When the Essenes received us it was solemnly
decreed that if you lived to reach the full age of eighteen years you
must depart from among them. That hour struck for you nearly a year ago,
and, although you heard nothing of it, this decree was debated by the
Court. Now such decrees may not be broken, but it was argued that the
words 'full age of eighteen years,' meant and were intended to mean
until you reached your nineteenth birthday; that is--in a month from
now."
"Then must we go, Nou?" asked Miriam in dismay, for she knew no other
world but this village in the desert, and no other friends than these
venerable men whom she called her uncles.
"It seems so, especially as it is now guessed that Caleb fought the
Captain Marcus upon your account. Oh! that tale is talked of--for one
thing, the young wild-cat left a claw behind him which the gardener
found."
"I trust then it is known also that the fault was none of mine. But,
Nou, whither shall we go who have neither friends, nor home, nor money?"
"I know not; but doubtless in this wall also there is a door. If the
worst comes to the worst, a Christian has many brothers; moreover, with
your skill in the arts you need never lack for a living in any great
city in the world.
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