The next instant he had thrown away his sword and had caught her in a crushing embrace to him.

His voice, blunted and repressed as if something had him by the throat, was stunning her ear.
"And thou!" he was saying.

"What from thee, now?
Hate! Curses! Ingratitude! Hast thou poison for me, or a knife?
Or worse, yet, scorn?
Speak! It is a day of enlightenment! I'll brook anything but deceit!" She stopped him in the midst of his vehement despair, by laying her hands on his hair.

There surged to her lips all the eloquence of her love and sympathy, but beside her old Nathan stood--an embodiment of her conscience, watching.
Twice she essayed to put into words the comfort of her submission to his love.

Twice her lips failed her; but the third time she turned to the Christian.
"Rabbi, what shall I do ?" she implored.