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new Bank of England note。 Leibel； instructed and encouraged by
Sugarman； stood firm。
And then arose a hubbub of voices； a chaos of suggestions； friends
rushed to and fro between the camps； some emerging from their seats in
the synagogue to add to the confusion。 But Eliphaz had taken his stand
upon a rockhe had no more ready money。 To…morrow； the next day； he
would have some。 And Leibel； pale and dogged； clutched tighter at those
machines that were slipping away momently from him。 He had not yet
seen his bride that morning； and so her face was shadowy compared with
the tangibility of those machines。 Most of the other maidens were married
women by now； and the situation was growing desperate。 From the female
camp came terrible rumours of bridesmaids in hysterics； and a bride that
tore her wreath in a passion of shame and humiliation。 Eliphaz sent word
that he would give an I O U for the balance； but that he really could not
muster any more current coin。 Sugarman instructed the ambassador to
suggest that Eliphaz should raise the money among his friends。
And the short spring day slipped away。 In vain the minister； apprised
of the block； lengthened out the formulae for the other pairs； and blessed
them with more reposeful unction。 It was impossible to stave off the
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Leibel…Green item indefinitely； and at last Rose remained the only orange…
wreathed spinster in the synagogue。 And then there was a hush of solemn
suspense； that swelled gradually into a steady rumble of babbling tongues；
as minute succeeded minute and the final bridal party still failed to appear。
The latest bulletin pictured the bride in a dead faint。 The afternoon was
waning fast。 The minister left his post near the canopy； under which so
many lives had been united； and came to add his white tie to the forces for
compromise。 But he fared no better than the others。 Incensed at the
obstinacy of the antagonists； he declared he would close the synagogue。
He gave the couple ten minutes to marry in or quit。 Then chaos came； and
pandemoniuma frantic babel of suggestion and exhortation from the
crowd。 When five minutes had passed a legate from Eliphaz announced
that his side had scraped together twenty pounds； and that this was their
final bid。
Leibel wavered； the long day's combat had told upon him； the reports
of the bride's distress had weakened him。 Even Sugarman had lost his
cocksureness of victory。 A few minutes more and both commissions might
slip through his fingers。 Once the parties left the synagogue； it would not
be easy to drive them there another day。 But he cheered on his man still：
one could always surrender at the tenth minute。
At the eighth the buzz of tongues faltered suddenly； to be transposed
into a new key； so to speak。 Through the gesticulating assembly swept that
murmur of expectation which crowds know when the procession is
coming at last。 By some mysterious magnetism all were aware that the
BRIDE herselfthe poor hysteric bridehad left the paternal camp； was
coming in person to plead with her mercenary lover。
And as the glory of her and the flowers and the white draperies loomed
upon Leibel's vision his heart melted in worship； and he knew his citadel
would crumble in ruins at her first glance； at her first touch。 Was it fair
fighting？ As his troubled vision cleared； and as she came nigh unto him；
he saw to his amazement that she was speckless and composedno trace
of tears dimmed the fairness of her face； there was no disarray in her
bridal wreath。
The clock showed the ninth minute。
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STORIES
She put her hand appeallingly on his arm； while a heavenly light came
into her facethe expression of a Joan of Arc animating her country。
〃Do not give in； Leibel！〃 she said。 〃Do not have me！ Do not let them
persuade thee！ By my life； thou must not！ Go home！〃
So at the eleventh minute the vanquished Eliphaz produced the
balance； and they all lived happily ever afterward。
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AN IDYL OF LONDON
BY BEATRICE HARRADEN
It was one o'clock； and many of the students in the National Gallery
had left off work and were refreshing themselves with lunch and
conversation。 There was one old worker who had not stirred from his
place； but he had put down his brush； and had taken from his pocket a
small book； which was like its ownerthin and shabby of covering。 He
seemed to find pleasure in reading it； for he turned over its pages with all
the tenderness characteristic of one who loves what he reads。 Now and
again he glanced at his unfinished copy of the beautiful portrait of Andrea
del Sarto； and once his eyes rested on another copy next to his； better and
truer than his； and once he stopped to pick up a girl's prune…coloured tie；
which had fallen from the neighbouring easel。 After this he seemed to
become unconscious of his surroundings； as unconscious； indeed； as any
one of the pictures near him。 Any one might have been justified in
mistaking him for the portrait of a man； but that his lips moved； for it was
his custom to read softly to himself。
The students passed back to their places； not troubling to notice him；
because they knew from experience that he never noticed them； and that
all greetings were wasted on him and all words were wanton expenditure
of breath。 They had come to regard him very much in the same way as
many of us regard the wonders of nature； without astonishment； without
any questionings； and often without any interest。 One girl； a new… comer；
did chance to say to her companion：
〃How ill that old man looks！〃
〃Oh； he always looks like that；〃 was the answer。 〃You will soon get
accustomed to him。 Come along！ I must finish my 'Blind Beggar' this
afternoon。〃
In a few minutes most of the workers were busy again； although there
were some who continued to chat quietly； and several young men who