Hugo breathed freely, as if a burden had been lifted from off his soul. "He! He wishes you joy from the bottom of his heart. He is delighted to hear that Rita is happy." Then he looked over the letter as if searching for a particular passage. "Here: 'I thank you for the news of your sister's engagement. Such a girl's choice can only bring happiness, and make her happy; for truth and purity are united in her, and such natures as hers are sure to find what is right. What little I know of Dr. Weilen warrants this assurance. Dr. Weilen seems to me a man of deep insight and fine feeling, in whom strength and tenderness go together--qualities desirable in the husband of a highly intellectual woman like Rita. Devout in her tender soul and tolerant in her clear head, that is her personality. Her mission is to minister to the happiness of one individual. But as for us, we must think of the common weal, and to it we will dedicate our strength and our blood. And now let us set forth on the road, even though it be wearisome. Let us be up and doing.... Let us labor in behalf of our co-religionists." He folded the letter. "Yes, that shall be our mission." Mr. and Mrs. Benas had stepped into the door and stood looking at their children. They had overheard Hugo's last words, and they appreciated the solemnity of the moment. And the consummation of their hopes was glorified by the soft, golden radiance of the spring. GLOSSARY (_All words given below, unless otherwise specified, are Hebrew. The transliteration aims to reproduce the colloquial pronunciation of Hebrew words by German Jews._) AL CHET. "For the sin," beginning of a confession of sins. AMHOREZ. Ignoramus. AMRAZIM. Plural of the previous word. Ignoramuses. BAAL-MILCHOMOH. Soldier. BAALE-BATIM. Householders. Substantial and respectable members of the community, who contribute to its support. BAR-MITZVAH. Religious majority, at the age of thirteen, when a Jewish lad is expected to take all religious duties upon himself. BEKOVET. Honorable; dignified. BESOMIM. Spices, used at the ceremony of _Habdalah_, marking the end of the Sabbath. BORUCH HA-SHEM. "Blessed be the Name" (of God). CHAROSETH. A mixture of apples, raisins, wine, cinnamon, etc., used at the _Seder_, symbolic of the mortar which the Israelites prepared in Egypt. CHAS VE-SHOLEM. "Mercy and peace." Heaven forbid! CHAVRUSSEH. Society; company. CHAZEN. Cantor; precentor. CHOCHMES. Wise ideas; oversubtle notions. CHOMETZ BATTELN. To do away with all leaven (before Passover). CHUTZPEH. Arrogance; audacity; impudence. DAVVENING (?). Reciting the prayers of the liturgy. EVADDE. Assuredly; certainly. FROMM (Ger.). Pious; observant (of religions and ritual ceremonies). GEMOREH. The Talmud. GET. A bill of divorce. GOY. A non-Jew. KHILLE. Jewish congregation; Jewish community. KIDDUSH. Sanctification; the ceremony ushering in the Sabbath or a holiday. KOSHER. Ritually permitted. MAASEH. A story; an anecdote.