After this Nehushta was led away to another chamber and remained there
a long while, till at length she was brought back again by one of the
curators. On entering the great hall her eyes sought the face of Ithiel,
who had not been allowed to speak, since the matter having to do with a
great-niece of his own, it was held that his judgment might be warped.
Seeing that he smiled, and evidently was well pleased, she knew her
cause was won.
"Woman," said the President, "by a great majority of this Court we
have come to an irrevocable decision upon the matter that has been laid
before it by our brother Ithiel. It is, for reasons which I need not
explain, that on this point our rule may be stretched so far as to admit
the child Miriam to our care, even though it be of the female sex, which
care is to endure until she comes to a full age of eighteen years, when
she must depart from among us. During this time no attempt will be made
to turn her from her parents' faith in which she has been baptised. A
house will be given you to live in, and you will be supplied with the
best we have for the use of our ward Miriam and yourself. Twice a week
a deputation of the curators will visit the house, and stay there for
an hour to see that the health of the infant is good, and that you are
doing your duty by it, in which, if you fail, you will be removed.
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