Ben-Hur; a tale of the Christ

he servant below that he ma

t rather have

m bring

m. From the parapet overlooking the court-yard Esther called to a man in waiting the

aid, giving her a letter enclose

t it is the twenty-first day of March, nearly three ye

stairways, terraces, rooms, and roof had been cleansed and thoroughly restored; not only was there no reminder left of the tragic circumstances so ruinous to the family, but the refurnishment was in a style

name. Passing the time in the labors of preparation in Galilee, he waited patiently the action of the Nazarene, who became daily more and more a mystery to him, and by prodigies done, often before hi

ce; and the charm of the daughter was still upon him with all its original freshness, while the father, though feebler in body, held him an

seated in an arm-chair, the duplicate of that one kept for him in the cabinet over the store-house by the Orontes. In the shade of the summer-house he could drink fully of the inspiring air lying lightly upon the familiar hills; he could better watch the sun rise, run its course, and set as it used to in the far-gone, not a habit lost; and with Esther by him it was so much easier up there close to the sky, to bring back the other Esth

now--small, graceful in form, of regular features, rosy with youth and health, bright with intelligence, beautiful w

nd time more closely than at first; and the blood rose reddening her

e he also inspected the seal. Breaking i

," he

oke, and instantly a troubled e

it is from,

om--our

th modest sincerity. Slowly his chin sank into the

, Esther," he

she a

ught well of

cept as the master to whom I am dutifully bou

r was," he said, dropping into reverie, from

e been vainly given had I kept fast hold of all I had

father; for then I had been unworthy a look from h

d, show you the worst. Seeing it with me may make it le

," she sai

e, with beauty to help her--much beauty, great cunning; but, like her race again

she

des we

outh are excusable; nothing is admirable in the aged except wisdom, and when that goes from them, they should die.' A cruel speech, fit for a Roman. I applied it to myself, knowing a feeble

he kissed him, and said,

daughter, who is to me all

of you with repentance and much calling of the spirit; for at last he will awake to find himself but the minister of her bad ambi

pt to conceal the ef

is not too late!" sh

mile, "A man drowning may be

is alone in the world. Show him his d

im, 'Lo, master, my daughter! She is fairer than the Egyptian, and loves thee better!' I have caught too much from years of liberty and direction. The words would blister my tongue. The st

ned Esther'

his happiness, not mine. Because I have dared love him, I shall keep myself w

read

haste to conclude th

n, 8t

from Galilee

mine. A second legion follows. The Passover will excuse the multitude. He said upon setting out, 'We will

ing draws

ha

o thee,

N-H

a word in the missive for her--not even in the salutation had she a share--and it would have been so easy

nides, "the eighth day; and

th," she

ey may be in

to-night," she added, pleased

d Bread, and he may wish to celebrate it; so may the Nazar

e and water. Esther helped her father, and in t

mist; her forehead, neck, and arms glittered with the massive jewelry so affected by her people. Her countenance was suffused with pleasure. She mo

ster--if I may say it without offence-you remind me of the priests in Persia who climb their temples at the decline of day to s

ess, "your father is a good man who would not be offended if he k

p curled

st part always implies a greater. Let me ask what you esteem the gr

ed upon her so

nowledge of God; and no man of my acquaintance has it in higher degree

ey, he raised t

rned to Esther

sea, cannot discern in what simple women like us find amu

the place where, years before, Ben-Hur loos

as began, toying the while with

d Esther,

not wish

N

there has been

n's own. Next moment her laugh might have been heard in the street below; and she said "Oh, oh, my pretty simpleton

not take offence. Oh no! I was playing. Let me kiss the hurt, and tell you what I would not to

look she turned sharply upon the Jewe

at her in inn

much, whom Ben-Hur has been serving and toiling for so long"--her voice dropped

ell-tale blood surged to her cheek and forehead, and she was saved sight of

e is his

girdle she

On the Tiber there is a house, a royal property, which

n she drew back, and cried, with hands clasped above her head, "Now blessed be Isis! 'Tis he--Ben-Hur himself! That he should

den. It was not enough for her to be forbidden more than fugitive dreams of the man she loved; a boastful rival must tell her in confidence of her better success, and of the brilliant prom

so much, then, or

; then she bent her haughty h

thee, daughte

rilling, began

stayed the words: she paled, t

father's

used to admit her

more lightl

them. Thou hast taught me but now that there are others vastly more estimable waiting me here in

fingers--tears of shame and choking passion. And, to deepen the paroxysm to her even temper so strange, up with a new meaning of withe

the summer-house, and in silence take her accustomed place at her father's side, humbly waiting his pleasure. To such duty it seemed her