Now, as she sat and prayed, Gallus being abroad to gather more tidings
if he could, she heard the courtyard door open, but took no notice
of it, thinking that it was but the servant who returned from market.
Presently, however, as she knelt, a shadow fell upon her and Julia
looked up to see Miriam, none other than Miriam, and with her a
dark-skinned, aged woman, whom she did not know.
"How come you here?" she gasped.
"Oh! mother," answered the girl in a low and thrilling voice, "mother,
by the mercy of God and by the help of this Nehushta, of whom I have
often told you, and--of another, I am escaped from Domitian, and return
to you free and unharmed."
"Tell me that story," said Julia, "for I do not understand. The thing
sounds incredible."
So Miriam told her tale. When it was done, Julia said:
"Heathen though he is, this Marcus must be a noble-hearted man, whom may
Heaven reward."
"Yes," answered Miriam with a sigh, "may Heaven reward him, as I wish I
might."
"As you would have done had I not stayed you," put in Nehushta. Her
voice was severe, but as she spoke something that Julia took to be a
smile was seen for an instant on her grim features.
"Well, friend, well," said Julia, "we have all of us fallen into
temptation from time to time.
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