"Are you pleased with your new home, daughter?" he asked presently.

"My grandfather, it is beautiful," she answered. "Never have I dreamed
of such a place as this. Say, may I work my art in one of these great
rooms?"

"Miriam," he answered, "of this house henceforth you are the mistress,
as in time to come you will be its owner. Believe me, child, it was
not needed that so many and such different men should demand from me
sureties for your comfort and your safety. All I have is yours, whilst
all you have, including your faith and your friends, of whom there seem
to be many, remains your own. Yet, should it please you to give me in
return some small share of your love, I who am childless and friendless
shall be grateful."

"That is my desire," answered Miriam hurriedly; "only, grandsire,
between you and me----"

"Speak it not," he said, with a gesture almost of despair, "or rather I
will speak it--between you and me runs the river of your parents' blood.
It is so, yet, Miriam, I will confess to you that I repent me of that
deed. Age makes us judge more kindly. To me your faith is nothing and
your God a sham, yet I know now that to worship Him is not worthy of
death--at least not for that cause would I bring any to their death
to-day, or even to stripes and bonds. I will go further; I will stoop
even to borrow from His creed. Do not His teachings bid you to forgive
those who have done you wrong?"

"They do, and that is why Christians love all mankind."

"Then bring that law into this home of ours, Miriam, and love me who
sorrow for what I did in the blind rage of my zeal, and who now in my
old age am haunted by its memory."

Then for the first time Miriam threw herself into the old man's arms and
kissed him on the brow.

So it came about that they made their peace and were happy together.

Indeed, day by day Benoni loved her more, till at length she was
everything to him, and he grew jealous of all who sought her company,
and especially of Nehushta.

CHAPTER XII

THE RING, THE NECKLACE AND THE LETTER

So Miriam came to Tyre, where, for many months, her life was peaceful
and happy enough. At first she had feared meeting Caleb, who she knew
from her grandfather was dwelling there; but as it chanced, he had left
the city upon business of his own, so for the while she was free of him.
In Tyre were many Christians with whom she made friends and worshipped,
Benoni pretending to know nothing of the matter.