"Her heart seems crushed. Oh! that I must stay here
and see her thus, who dare not show myself! If she could but know! If
she could but know!"
Nehushta thrust him aside and took his place. Fixing her eyes upon
Miriam she made some effort of the will, so fierce and concentrated that
beneath the strain her body shook and quivered. See! Her thought reached
the captive, for she looked up.
"Stand to one side," she whispered to Marcus, then unlatched the
shutters and slowly pushed them open. Now between her and the air was
nothing but the silken curtains. Very gently she parted these with her
hands, for some few seconds suffering her face to be seen between them.
Then laying her fingers on her lips she drew back and they closed again.
"It is well," she said, "she knows."
"Let her see me also," said Marcus.
"Nay, she can bear no more. Look, look, she faints."
Groaning in bitterness of spirit they watched Miriam, who seemed
about to fall. Now a woman gave her the cup of wine, and drinking she
recovered herself.
"Note that woman," muttered Marcus, "that I may reward her."
"It is needless," answered Nehushta, "she seeks no reward."
"She is more than a Roman, she is a Christian. As she passed it she made
a sign of the cross with the cup.
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