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Esther；　all　thrilling；　began；　〃He　is　my〃

A　thought　blasting　as　lightning　stayed　the　words：　she　paled；　trembled；　recovered；　and　answered；

〃He　is　my　father's　friend。〃

Her　tongue　had　refused　to　admit　her　servile　condition。

Iras　laughed　more　lightly　than　before。

〃Not　more　than　that？〃　she　said。　〃Ah；　by　the　lover…gods　of　Egypt；　thou　mayst　keep　thy　kisseskeep　them。　Thou　hast　taught　me　but　now　that　there　are　others　vastly　more　estimable　waiting　me　here　in　Judea；　and〃she　turned　away；　looking　back　over　her　shoulder　〃I　will　go　get　them。　Peace　to　thee。〃

Esther　saw　her　disappear　down　the　steps；　when；　putting　her　hands　over　her　face；　she　burst　into　tears　so　they　ran　scalding　through　her　fingerstears　of　shame　and　choking　passion。　And；　to　deepen　the　paroxysm　to　her　even　temper　so　strange；　up　with　a　new　meaning　of　withering　force　rose　her　father's　words〃Thy　love　might　not　have　been　vainly　given　had　I　kept　fast　hold　of　all　I　had；　as　I　might　have　done。〃

And　all　the　stars　were　out；　burning　low　above　the　city　and　the　dark　wall　of　mountains　about　it；　before　she　recovered　enough　to　go　back　to　the　summer…house；　and　in　silence　take　her　accustomed　place　at　her　father's　side；　humbly　waiting　his　pleasure。　To　such　duty　it　seemed　her　youth；　if　not　her　life；　must　be　given。　And；　let　the　truth　be　said；　now　that　the　pang　was　spent；　she　went　not　unwillingly　back　to　the　duty。




CHAPTER　II



An　hour　or　thereabouts　after　the　scene　upon　the　roof；　Balthasar　and　Simonides；　the　latter　attended　by　Esther；　met　in　the　great　chamber　of　the　palace；　and　while　they　were　talking；　Ben…Hur　and　Iras　came　in　together。

The　young　Jew；　advancing　in　front　of　his　companion；　walked　first　to　Balthasar；　and　saluted　him；　and　received　his　reply；　then　he　turned　to　Simonides；　but　paused　at　sight　of　Esther。

It　is　not　often　we　have　hearts　roomy　enough　for　more　than　one　of　the　absorbing　passions　at　the　same　time；　in　its　blaze　the　others　may　continue　to　live；　but　only　as　lesser　lights。　So　with　Ben…Hur；　much　study　of　possibilities；　indulgence　of　hopes　and　dreams；　influences　born　of　the　condition　of　his　country；　influences　more　directthat　of　Iras；　for　examplehad　made　him　in　the　broadest　worldly　sense　ambitious；　and　as　he　had　given　the　passion　place；　allowing　it　to　become　a　rule；　and　finally　an　imperious　governor；　the　resolves　and　impulses　of　former　days　faded　imperceptibly　out　of　being；　and　at　last　almost　out　of　recollection。　It　is　at　best　so　easy　to　forget　our　youth；　in　his　case　it　was　but　natural　that　his　own　sufferings　and　the　mystery　darkening　the　fate　of　his　family　should　move　him　less　and　less　as；　in　hope　at　least；　he　approached　nearer　and　nearer　the　goals　which　occupied　all　his　visions。　Only　let　us　not　judge　him　too　harshly。

He　paused　in　surprise　at　seeing　Esther　a　woman　now；　and　so　beautiful；　and　as　he　stood　looking　at　her　a　still　voice　reminded　him　of　broken　vows　and　duties　undone：　almost　his　old　self　returned。

For　an　instant　he　was　startled；　but　recovering；　he　went　to　Esther；　and　said；　〃Peace　to　thee；　sweet　Estherpeace；　and　thou；　Simonides〃he　looked　to　the　merchant　as　he　spoke〃the　blessing　of　the　Lord　be　thine；　if　only　because　thou　hast　been　a　good　father　to　the　fatherless。〃

Esther　heard　him　with　downcast　face；　Simonides　answered；

〃I　repeat　the　welcome　of　the　good　Balthasar；　son　of　Hurwelcome　to　thy　father's　house；　and　sit；　and　tell　us　of　thy　travels；　and　of　thy　work；　and　of　the　wonderful　Nazarenewho　he　is；　and　what。　If　thou　art　not　at　ease　here；　who　shall　be？　Sit；　I　praythere；　between　us；　that　we　may　all　hear。〃

Esther　stepped　out　quickly　and　brought　a　covered　stool；　and　set　it　for　him。

〃Thanks；〃　he　said　to　her；　gratefully。

When　seated；　after　some　other　conversation；　he　addressed　himself　to　the　men。

〃I　have　come　to　tell　you　of　the　Nazarene。〃

The　two　became　instantly　attentive。

〃For　many　days　now　I　have　followed　him　with　such　watchfulness　as　one　may　give　another　upon　whom　he　is　waiting　so　anxiously。　I　have　seen　him　under　all　circumstances　said　to　be　trials　and　tests　of　men；　and　while　I　am　certain　he　is　a　man　as　I　am；　not　less　certain　am　I　that　he　is　something　more。〃

〃What　more？〃　asked　Simonides。

〃I　will　tell　you〃

Some　one　coming　into　the　room　interrupted　him；　he　turned；　and　arose　with　extended　hands。

〃Amrah！　Dear　old　Amrah！〃　he　cried。

She　came　forward；　and　they；　seeing　the　joy　in　her　face；　thought　not　once　how　wrinkled　and　tawny　it　was。　She　knelt　at　his　feet；　clasped　his　knees；　and　kissed　his　hands　over　and　over；　and　when　he　could　he　put　the　lank　gray　hair　from　her　cheeks；　and　kissed　them；　saying；　〃Good　Amrah；　have　you　nothing；　nothing　of　themnot　a　wordnot　one　little　sign？〃

Then　she　broke　into　sobbing　which　made　him　answer　plainer　even　than　the　spoken　word。

〃God's　will　has　been　done；〃　he　next　said；　solemnly；　in　a　tone　to　make　each　listener　know　he　had　no　hope　more　of　finding　his　people。　In　his　eyes　there　were　tears　which　he　would　not　have　them　see；　because　he　was　a　man。

When　he　could　again；　he　took　seat；　and　said；　〃Come；　sit　by　me；　Amrahhere。　No？　then　at　my　feet；　for　I　have　much　to　say　to　these　good　friends　of　a　wonderful　man　come　into　the　world。〃

But　she　went　off；　and　stooping　with　her　back　to　the　wall；　joined　her　hands　before　her　knees；　content；　they　all　thought；　with　seeing　him。　Then　Ben…Hur；　bowing　to　the　old　men；　began　again：

〃I　fear　to　answer　the　question　asked　me　about　the　Nazarene　without　first　telling　you　some　of　the　things　I　have　seen　him　do；　and　to　that　I　am　the　more　inclined；　my　friends；　because　to…morrow　he　will　come　to　the　city；　and　go　up　into　the　Temple；　which　he　calls　his　father's　house；　where；　it　is　further　said；　he　will　proclaim　himself。　So；　whether　you　are　right；　O　Balthasar；　or　you；　Simonides；　we　and　Israel　shall　know　to…morrow。〃

Balthasar　rubbed　his　hands　tremulously　together；　and　asked；　〃Where　shall　I　go　to　see　him？〃

〃The　pressure　of　the　crowd　will　be　very　great。　Better；　I　think；　that　you　all　go　upon　the　roof　above　the　cloisterssay　upon　the　Porch　of　Solomon。〃

〃Can　you　be　with　us？〃

〃No；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　〃my　friends　will　require　me；　perhaps；　in　the　procession。〃

〃Procession！〃　exclaimed　Simonides。　〃Does　he　travel　in　state？〃

Ben…Hur　saw　the　argument　in　mind。

〃He　brings　twelve　men　with　him；　fishermen；　tillers　of　the　soil；　one　a　publican；　all　of　the　humbler　class；　and　he　and　they　make　their　journeys　on　foot；　careless　of　wind；　cold；　rain；　or　sun。　Seeing　them　stop　by　the　wayside　at　nightfall　to　break　bread　or　lie　down　to　sleep；　I　have　been　reminded　of　a　party　of　shepherds　going　back　to　their　flocks　from　market；　not　of　nobles　and　kings。　Only　when　he　lifts　the　corners　of　his　handkerchief　to　look　at　some　one　or　shake　the　dust　from　his　head；　I　am　made　known　he　is　their　teacher　as　well　as　their　companiontheir　superior　not　less　than　their　friend。

〃You　are　shrewd　men；〃　Ben…Hur　resumed；　after　a　pause。　〃You　know　what　creatures　of　certain　master　motives　we　are；　and　that　it　has　become　little　less　than　a　law　of　our　nature　to　spend　life　in　eager　pursuit　of　certain　objects；　now；　appealing　to　that　law　as　something　by　which　we　may　know　ourselves；　what　would　you　say　of　a　man　who　could　be　rich　by　making　gold　of　the　stones　under　his　feet；　yet　is　poor　of　choice？〃

〃The　Greeks　would　call　him　a　philosopher；〃　said　Iras。

〃Nay；　daughter；〃　said　Balthasar；　〃the　philosophers　had　never　the　power　to　do　such　thing。〃

〃How　know　you　this　man　has？〃

Ben…Hur　answered　quickly；　〃I　saw　him　turn　water　into　wine。〃

〃Very　strange；　very　strange；〃　said　Simonides；　〃but　it　is　not　so　strange　to　me　as　that　he　should　prefer　to　live　poor　when　he　could　be　so　rich。　Is　he　so　poor？〃

〃He　owns　nothing；　and　envies　nobody　his　owning。　He　pities　the　rich。　But　passing　that；　what　would　you　say　to　see　a　man　multiply　seven　loaves　and　two　fishes；　all　his　store；　into　enough　to　feed　five　thousand　people；　and　have　full　baskets　over？　That　I　saw　the　Nazarene　do。〃

〃You　saw　it？〃　exclaimed　Simonides。

〃Ay；　and　ate　of　the　bread　and　fish。〃

〃More　marvellous　still；〃　Ben…Hur　continued；　〃what　would　you　say　of　a　man　in　whom　there　is　such　healing　virtue　that　the　sick　have　but　to　touch　the　hem　of　his　garment　to　be　cured；　or　cry　to　him　afar？　That；　too；　I　witnessed；　not　once；　but　many　times。　As　we　came　out　of　Jericho　two　blind　men　by　the　wayside　called　to　the　Nazarene；　and　he　touched　their　eyes；　and　they　saw。　So　they　brought　a　palsied　man　to　him；　and　he　said　merely；　'Go　unto　thy　house；'　and　the　man　went　away　well。　What　say　you　to　these　things？〃

The　merchant　had　no　answer。

〃Think　you　now；　as　I　have　heard　others　argue；　that　what　I　have　told　you　are　tricks　of　jugglery？　Let　me　answer　by　recalling　greater　things　which　I　have　seen　him　do。　Look　first　to　that　curse　of　Godcomfortless；　as　you　all　know；　except　by　deathleprosy。〃

At　these　words　Amrah　dropped　her　hands　to　the　floor；　and　in　her　eagerness　to　hear　him　half　arose。

〃What　would　you　say；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　with　increased　earnestness〃what　would　you　say　to　have　seen　that　I　now　tell　you？　A　leper　came　to　the　Nazarene　while　I　was　with　him　down　in　Galilee；　and　said；　'Lord；　if　thou　wilt；　thou　canst　make　me　clean。'　He　heard　the　cry；　and　touched　the　outcast　with　his　hand；　saying；　'Be　thou　clean；'　and　forthwith　the　man　was　himself　again；　healthful　as　any　of　us　who　beheld　the　cure；　and　we　were　a　multitude。〃

Here　Amrah　arose；　and　with　her　gaunt　fingers　held　the　wiry　locks　from　her　eyes。　The　brain　of　the　poor　creature　had　long　since　gone　to　heart；　and　she　was　troubled　to　follow　the　speech。

〃Then；　again；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　without　stop；　〃ten　lepers　came　to　him　one　day　in　a　body；　and　falling　at　his　feet；　called　outI　saw　and　heard　it　allcalled　out；　'Master；　Master；　have　mercy　upon　us！'　He　told　them；　'Go；　show　yourselves　to　the　priest；　as　the　law　requires；　and　before　you　are　come　there　ye　shall　be　healed。'〃

〃And　were　they？〃

〃Yes。　On　the　road　going　their　infirmity　left　them；　so　that　there　was　nothing　to　remind　us　of　it　except　their　polluted　clothes。〃

〃Such　thing　was　never　heard　beforenever　in　all　Israel！〃　said　Simonides；　in　undertone。

And　then；　while　he　was　speaking；　Amrah　turned　away；　and　walked　noiselessly　to　the　door；　and　went　out；　and　none　of　the　company　saw　her　go。

〃The　thoughts　stirred　by　such　things　done　under　my　eyes　I　leave　you　to　imagine；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　continuing；　〃b