For herself such treatment would be nothing, if she were but once married; but she could understand that to him it would be ruinous.

And Nina believed also that Rebecca had been entirely disinterested in her mission--that she came thither, not to gain a lover for herself, but to save from injury the man she loved, without reference to her own passion.

Nina knew that Rebecca was strong and good, and acknowledged also that she herself was weak and selfish.

She thought that she ought to have been persuaded to make the sacrifice, and once or twice she almost resolved that she would follow Rebecca to the Jews' quarter and tell her that it should be made.

But she could not do it.