I shan't spoil your pleasure again." The tears were in his voice as usual, before he had finished.
"You know I could never say it, father," answered Mirah, with not the less anguish because she felt the falsity of everything in his speech except the implied wish to remain in the house.
"Mirah, my sister, leave us!" said Ezra, in a tone of authority.
She looked at her brother falteringly, beseechingly--in awe of his decision, yet unable to go without making a plea for this father who was like something that had grown in her flesh with pain. She went close to her brother, and putting her hand in his, said, in a low voice, but not so low as to be unheard by Lapidoth, "Remember, Ezra--you said my mother would not have shut him out."
"Trust me, and go," said Ezra.
She left the room, but after going a few steps up the stairs, sat down with a palpitating heart. If, because of anything her brother said to him, he went away--

I shan't spoil your pleasure again." The tears were in his voice before he had finished.
"You know I could never say it, father," answered Mirah, with not the less anguish because she felt the falsity of his speech.
"Mirah, my sister, leave us!" said Ezra, with authority.
She looked at her brother beseechingly - in awe, yet unable to go without making a plea for this father who was like something that had grown painfully in her flesh. Going close to her brother, she said, "Remember, Ezra - you said my mother would not have shut him out."
"Trust me, and go," said Ezra.
She left the room, but sat a little way up the stairs, with a palpitating heart.
