"
"She was very angry."
"I suppose so, I suppose so. Well, she is right. As the world goes in
Prague, my child, you will degrade yourself by marrying a Jew."
"I want nothing prouder than to be Anton's wife," said Nina.
"And to speak sooth," said the old man, "the Jew will degrade himself
fully as much by marrying you."
"Father, I would not have that. If I thought that my love would injure
him, I would leave him."
"He must judge for himself," said Trendellsohn, relenting somewhat.
"He must judge for himself and for me too," said Nina.
"He will be able, at any rate, to keep a house over your head."
"It is not for that," said Nina, thinking of her cousin Ziska's offer.
She need not want for a house and money if she were willing to sell
herself for such things as them.
"Anton will be rich, Nina, and you are very poor."
"Can I help that, father? Such as I am, I am his. If all Prague were
mine I would give it to him."
The old man shook his head. "A Christian thinks that it is too much
honour for a Jew to marry a Christian, though he be rich, and she have
not a ducat for her dower.
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