"Your friendship counts for much, Mr. Moss," responded Aaron, pressing his companion's hand, "but every man must fight his own battle. I am not without hope, hard as is the trial through which I am passing. It is kind of you to be so solicitous about my affairs when you have such heavy troubles of your own to contend with. Are things very bad with you?" "Oh, I shall weather the storm, but it will leave me rather crippled. What matters? _Nil desperandum_. And there is just one ray which may become a perfect sunbeam." "Ah, I am glad to hear that." "My eldest boy has started in business as a dentist, and has commenced well. Once a dentist makes his name the money rolls in. It is a favourite business with our people." "Yes," said Aaron, somewhat absently, "I have observed it." "It is a kind of revenge, Cohen." "A kind of revenge!" echoed Aaron. "How so?" "Well, you know, in old times the Christians used to extract our teeth to get our money from us, and now it's our turn. We extract theirs at a guinea a tooth. See?" Aaron could not help smiling at the joke, and the friends parted with mutual expressions of goodwill. CHAPTER XLIV. THE CONFESSION. On the evening of the same day Aaron and Rachel were alone in their house in Prince's Gate, which was soon to know them no more. Esther had taken an affectionate leave of them, and she and her father were travelling to Portsmouth. Esther was bright and cheerful, but Mr. Moss's heart was heavy; he was older than Aaron, and confident as he was in speech he was not inwardly so courageous in the hour of adversity. Ordinarily, when he and his daughter were travelling together, his blithe spirits found vent in song; on this occasion, however, he was moody and silent. Esther looked at him in surprise, and asked what made him so melancholy. "When you reach my age," he replied, "I hope you will not discover that life is a dream." The remark seemed to him rather fine and philosophical, and afforded him some kind of melancholy satisfaction; but had he been asked to explain its precise meaning he would have found it difficult to do so. "I hope I shall, father," said Esther, as she leant back and thought of her lover; "a happy dream." "I am glad to get back to you and to our dear home," Rachel was saying to her husband at the same moment. "You must not send me away again. Indeed, dear Aaron, if you ever have such an intention I shall for once in my life be rebellious, and shall refuse to go. I am happiest by your side." She spoke tenderly and playfully, and held his hand in hers, as in the olden days. "Nevertheless, my love, your short visit to the seaside has done you good." "Yes, dear, I am almost well; I feel much stronger."