whose theological tenets do not
distinctly differ from those of their people;
so that, as they could not conceive the
possibility of Lulu taking a husband from
another race, the whole affair appeared to them
infinitely comic. These Levantines inter-
marry until it is a wonder they retain any
respectable qualities, mental or physical.

A good sturdy quarrel, perhaps a little
beard-pulling, seemed likely to take place;
but suddenly Yazir, who, though only eleven
years of age, fancied he had some right to an
opinion in this matter, stepped boldly forward
and said, "O my father, what is there
in this Lulu that we should be unhappy on
her account? Let? her wait until her prince
comes to ask for her. Perhaps the sun may
one day rise and shine upon her in beggar's
rags. Then she will fall at my feet, and ask
me to have pity on her."

"And then what then?" said an old
man with a long white beard, who had
watched the scene with interest.

"I will say, 'Sister, thy misfortune is not
thy fault.' I will clothe her, and feed her;
and perhaps God may reward me."

Few noticed these childish words, except
as an evidence of amiability; but they served
to prevent any further dispute between
Mathias and Zacharias. The old man with
the white beard patted the boy on the head,
and muttered a prediction of good fortune.
In the East the words of the aged are
believed to be prophetic. The verge of the
grave is there regarded as the verge of all
future time—the point at which the mists of
life begin to thin away, and let in the beams
of eternity. All the bystanders, therefore,
were satisfied that whether Yazir ultimately
possessed the Pearl or not, he was
destined to happiness.

As the prediction was founded on an
evidence of goodness, perhaps this confidence of
theirs was not altogether ill-founded. It is
a common thing to say that the strokes of ill-
fortune fall with impartiality upon the evil
and the virtuous. But this is not quite true;
for many mishaps are the consequence of our
own bad passions, which have their origin
within and not without. The Orientals
firmly believe that all disasters that have
merely external causes are compensated even
in this lite.

The two merchants did not trouble
themselves much about what the old man in the
white beard said. They were both angry,
although the child's words put a stop to
further conflict. Zacharias went away
resolved to look out for a bride for his son,
if possible, fifty times more beautiful than
Lulu; and Mathias returned home to quarrel
with his wife, and then to humble himself
before her. Age had rendered her more
fierce than ever, and more confirmed in her
superstitious belief.

Retribution, however, soon came. Not
many days afterwards, news was brought
to Mathias, that a caravan which he had
dispatched to Syria laden with precious
merchandise, had been attacked by the
Bedowins, and robbed. This was a heavy blow,
for he had not only embarked all his disposable
capital in the venture, but had borrowed
money to speculate on a grand scale. It is
true that he expected one or two more
caravans to return about this time; their
arrival would have enabled him to meet all
the demands that would be made upon him.
But no news of them came; and Mathias
began to fear that Providence had
determined to punish him by utter ruin. At
another time he would have gone to his
friend Zacharias, certain of assistance; but
now he knew that he would be repulsed with
derision.

The news of his disaster spread through the
city; and the shroffs or bankers who had lent
money to him began to press for payment.
He begged them to wait until the arrival
of his caravan from Soudan, which was
expected every day; but, the more he prayed
for time, the more fierce they grew, and
menaced at last to cite him before the Shah
Bander, and send him to prison.

That was an uncomfortable season for the
wife of Mathias. Even had he been unable
to trace his misfortune to her, it is probable
that she would have still borne the chief
brunt of his ill-humour. "We often profess to
envy women because they are exempt from
all pecuniary cares; but in truth there is not
a loss nor a disappointment of any kind
which men suffer, that does not embitter
some hour of family life. When the Eastern
merchant has failed in a speculation he
generally finds the meat ill done, and the house out
of order. Mathias felt that he could reproach
his wife without injustice; and of course he
made the most of the opportunity. The poor
woman's sin after all, was merely misplaced
anxiety for her daughter's welfare; but this
had led her to disregard her husband's honour,
to diminish his respect, to separate him from
his friends) an& to endanger the fortune of
Lulu herself, for the little girl had been
brought up with ambitious notions. Already
she began to talk with contempt of her
companions, and even of her parents, saying.
"I am born to be a princess, and this is
sufficient for the happiness of ail those who
belong to me. It is necessary that my
wishes should be satisfied. I must have finer
dresses than any one else even than my
mother."

Mathias, therefore, had much to say, and
the fame of his domestic dissensions spread
abroad. The poor women of the neighbourhood,
whose husbands brought them home a
few piastres daily, and contented them, were
not sorry to talk of the fine lady who never
went out except on the back of a high ass,
with two slaves to attend her, one to clear
the way with a whip, the other with his hand
on the saddle, to prevent her falling, and