The sick woman beckoned feebly to Rachel—more with her eye than with her hand. The young lady drew near and bent to listen to the faint whispers.
“She wishes me to thank you for what you have done for her,” said the maiden after a moment, “and to beg that you will not forsake her now that she is safe among friends.”
Aleph looked inquiringly at the lovely interpreter—not knowing exactly how to interpret the interpretation.
She suddenly turned to Miriam. “Of course he will not forsake you. He is coming here often to see you—to see how you get on. No good physician neglects his patient till she is well; and not even then if he is wise. Besides, he wants to talk more with you about Jesus the Messiah as soon as you are able to hear it. Yes, of course he is coming, coming often, coming to-morrow. He will suffer in our good opinion if he does not. So now close your eyes and rest in peace.”
Instead of doing this, Miriam burst into a flood of tears and nervous sobbing. Up to this time she could not fully realize that the dreadful nightmare of her life was over. But now that she found herself in her own room, and looking about on the familiar objects, and recognizing one thing after another that she used to call hers, and saw only kind faces beaming upon her—all at once a sense of absolute safety came surging in upon her like a mighty billow. Ah, what a relief—Heaven in place of Hell! Then all the flood-gates of feeling gave way. It was some time before she could control herself enough to articulate. But at last the words came—though very faintly:
“Home at last! Thank God, who has fulfilled the words of Jesus and sent me the deliverer whom he promised!”
The great sea went down as suddenly as it had risen. In a few moments the exhausted woman closed her eyes and was sleeping peacefully.
Aleph and Rachel stood together for a little, watching the peaceful slumber.
“The experiment seems more successful than I feared,” said Aleph at length; “I am glad that we made it.”
Her voice trembled a little, and her color came, as she said, without turning toward him and with downcast eyes, “And he to whom the success is due, and who is doubtless the friend whom Jesus promised to Miriam, has now the express and warm approbation that I promised him, and which I have found it hard to keep back till now.”