute before this unparalleled outburst. She could
not comprehend it.

"My child, I do not understand," she said, kindly enough. "Has some
relative of thine been murdered? How shocking!"

"Are not all my people kindred of mine?" exclaimed Beatrice,
passionately.

"Dost thou mean the massacre of the Jews in London?" said the Countess,
as the truth suddenly flashed upon her. "Oh yes, I did hear of some
such dreadful affair. But, my dear, remember, thou art now a De Malpas.
Thou shouldst try to forget thine unfortunate connection with that low
race. They are not thy people any longer."

Beatrice looked up, with flashing eyes from which some stronger feeling
than sorrow had suddenly driven back the tears.

"`If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning!'
Lady, thou canst not fathom the heart of a Jew. No Christian can. We
are brethren for ever. And you call my nationality unfortunate, and
low! Know that I look upon that half of my blood as the King does upon
his crown,--yea, as the Lord dees upon His people! `We are Thine; Thou
never barest rule over them; they were not called by Thy name.' But you
do not understand, Lady."

"No,--it is very strange," replied the Countess, in a dubious tone.
"Jew