“Well, then, for mercy's sake, leave me alone. Go down stairs about your business. Leave me here to attend to mine.” The rabbi did not speak. He made no move to obey. “Don't you hear?” Elias cried. “Yes.” “Well, why don't you go?” “I have told you. It is my duty to stay.” “God help me, if you weren't an old man, and my uncle, I--I'd--” Elias faltered. His clenched fists completed the sentence. “Put me out? But I _am_ an old man, and your uncle; and so you won't, eh?” rejoined the rabbi, with maddening coolness. “You must forgive me,” said Elias, recovering a little his self-possession. “I ought not to have threatened you. I didn't mean to. But you don't know how you make me suffer. You don't know what torture it is.” “Oh, that's all right. You needn't apologize,” the rabbi said. “But what I ask,” Elias went on, “I ask as a kindness, please leave me alone.” “That,” returned the rabbi, “is a request which I am compelled to deny.” Elias stood still for an instant, as if undetermined what to do. He felt the blood rush angrily to his brain, and then sink away, leaving a violent ache behind it. “Well, I suppose I'll have to grin and bear it, then,” he said by and by, and dropped upon a chair. After an interval of silence Elias began, with sufficient coolness, “Would you mind telling me _why_ you consider it your duty to remain with me all day?” “It is my duty to be on hand, to be at your side, when the moment of your need shall arrive. It may be any moment now.” “Of my need? I don't understand.” “When the Lord manifests Himself,” the rabbi explained. “Oh,” said Elias, and relapsed into silence. He added presently, “I'm going down stairs, to get a glass of water,” and rose. “You'll come back?” questioned the rabbi, “Yes, I suppose so.” But when he had reached the foot of the staircase, and saw his hat hanging from the rack near the vestibule door, a temptation presented itself which was too strong for flesh and blood to resist. He caught his hat up, and put it upon his head, and dashed out into the street. It was raining. He had no umbrella. But he did not mind. He walked rapidly, without an objective point, without even noticing what direction he followed. XII