Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/51

Rh Joseph answered, without change of posture or countenance,

&quot;The woman is not my daughter.&quot;

But the Rabbi clung to the political idea; and he went on, without noticing the explanation, &quot;What are the Zealots doing down in Galilee?&quot;

&quot;I am a carpenter, and Nazareth is a village,&quot; said Joseph, cautiously. &quot;The street on which my bench stands is not a road leading to any city. Hewing wood and sawing plank leave me no time to take part in the disputes of parties.&quot;

&quot;But you are a Jew,&quot; said the Rabbi, earnestly. &quot;You are a Jew, and of the line of David. It is not possible you can find pleasure in the payment of any tax except the shekel given by ancient custom to Jehovah.&quot;

Joseph held his peace.

&quot;I do not complain,&quot; his friend continued, &quot;of the amount of the tax—a denarius is a trifle. Oh no! The imposition of the tax is the offence. And, besides, what is paying it but submission to tyranny? Tell me, is it true that Judas claims to be the Messiah? You live in the midst of his followers.&quot;

&quot;I have heard his followers say he was the Messiah,&quot; Joseph replied.

At this point the wimple was drawn aside, and for an instant the whole face of the woman was exposed. The eyes of the Rabbi wandered that way, and he had time to see a countenance of rare beauty, kindled by a look of intense interest; then a blush overspread her cheeks and brow, and the veil was returned to its place.

The politician forgot his subject.

&quot;Your daughter is comely,&quot; he said, speaking lower.

&quot;She is not my daughter,&quot; Joseph repeated.

The curiosity of the Rabbi was aroused; seeing which, the Nazarene hastened to say further, &quot;She is the child of Joachim and Anna of Bethlehem, of whom you have at least heard; for they were of great repute—"

&quot;Yes,&quot; remarked the Rabbi, deferentially, &quot;I know them. They were lineally descended from David. I knew them well.&quot;