ll in
my heart.'

'Go, go, my Miriam, angel of light. Tarry no longer; I pray thee go. I
would not think of the past. Let all my mind be centred in the present.
Thy presence calls back our bygone days, and softens me too much. My
duty to my uncle. Go, dear one, go!'

'And leave thee, leave thee to----Oh! my David, thou hast seen, thou
hast heard----Honain?'

'No more; let not that accursed name profane those holy lips. Raise not
the demon in me.'

'I am silent. Yet 'tis madness! Oh! my brother, thou hast a fearful
trial.'

'The God of Israel is my refuge. He saved our fathers in the fiery
furnace. He will save me.'

'I am full of faith. I pray thee let me stay.'

'I would be silent; I would be alone. I cannot speak, Miriam. I ask one
favour, the last and dearest, from her who has never had a thought but
for my wishes; blessed being, leave me.'

'I go. O Alroy, farewell! Let me kiss you. Again, once more! Let me
kneel and bless you. Brother, beloved brother, great and glorious
brother, I am worthy of you: I will not weep. I am prouder in this dread
moment of your love than all your foes can be of their hard triumph!'

Beruna and Bathsheba received their mistress when she returned to her
chamber. They marked her desolate air. She was silent, pale, and cold.
They bore her to her couch, whereon she sat with a most listless and
unmeaning look; her quivering lips parted, her eyes fixed upon the
ground in vacant abstraction, and her arms languidly folded before
her. Beruna stole behind her, and supported her back with pillows, and
Bathsheba, unnoticed, wiped the slight foam from her mouth. Thus Miriam
remained for several hours, her faithful maidens in vain watching for
any indication of her self-consciousness.

Suddenly a trumpet sounded.

'What is that?' exclaimed Miriam, in a shrill voice, and looking up with
a distracted glance.

Neither of them answered, since they were aware that it betokened the
going forth of Alroy to his trial.

Miriam remained in the same posture, and with the same expression of
wild inquiry. Another trumpet sounded, and after that a shout of the
people. Then she raised up her arms to heaven, and bowed her head, and
died.

'Has the second trumpet sounded?'

'To be sure: run, run for a good place. Where is Abdallah?'

'Selling sherbet in the square. We shall find him. Has Alroy come
forth?'

'Yes! he goes the other way. We shall be too late. Only think of
Abdallah selling sher