"Your friend is not civil," said Marcus, as he watched him go. "Indeed,
he has an inhospitable air. Now, if an Essene could do such a thing,
I should think that here is a man who might have drawn an arrow upon a
Jewish tax-gatherer," and he looked inquiringly at Miriam.
"That lad!" put in Nehushta. "Why, he never shot anything larger than a
bird of prey."
"Caleb," added Miriam in excuse, "does not like strangers."
"So I see," answered Marcus; "and to be frank, lady, I do not like
Caleb. He has an eye like a knife-point."
"Come, Nehushta," said Miriam, "this is our road, and there runs that
of the captain and his company. Sir, farewell, and thank you for your
escort."
"Lady, for this while farewell, and thank you for your guidance."
Thus for that day they parted.
The dwelling which many years before had been built by the Essenes
for the use of their ward and her nurse, stood next to the large
guest-house. Indeed, it occupied a portion of the ground which
originally belonged to it, although now the plot was divided into two
gardens by an irrigation ditch and a live pomegranate fence, covered at
this season of the year with its golden globes of fruit. That evening,
as Miriam and Nehushta walked in the garden, they heard the familiar
voice of Ithiel calling to them from the other side of this fence, and
presently above it saw his kindly face and venerable white head.
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