cession was approaching. She lifted up her eyes, and saw quite a troop winding along the eastern banks of the Kishon, and drawing near to her humble dwelling.

Keroob had arranged every thing for the departure. He despatched a band of singing men and singing women, and ten sons and daughters of the chief men of the city of Nain mounted on camels, to attend Caphtor and Sephora to their future home. The camels destined for them, were richly caparisoned with scarlet housings fringed with silver bells.

Sephora was already sad enough at leaving a parent's roof without a parent's blessing; and when she saw this nuptial pomp that awaited her, she felt still more reluctant to quit those simple scenes, that she had always found sufficient for her happiness. But she stifled her regret, endeavoured to forget her father and her father's house, and resolved to follow her beloved husband with gratitude and joy wherever he should lead her, saying to him as Ruth said to Naomi,

"whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. The Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

CHAPTER XXIII.

SPLENDID as was the bridal procession, Sephora soon found it was but the beginning of honours. As she approached Nain another troop of maidens came out to meet her, crowned with garlands and carrying golden cups of incense. They held a long embroidered cord, which they fastened round her camel's neck and led her towards the city, each holding the cord in one hand, and the censer in the other, and alternately changing places, the one at the end of the cord going up to the head of the camel, and so continuing till they had each held this post of honour. When they had proceeded some way in this order, another bevy of damsels, three hundred and sixty in number, to represent the days of the year, came forward with songs and dances, bearing baskets made of palm leaves and filled with flowering myrtle, which they strewed before her path, hoping that

her way through life would be fragrant and thornless as the blossoms beneath her feet. The distances had been so accurately measured, and the dances so well rehearsed, that the conclusion of the ceremony brought them to the gateway that had been erected for this occasion, through which, she and her husband and the company invited to their nuptial feast, were to pass. Here were assembled all the city of Nain to witness or partake of the festive joy. Keroob caused money to be thrown among the populace, and opened the portals to admit the guests. They were only permitted to enter one by one, that the door-keepers might be sure that none but those who were invited gained admittance.

The gateway within was dark and narrow, but the garden beyond was splendidly illuminated by the glowing tints of the western sun. As the guests went through, they had wedding garments thrown over them which were provided by Keroob. Few were aware of the value and richness of these dresses, as they were passing through the gloomy

portal, but when they emerged into the light, they were almost dazzled by their exceeding brightness.

The house of Keroob was a large open quadrangular building, and the guests as they arrived were ushered into the interior square, which was inclosed by a curtain supported by cords reaching from one parapet wall to the other. Caphtor and Sephora were not taken into this court, they were introduced immediately into the banqueting room which stood quite apart from the rest of the mansion, amidst the thickest shades of the garden. It was formed of gilded lattice work entwined with Arabian jessamine and honeysuckles that were planted round it. Odorous spices were burning in the room with almost overpowering fragrance, and a hundred brilliant lamps were suspended from its canopied dome and reflected by mirrors of polished brass. On one side were arranged costly water jars for purification, and on another ewers of wine that had been cooled in icy caverns. The triclinium of curious frame work, and spread over with car