Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/18

4 her—why! let her answer; even as you did when I sought your heart and found it.&quot;

"Good husband! have you not noticed how very fond our dear daughter is of her cousin Jacob, my sister's only son?&quot;

&quot;Yes, I have seen that they like one another as cousins usually do, but I have also noticed that she seems to prefer her other cousin, David, my brother's only son.&quot;

&quot;I cannot say,&quot; exclaimed the wife, &quot;that I have noticed this preference. I certainly think that my nephew would make her an excellent husband. Jacob is, as you well know, a most learned man, fit to be a Rabbi, and he is a very good man.&quot;

&quot;Yes, yes, dear wife! but I prefer my nephew David as our future son-in-law. He is very clever, and will one day make his mark in the world.&quot;

&quot;That is quite likely, dearest husband! but I do not like him as much as I like Jacob.&quot;

&quot;But, Dearest wife! you know I always preferred David.&quot;

&quot;Now listen, best of husbands! I don't want my only daughter to marry David.&quot;

&quot;Dear me! sweetest of wives! don't you know that I really do not wish our lovely child to marry her cousin Jacob?&quot;

In this strain they argued till long past midnight, discussing the pros and cons of the two nephews. They could not, however, come to a final decision.