She made at the intruders, but her prowess vanished as quickly as the strength goes from a broken bow.
"My mistress! My darlings!"
She threw herself prone upon the pavement of the court, kissed the feet of Deborah, and fondled them.
"Poor bruised things!"
She could not rise, for Caleb had thrown himself into the lap of the woman, who, when the first paroxysm of her excitement was gone, sat crooning over the child, forgetful of the weary months during which her arms had longed for him as if he had been her own.
"You were always a mother to us, Huldah. The Lord bless your dear good heart."
"And to think that you were away from me, and wanting me!" cried the nurse, hugging closer the blind child.
"The Lord has been with us," replied Deborah. "Some day I will tell you all."
"I would have known all that happened to my master's daughter," said Ephraim, "if I had known whither you had gone, for with you I had gone also. Here have I stayed, not for love of Benjamin, but because I did not know where to go to seek you."