Well, it is time to speak again of the lovely Jewess. Of course Aleph, the very next day after his return, fulfilled his promise to see Miriam—and all the more readily because Seti had domiciled himself at Alexander’s until the return of his son in law. He found not only Miriam but also Seti and Rachel in the family apartment. Great was his surprise at the gain the nurse had made since he last saw her; and so he was able to give congratulations as well as receive them. Miriam’s congratulations, however, were rather lame in the expression; for when she saw him enter without any sign, even the slightest, of harm from all that he had passed through, her eyes filled with tears and she scarcely found voice to say more than, Thank God.
“You see,” said Rachel, “that Miriam has wonderfully improved within the last few days; but I doubt whether you can guess to what the improvement is owing.”
“The skill of the leech?” suggested Aleph, smiling.
“Nay—as if you did not know her leech!” and she lifted her eyebrows.
“The excellent nursing?”
“By no means—I can speak for that.”
“The want of nursing? The nurse has been busy elsewhere; and so nature has had a chance to act freely. Excessive care is sometimes as hurtful as no care at all.”
“Still at fault,” cried the maiden. “Shrewd as you are, you will not be likely to guess: so I must tell you. She took a new medicine; and it was Aleph the Chaldean. Devising ways and means to get you out of your difficulties, O much enduring Ulysses, O pious Æneas beaten about in all seas—this is what has made the change that you see. It is a very healthful business this rescuing Aleph the Chaldean.”
Then followed a pleasant explanation of the part which Miriam had taken in the rescue, and such a grateful recognition of it as it deserved.