On the crest of a little ridge of ground outside the village he halted,
leaving them to go on, and turning his horse's head looked backward.
Thus he stood awhile, the silver rays of the moon shining on his bright
armour and making him a point of light set between two vales of shadow.
Miriam could guess whither his eyes were turned and what was in his
heart. It seemed to her, even, that she could feel his loving thought
play upon her and that with the ear of his spirit he could catch the
answer of her own. Then suddenly he turned and was lost in the gloom of
the night.
Now that he was gone, quite gone, Miriam's courage seemed to leave her,
and leaning her head upon the parapet she wept tears that were soft but
very bitter. Suddenly a hand was laid upon her shoulder and a voice,
that of old Nehushta, spoke in her ear.
"Mourn not," it said, "since him whom you lose in the night you may find
again in the daytime."
"In no day that dawns from an earthly sun, I fear me, Nou. Oh, Nou! he
has gone, and taken my heart with him, leaving in its place a throbbing
pain which is more than I can bear."
"He will come back; I tell you that he will come back," she answered,
almost fiercely; "for your life and his are intertwined--yes, to the
end--a single cord bearing a double destiny.
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