she was a lovely maid, who, wherever she had
been placed, would have bound all to her.

The years went by and the time came when, in obedience to the first
decree, Miriam must be educated. Long were the discussions which ensued
among the curators of the Essenes. At length three of the most learned
of their body were appointed to this task, and the teaching began. As
it chanced, Miriam proved an apt pupil, for her memory was good, and
she had a great desire to learn many things, more especially history and
languages, and all that has to do with nature. One of her tutors was an
Egyptian, who, brought up in the priests' college at Thebes, when on
a journey to Judaea had fallen sick near Jericho, been nursed by the
Essenes and converted to their doctrine. From him Miriam learnt much
of their ancient civilisation, and even of the inner mysteries of the
Egyptian religion, and of its high and secret interpretations which were
known only to the priests. The second, Theophilus by name, was a Greek
who had visited Rome, and he taught her the tongues and literature of
those countries. The third, all his life long had studied beasts and
birds and insects, and the workings of nature, and the stars and their
movements, in which things he instructed her day by day, taking her
abroad with him that examples of each of them might be before her eyes.

Lastly, when she grew older, there was a fourth master, who was an
artist. He taught Miriam how to model animals, and even men, in the clay
of the Jordan, and how to carve them out in marble, and something of the
use of pigments. Also this man, who was very clever, had a knowledge
of singing and instrumental music, which he imparted to her in her odd
hours. Thus it came about that Miriam grew learned and well acquainted
with many matters of which most girls of her day and years had never
even heard. Nor did she lack knowledge of the things of her own faith,
though in these the Essenes did not instruct her further than its
doctrines tallied with their own. Of the rest, Nehushta told her
something; moreover, on several occasions Christian travellers or
preachers visited this country to address the Essenes or the other Jews
who dwelt there. When they learned her case, these showed themselves
very eager to inform her of the Christian doctrine. Among them was one
old man who had heard the preaching of Jesus Christ, and been present
at His Crucifixion, to all of which histories the girl listened