History repeats itself--with variations. Jacob--namely,
Smith--cometh to the well of Haran. He taketh acquaintance of Rachel,
here called Yoletta. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice
and wept. That is a touch of nature I can thoroughly appreciate--the
kissing, I mean; but why he wept I cannot tell, unless it be because he
was not an Englishman. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's
brother. I am glad to have no such startling piece of information to
give to the object of my affections: we are not even distant relations,
and her age being, say, fifteen, and mine twenty-one, we are so far well
suited to each other, according to my notions. Smith covenanted! for
Yoletta, and said: "I will serve thee seven years for Yoletta, thy
younger daughter"; and the old gentleman answered: "Abide with me, for I
would rather you should have her than some other person." Now I wonder
whether the matter will be complicated with Leah--that is, Edra? Leah
was considerably older than Rachel, and, like Edra, tender-eyed.
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