At once murmurs of protest arose. The old man who had caused the philosopher to be sent home expressed the opinion that such an act was not customary. “What does he mean, ‘Enjoy yourself,’” he exclaimed. “Is that a way to speak to God? Or does he think that the Eternal One and he are such good friends already?” Prince Ahab shrugged his shoulders. “What do you expect of young people to-day?” he inquired. “It only surprises me that he did not call God something even more irreverent.” Uncle David went anxiously about among the guests with apologies. “He is a little wild,” he said to several people; “you must excuse it ... the life he leads, in the sun....” He tapped his head significantly. “He is not all there.” Deborah, on the other hand, did not seem at all disturbed. In a calm manner she explained that very likely there were different ways of making a sacrifice. “After all,” she said, “my son is a prophet, and therefore closer to God than any of us here. Did you see the feather he brought home, actually from an angel? Besides, if you ask me, why shouldn’t God enjoy Himself, if He likes?” But she gave Jonah a look, when no one was watching, which said plainly, “What a trouble you always make for yourself and for me.” When the sacrifice was over, Jonah hurried back to the tree where he had left Judith. But she was gone; Sarah had come to take her home. As if in a dream he wandered off in the moonlight, down the road and through the fields. Behind him the lights and the hum of the feast faded out; he was alone, in the silence of night. About him the pastures, bathed in dew, shone like silver under the moon which covered the earth with delicate mist. Everything was peaceful, everything breathed a quiet and resigned joy. Only in the heart of the man, filled with bliss, there was no peace. He spread out his arms, “I am happy,” he cried, “I am happy.” He thought of the Deity to whom he had so often prayed. “Thank You,” he whispered. And he gazed with love at the heavens, pale, and shining with stars. He began to imagine the future. “What does it matter if we are poor?” he thought. “One cannot buy beauty. We will live in a little house, and I will do great things, like Nathan, or Elisha.” But that mood did not suit his spirit for long. “No,” he exclaimed, “I will never allow her to be poor. I will make a large fortune, to keep her comfortably.” But how? He did not trouble to find out. Already he was living in his palaces, surrounded by slaves. All night he walked through the fields soaked with dew, through the woods, silent and dark. The moon floated on to the west, and went down over seas and lands unknown, undreamed. The world slept; even the frogs were still. But there was no sleep for Jonah that night; his joy kept him awake. Accustomed to sorrow and indignation, he could not bear his own happiness. “Judith,” he cried over and over, in a sort of amazement. “Judith.”