"'Because we were talking of other things,' she answered; and then added, 'Nor did you tell me about the girl that you're engaged to, and yet they say that she is very beautiful and grand.' "I could not help laughing. 'No, Fraeulein[5] Rachel,' I said, 'I'm not engaged.' [Footnote 5: I have made use of the word "Fraeulein" in order to avoid the discussion as to "thou" and "you."--_Translator's note._] "She looked at me questioningly. 'Aren't you? It's another lie, then. Our people say that you're engaged to a very rich and beautiful Christian girl; but,' she continued, speaking quickly and eagerly, 'it's your own fault that they tell so many false and wicked tales about you. You are proud and reserved to all our people, and turn us into ridicule whenever you can. That was the reason why I was so angry with you when I first saw you at the marriage. I soon saw that you weren't wicked, and told you so; but you're proud--even to me.' "I would have spoken, but she interrupted me. "'You are; you needn't say no, for it's quite true. Why do you address me so stiffly, and not as you used to do?' "'Because little Rachel is now a grown-up young lady--' "'There you are--sarcastic again,' she interrupted, passionately. 'I'm not a young lady--I am only a Jewish girl; so let me beg of you to call me simply by my name, as an old friend should do.' "'Willingly,' I replied; 'but you must do the same by me.' "'No,' she said, blushing, but with great decision; 'that wouldn't do at all. You are a learned man, and will soon be a doctor, while I--I am only Rachel Welt. You must not ask that of me.' "We talked," continued Adolf, "for a long time and about many things--not only on that morning, but on many mornings for a number of weeks. Rachel took her work to the ruined castle every day. 'It's so airless down below,' she said; 'and here one can see the sunshine, and the birds that are singing all around. I like plenty of light.' You know how poverty, oppression, and sorrow have stifled almost all sense of the picturesque in the Podolian Jews, but that simple girlish spirit is full of it. "I was quite as punctual as Rachel in arriving at our meeting-place. Even if I wished, I couldn't tell you all the things we talked about--the smallest matters were weighty enough to us to become the theme of endless conversation. Neither of us knew what it was that drew us to meet so often. It was a happy time we spent together, ignorant of the cause of our joy; perhaps, when I look back at it, it seems almost the brightest part of those bright days...." Adolf paused abruptly, and again that look of softened happiness that I had before remarked passed over his face.