But little did these good men
know that it was not a house which they were giving her, but a throne,
built of the pure gold of their own gentle hearts.
CHAPTER VI
CALEB
It may be wondered whether any girl who was ever born into the world
could boast a stranger or a happier upbringing than Miriam. She was, it
is true, motherless, but by way of compensation Fate endowed her with
several hundred fathers, each of whom loved her as the apple of his
eye. She did not call them "Father" indeed, a term which under the
circumstances they thought incorrect. To her, one and all, they went
by the designation of "Uncle," with their name added if she happened to
know it, if not as Uncle simply. It cannot be said, however, that Miriam
brought peace to the community of the Essenes. Indeed, before she had
done with them she rent it with deep and abiding jealousies, to the
intense but secret delight of Nehushta, who, although she became a
person of great importance among them as the one who had immediate
charge of their jewel, could never forgive them certain of their
doctrines or their habit of persistent interference.
The domiciliary visits which took place twice a week, and, by special
subsequent resolution passed in full Court, on the Sabbath also,
were, to begin with, the subject of much covert bitterness.
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