They were abashed before him, and tried to edge out of the patio into the street; but he put his back to the passage, and faced them again.
"You will not drink?" he said."Then listen to me." He dashed the winecup out of his hand, and it broke into fragments on the floor.
His laughter was gone, his face was aflame, and his voice rose to a shrill cry."You foretold the doom of God upon me, you brought me low, you made me ashamed: but behold how the Lord has lifted me up! You set your women to prophesy that God would not suffer me to raise up children to be a reproach and a curse among my people; but God has this day given me a son like the best of you.More than that--more than that-- my son shall yet see--"The slave woman was touching his arm."It is a girl," she said; "a girl!"For a moment Israel stammered and paused.Then he cried, "No matter!
She shall see your own children fatherless, and with none to show them mercy! She shall see the iniquity of their fathers remembered against them! She shall see them beg their bread, and seek it in desolate places! And now you can go! Go! go!"He had stepped aside as he spoke, and with a sweep of his arm he was driving them all out like sheep before him, dumbfounded and with their eyes in the dust, when suddenly there was a low cry from the inner room.
It was Ruth calling for her husband.Israel wheeled about and went in to her hurriedly, and his enemies, by one impulse of evil instinct, followed him and listened from the threshold.
Ruth's face was a face of fear, and her lips moved, but no voice came from them.
And Israel said, "How is it with you, my dearest joy of my joy and pride of my pride?"Then Ruth lifted the babe from her bosom and said "The Lord has counted my prayer to me as sin--look, see; the child is both dumb and blind!"At that word Israel's heart died within him, but he muttered out of his dry throat, "No, no, never believe it!""True, true, it is true," she moaned; "the child has not uttered a cry, and its eyelids have not blinked at the light.""Never believe it, I say!" Israel growled, and he lifted the babe in his arms to try it.