She ran to the couch and bent over him; his weak arms clasped her neck, his eyes looked lovingly into her face.
The brother and sister had the same fine-cut features and beautiful, soft, dark eyes, but the lad's face was white and wan, while the rich bloom of health colored the cheeks and lips of the maiden. Her dark hair, curly and silken, fell to her waist; she was slenderly built, but erect, graceful and quick of movement.
"Why didst thou tarry so long, my child?" asked Sarah. "Thy brother has sorely fretted, fearing that some ill had befallen thee."
"I am sorry that thou didst fret, brother," said the maiden, bending to kiss his pale brow.
"Hadst thou trouble in disposing of the fruits, maiden?" asked Ezra.
"No, dear father," replied Leah, turning towards him with a smile. "I was but a little while selling the fruits and making the purchases for my mother."
"Then it was the slowness of our neighbor's ass which did delay thee," said Ezra.
"I will tell thee, father, why I did tarry so long in Samaria," said the maiden. "They were talking in Samaria of the wonders wrought by the prophet, Elisha, and I lingered to listen. 'Twas of his last miracle that they did speak. Father, mother, brother, knoweth thou that the prophet, Elisha, hath power to raise the dead to life?"
She paused and turned her eyes upon the helpless form of the cripple lad while the color deepened upon her cheek and her breath came quickly. Isaac spoke not, but, as his eyes met his sister's, they lighted with passionate eagerness and a long, panting sigh left his lips.