ving him for his deeds towards us and, as you know, strove,
but in vain, to bring about our release from prison. Say to him that I,
his kinswoman, pray of him, as he will answer to God, and in the name of
the sister whom he loved, to protect my child and you; to do nothing
to turn her from her faith, and in all things to deal with her as his
wisdom shall direct--for so shall peace and blessing come upon him."

Thus spoke Rachel, but in short and broken words. Then she began to
pray, and, praying, fell asleep. When she woke again the dawn was
breaking. Signing to Nehushta to bring her the child, for now she could
no longer speak, she scanned it earnestly in the new-born light, then
placed her hand upon its head and blessed it. Nehushta she blessed also,
thanking her with her eyes and kissing her. Then again she seemed to
fall asleep, and presently, when Nehushta looked at her, Rachel was
dead.

Nehushta understood and gave a great and bitter cry, since to her after
the death of her first mistress, this woman had been all her life. As a
child she had nursed her; as a maiden shared her joys and sorrows; as a
wife and widow toiled day and night fiercely and faithfully to console
her in her desolation and to protect her in the dreadful dangers through
which she had passed. Now, to end it all, it was her lot to receive her
last breath and to take into her arms her new-born infant.

Then and there Nehushta swore that as she had done by the mother she so
would do by the child till the day when her labours ended. Were it not
for this child, indeed, they would have ended now, Christian though she
was, since she was crushed with bitter sorrow and her heart seemed void
of hope or joy. All her days had been hard--she who was born to great
place among her own wild people far away, and snatched thence to be a
slave, set apart by her race and blood from those into whose city she
was sold; she who would have naught to do with base men nor become the
plaything of those of higher birth; she who had turned Christian and
drunk deep of the tribulations of the faith; she who had centred all her
eager heart upon two beloved women, and lost them both. All her days had
been hard, and here and now, by the side of her dead mistress, she would
have ended them. But the child remained, and while it lived, she would
live. If it died, then perhaps she would die also.

Meanwhile Nehushta had no time for grief, since the babe must be fed,
and within t