Jonah replied that he had decided to wait a few days in order to satisfy his mother, who wished to give a feast in his honor. “Just imagine,” he said, with a laugh. “Nevertheless, her heart is set on it.” Judith sighed. “I wish I were a man,” she said, “and could go to feasts.” Jonah told her that the whole village was to be asked. “Your uncle, the great prince,” he said, “has also been invited. He might even,” he added timidly, “bring his family.” “Oh, how exciting that would be,” she cried. And they looked at each other with happy smiles. “Why are you going back to the desert?” she asked at length. “But I suppose it is necessary for a prophet. Well, I hope you will be a great man.” Something suddenly occurred to her, for she added, “My goodness, you are really a great man already, aren’t you?” “Oh, no,” he said; “it was nothing; God simply wished to speak to me.” “You are modest,” said Judith; “that is nice.” Smiling, she looked at the flowers in her hand. Suddenly she frowned, and said seriously, “One finds so few modest people nowadays. All the prophets have so much to say, but I do not like what they say; they talk about such gloomy things. Jonah, tell me--what is there to be so sad about in Israel?” Jonah replied gravely, “We are sad because life is not simple, the way it used to be. We imitate other nations and so we are not certain about ourselves any more. We are not even sure of God; we begin to wonder if He is not a bull, or a dove, and if He is not also the god of Aram and Babylon. That is why we are unhappy. When the things we believe in are questioned, it makes us restless and sad. Patriots are the only happy people, for they believe in themselves; and if other people disagree with them, they do not forgive them for it.” Judith gazed at the young prophet with admiration. His black eyes glowed, his head was lifted, and he continued bitterly: “However, that is not all, by any means. One expects a certain amount of ignorance among the poor. But the rich ought to be an example to the rest of the people. Well, the rich have only one desire, to forget that they are Jews. With their beards curled like Assyrians, they vex and oppress the poor, who cry out to the gods of other lands for deliverance.” “That is not true,” cried Judith angrily. “And I will not let you speak of my uncle like that.” “Your uncle,” stammered Jonah; “yes ... well ....” He sat staring at the grass, with burning cheeks. Presently Judith remarked timidly, “Forgive me.” “You see,” said Jonah in a low voice, “you do not know what it is to be poor.” “I am sorry,” said Judith sweetly. And she added, “What is the good of talking about it?”