Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/50

Rh outer robe of dull woollen stuff completely covered her person, while a white wimple veiled her head and neck. Once in a while, impelled by curiosity to see or hear something passing, she drew the wimple aside, but so slightly that the face remained invisible.

At length the man was accosted.

&quot;Are you not Joseph of Nazareth?&quot;

The speaker was standing close by.

&quot;I am so called,&quot; answered Joseph, turning gravely around. &quot;And you—ah, peace be unto you! my friend, Rabbi Samuel!&quot;

&quot;The same give I back to you.&quot; The Rabbi paused, looking at the woman, then added, &quot;To you, and unto your house and all your helpers, be peace.&quot;

With the last word, he placed one hand upon his breast, and inclined his head to the woman, who, to see him, had by this time withdrawn the wimple enough to show the face of one but a short time out of girlhood. Thereupon the acquaintances grasped right hands, as if to carry them to their lips; at the last moment, however, the clasp was let go, and each kissed his own hand, then put its palm upon his forehead.

&quot;There is so little dust upon your garments,&quot; the Rabbi said, familiarly, &quot;that I infer you passed the night in this city of our fathers.&quot;

&quot;No,&quot; Joseph replied, &quot;as we could only make Bethany before the night came, we stayed in the khan there, and took the road again at daybreak.&quot;

&quot;The journey before you is long, then—not to Joppa, I hope.&quot;

&quot;Only to Bethlehem.&quot;

The countenance of the Rabbi, theretofore open and friendly, became lowering and sinister, and he cleared his throat with a growl instead of a cough.

&quot;Yes, yes—I see,&quot; he said. &quot;You were born in Bethlehem, and wend thither now, with your daughter, to be counted for taxation, as ordered by Cæsar. The children of Jacob are as the tribes in Egypt were—only they have neither a Moses nor a Joshua. How are the mighty fallen!&quot;