Miriam thought
this strange, and, without seeming to do so, kept her eyes fixed upon
the curtains. Presently, for her sight was good, she saw fingers between
them--long, dark-coloured fingers. Then very slowly the curtains were
parted, and in the opening thus made appeared a face, the face of an old
woman, dark and noble looking and crowned with snow-white hair. Even at
that distance Miriam knew it in an instant.
Oh, Heaven! it was the face of Nehushta, Nehushta whom she thought dead,
or at least for ever lost. For a moment Miriam was paralysed, wondering
whether this was not some vision born of the turmoil and excitement of
that dreadful day. Nay, surely it was no vision, surely it was Nehushta
herself who looked at her with loving eyes, for see! she made the sign
of the cross in the air before her, the symbol of Christian hope and
greeting, then laid her finger upon her lips in token of secrecy and
silence. The curtain closed and she was gone, who not five seconds
before had so mysteriously appeared.
Miriam's knees gave way beneath her, and while the marshals shouted
to the procession to set forward, she felt that she must sink to the
ground. Indeed, she would have fallen had not some woman in the crowd
stepped forward and thrust a goblet of wine into her hands, saying:
"Drink that, Pearl-Maiden, it will make your pale cheeks even prettier
than they are.
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