ben-hur-第117章

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Another　laugh；　masking　excellently　the　look　she　turned　sharply　upon　the　Jewess；　and　she　said；　〃The　King　is　coming。〃

Esther　gazed　at　her　in　innocent　surprise。

〃The　Nazarene；〃　Iras　continued〃he　whom　our　fathers　have　been　talking　about　so　much；　whom　Ben…Hur　has　been　serving　and　toiling　for　so　long〃her　voice　dropped　several　tones　lower〃the　Nazarene　will　be　here　to…morrow；　and　Ben…Hur　to…night。〃

Esther　struggled　to　maintain　her　composure；　but　failed：　her　eyes　fell；　the　tell…tale　blood　surged　to　her　cheek　and　forehead；　and　she　was　saved　sight　of　the　triumphant　smile　that　passed；　like　a　gleam；　over　the　face　of　the　Egyptian。

〃See；　here　is　his　promise。〃

And　from　her　girdle　she　took　a　roll。

〃Rejoice　with　me；　O　my　friend！　He　will　be　here　tonight！　On　the　Tiber　there　is　a　house；　a　royal　property；　which　he　has　pledged　to　me；　and　to　be　its　mistress　is　to　be〃

A　sound　of　some　one　walking　swiftly　along　the　street　below　interrupted　the　speech；　and　she　leaned　over　the　parapet　to　see。　Then　she　drew　back；　and　cried；　with　hands　clasped　above　her　head；　〃Now　blessed　be　Isis！　'Tis　heBen…Hur　himself！　That　he　should　appear　while　I　had　such　thought　of　him！　There　are　no　gods　if　it　be　not　a　good　omen。　Put　your　arms　about　me；　Estherand　a　kiss！〃

The　Jewess　looked　up。　Upon　each　cheek　there　was　a　glow；　her　eyes　sparkled　with　a　light　more　nearly　of　anger　than　ever　her　nature　emitted　before。　Her　gentleness　had　been　too　roughly　overridden。　It　was　not　enough　for　her　to　be　forbidden　more　than　fugitive　dreams　of　the　man　she　loved；　a　boastful　rival　must　tell　her　in　confidence　of　her　better　success；　and　of　the　brilliant　promises　which　were　its　rewards。　Of　her；　the　servant　of　a　servant；　there　had　been　no　hint　of　remembrance；　this　other　could　show　his　letter；　leaving　her　to　imagine　all　it　breathed。　So　she　said；

〃Dost　thou　love　him　so　much；　then；　or　Rome　so　much　better？〃

The　Egyptian　drew　back　a　step；　then　she　bent　her　haughty　head　quite　near　her　questioner。

〃What　is　he　to　thee；　daughter　of　Simonides？〃

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　twel