Jonah raised his eyes, burning with enthusiasm, to his mother. “After all,” he said with dignity, “it was I who led the Jews against Aram. Is that nothing? Is it nothing that I have spoken with God? Or is a noble a greater person in Israel than the God of the Jews? Let him order the angels, then.” “What does a noble know about God?” cried Deborah. “I am poor, and your mother; I know what it means to be a prophet. But a noble--no, my son, you have taken leave of your senses. All he knows is what he can buy, which is nearly everything.” “Can he buy love?” asked Jonah scornfully. Deborah thought to herself, “Yes, love, too”; but she did not say so. Putting aside her bowl, she asked more gently, “Do you love her so much?” “Yes, mother.” “And does she love you, my son?” When Jonah nodded his head, she arose and, coming over to him, put her hand a moment on his hair. “Poor Jonah,” she whispered. “Well,” she said, after a silence, sighing, “well ... I will see what I can do.” Taking down her best shawl, she went to find Uncle David, to discuss the matter. At first Uncle David was frightened. “He is crazy,” he exclaimed. But after a while, when he had listened to Deborah, he began to take a more hopeful point of view. “Who knows,” he said, “perhaps God is with him.” He thought: “It is not as though our family were just a common one.” And he began to feel that he was already connected with nobility. But he had no scented oil for his hair, and he wished to make a good impression when he went to call. Therefore, as there was a little oil of olives left over from the feast, he put this on his hair, and, taking also his me’il, or over-garment, which he kept for special occasions, he exclaimed hopefully to his sister, “Now, leave all this to me, because I know Prince Ahab very well, and we understand each other, he and I.” And he began to rehearse what he would say to the Prince. “Of course,” he declared, with a wave of his hand, “the difference in wealth.... But you are a man of the world. You know that a prophet is not born every day.” “And such a good son,” said Deborah. “And such a good son,” added Uncle David. “Also, I say to you as one father to another, or, at least, an uncle, what is there in the world like youth? Can we old ones tell the young how to behave?” “Come,” said Deborah; “you are only wasting time.” Gravely, with slow steps and thoughtful expressions, they went up through the village to the palace. Uncle David helped Deborah over the rough places, and she leaned upon his arm. Prince Ahab came to meet them in his hall in which a single fountain sang. There a peacock led his long tail across the floor set in triangles of marble and ebony. Rich silks adorned the walls, which exhaled an odor of musk and cedar. After greeting them cordially, the Prince offered his guests cakes in which cinnamon, spices, and poppy-seeds were happily mingled. Then he said in a hearty voice,