"How now, lad! why dost thou frighten thy mother with thy sickly fancies?" cried Ezra, impatiently, as Sarah's cheek grew pale. "What ill could have befallen thy sister?"
"She may have fallen into the hands of the Syrians, whom thou knoweth do make raids into our country and carry off captives," answered the lad, tremulously. "Oh, if I were only as other lads these burdens should not fall upon the weak shoulders of a maiden. 'Twould be I who would journey into Samaria with the fruits," and tears of bitter pain and humiliation filled his eyes.
Sarah leaned forward and gently smoothed back the dark, curling hair from his white brow.
"Speak not thus, my son," she murmured, with infinite tenderness. "Thy mother loveth thee but the more tenderly because of thy affliction, and well dost thou know how thy sister's heart yearneth over thee."
A faint smile touched the lad's pale lips.
"Ah, mother," he said, "it is wicked of me to repine at my affliction when thou and my sister, Leah, do love me so well. But, oh, mother, if I were but strong and whole," and, covering his face with his hands, he sobbed aloud.
"Look up, lad, and dry thy tears, for yonder cometh our Leah," cried Ezra.
With an exclamation of joy, Isaac obeyed, and, lifting himself eagerly upon his elbow, watched with joyous eyes, the slow approach of an ass upon which was seated a maiden.
Ezra went forward and lifted her to the ground.
"Leah! sister! thou art come at last!" cried Isaac.