BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. II
and gossip and he has news that is not altogether good, he says ; so let us eat, drink and be merry, for the present is ours, and who knows aught of the morrow ? Come, Anna, be of good cheer."
" Nay, I am, dear father ; and our good friend Signer Ferrari shall tell us of his city in the sea. That will make him happy, and we will share his joy. You have only good news from Venice ? "
" None other, dear mistress," the Italian replied ; " Venice is paradise."
" Venice is your home, signer ; and home is paradise wherever it is. Come, let us go to dinner."
Nathan smiled at Ferrari and laid his hand lovingly on Anna's shoulder as they left the small entrance hall or porchway into the general room of the old house, where dinner was ready.
" It is a sentiment that does you honor as well as your daughter," said the Italian in reply; but turning to Los- inski he added, "Is it good after all, a Providence that gives the children of the desert a proverb instead of a home ? "
" God be thanked," said the rabbi, "for the comfort of Anna's loving sentiment."
" Amen," said Ferrari : " long live the grateful heart ; " and then to himself, " Shall we, the so-called chosen, always have to fawn on the hand that smites us ? "
