One by one he trifled with the gems--the rich onyx, the sapphire, the crystal, the coral, the pearl, the ruby, and the topaz, and first he pushed them from him, and then he drew them back again.

And seeing them thus cheapened in Reuben's hairy fingers, the precious jewels which had clasped his Ruth's soft wrist and her white neck, Israel could scarcely hold back his hand from snatching them away.
But how can he that is poor answer him that is rich?
So Israel put his twitching hands behind him, remembering Naomi and the poor people of Absalam, and when at length Reuben tendered him for the casket one half what he had paid for it, he took the money in silence and went his way.
"Five hundred dollars--I can give no more," Reuben had said.
"Do you say five hundred--five ?" "Five--take it or leave it." It was market morning, and the market-square as Israel passed through was a busy and noisy place.

The grocers squatted within their narrow wooden boxes turned on their sides, one half of the lid propped up as a shelter from the sun, the other half hung down as a counter, whereon lay raisins and figs, and melons and dates.

On the unpaved ground the bakers crouched in irregular lines.

They were women enveloped in monstrous straw hats, with big round cakes of bread exposed for sale on rush mats at their feet.