Gladys Malvern - Behold Your Queen!: A Story of Esther

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Text originally published in 1951 under the same title.

Pickle Partners Publishing 2016, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publishers Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Authors original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern readers benefit.

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BEHOLD YOUR QUEEN!

A STORY OF ESTHER

BY

GLADYS MALVERN

Contents

For HERTHA DEPPER

a fine artist and a lovely friend

HADASSAH picked up the bundle containing a silk scarf she was making for Sarah, and with her free hand put on a veil. Though no respectable Hebrew maiden was ever seen in public without a veil, few wore one which completely hid the face and half of the body. Most of them wore veils which only covered their heads to the eyebrows and hung to the shoulders in the back. But Uncle Mordecai insisted that Hadassah wear the full veil, and to disobey him was unthinkable. Still, the sun was brighter than usual, the air was heavy with the heat, and she grumbled as she put on the veil.

I shall smother in this, she thought.

Only yesterday she had tried to convince her uncle that it was no longer stylish to look like a mummy on the street.

But, she insisted, the long veil is outmoded!

He had looked at her calmly and answered in his quiet way.

Still, I wish you to wear it.

He could not tell her that she was more beautiful than other girls, that hers was the kind of faceso lovely in its coloring, so flawless in skin texture, so appealing in the delicacy of its modelingthat men would stare after her on the street, and that someespecially the Amalekites, who were notoriously objectionable where feminine pulchritude was concernedwould cause embarrassment for her.

On the way out now, Hadassah stopped long enough to tell the old womanthe one female servant of the house where she was going and when she would return, and then hurried into the sun-baked street.

The Hebrew population of Babylon lived in its own quarter on the left bank of the river, a city within a city. Here its residents could purchase everything neededoils, fabrics, food, perfumes, ointments, sandals, candles and house furnishings; consequently it was never necessary to venture into Babylon itself. The Hebrew quarter was not so populous now as it had been when Hadassah was little, because from year to year families who could afford the journey were returning to the Holy Land.

Over forty-two thousand had already left, mostly members of the tribe of Judah and of her own tribe, Benjamin. But Mordecai loved Babylon, and though he almost beggared himself sending money to Jerusalem to help in rebuilding the temple, he had no desire to make the difficult nine-hundred mile journey. Over a hundred pounds of gold and five hundred pounds of silver he had contributed so far.

Mordecai, Hadassah had long ago discovered, was different from other people. His neighbors, for instance, were aghast when one day he had taken his niece across the bridge into the pagan city of Babylon. All the other girls were curious about it, and when she returned they begged Hadassah to tell them what it was like.

I know, Mordecai explained, that it is natural that Babylon should hold a certain lure for you. I will take you there myself and show you the sights, and when you have seen it, you will be content to remain in your own quarter where you belong.

It had been an exciting day. The splendid city, its wide streets teeming with people from all over the world, thrilled and impressed her. Here were great astronomical laboratories. Here were men grinding upon a wheel the crystal lenses to be used in the study of the stars. And the temples! Oh, the gorgeous temples to so many strange gods!

Brilliant and luxurious as Babylon was, Hadassah had been glad to return to her own quarter where she felt at home. The quarter was serene, even austere, and compared to that towering city across the river, it seemed so humble.

Here and there a blossoming tree, a vivid vine, showed bravely against the low brick houses. In the small gardens one glimpsed fig and orange trees, pampered, treasured.

Turning up a side street now, Hadassah felt the friendliness of this tiny, familiar world of hers. She was fourteen and filled with romantic dreams. Fourteen. Seemingly, for a long, long time she had been waiting to be fourteen. At fourteen a girl had reached the age when her father or guardian could arrange a marriage for her.

It was natural that Hadassah should be thinking of marriage today, for Sarah had been betrothed only a week before, and from now on her friends would meet in the Womens Court of her house to sew and make donations to her huge carved chest of cedarwood which contained her mounting pile of bridal garments and linens.

Hadassah was on the threshold of her friends house now.

In response to her knock, a servant opened the door. Recognizing Hadassah, he nodded toward the rear where the womens quarters were. Hadassah knew the way.

It led through a narrow hall into a walled courtyard, shaded by awnings. Here were chairs, benches and several small tables. On the tables were pottery dishes containing figs, pomegranates, dates and small cakes at which the girls nibbled from time to time.

At sight of Hadassah several young voices rose in greeting.

Sarah, looking dignified and important because she was betrothed, came forward politely.

Hadassah! Baruch habavah! Welcome! They kissed.

There were five girls, whose ages ranged from fourteen to sixteen. Several of them were already engaged, but being well brought up, they acted as though they were not in the least curious about marriage. So, as they worked, they discussed other matters.

Their prime topic was the king and queen. King Ahasuerus was a glamorous, young figure. Queen Vashti was renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world. She set the fashions, not only in clothes but in manners.

They say, said Sarah, biting a thread with her crooked teeth, that the queen prefers yellow this season. What a pity! I look hideous in yellow, but I shall have to have yellow robes. She shrugged. Who wants to be out of fashion?

I wonder how it would feel to be a queen? asked Hadassah in her beautifully modulated voice.

Her companions looked at her curiously, for only she among them could boast of having royal blood. She was a direct descendant of King Saul. Though the house she lived in was modest and she was far from being the richest girl in the community, Hadassah was royalty.

And, they had to admit, she looked it. She was only slightly above medium height, but she gave the impression of being taller because of her long legs, her long, slender neck, and the proud, spirited way she had of holding her head.