She bent down over him, and as she did so the illusion that it was Manasseh himself lying lifeless before her, grew stronger still.

She trembled as she touched her lips to the dead man's marble brow, and with an outburst of sobs and tears she called aloud, "Manasseh!" He was at her side in a moment, bending over her and pressing her to his heart.

So he was not dead, after all.

She recovered her self-control, but she murmured in his ear: "Oh, do not die! Never let me see you lying like that before me!" Then she gave place to the three brothers, who likewise embraced the dead man.

One by one the other brothers came out of the house of rejoicing and entered the chamber of mourning.