XIX
THE RENEGADE
"Stay, Benjamin!" cried Deborah, thrusting aside the curtains. She stood a moment at the opening, scarcely recognizing her brother in the heavy-lipped and maudlin face, the artificial curls, and the costume of a Greek exquisite.
Benjamin stared an instant in stupid curiosity, then took a step or two in fright.
"It is I! And Caleb!" cried Deborah, seizing his hands and putting them about herself, and pressing her face to his.
"God has been good to us, and brought us home, Benjamin," shouted Caleb, eager for his embrace.
"It is true. Yes, yes, it must be so," said Glaucon, at length coming to his senses, with a flash of his old affectionate nature, like a waning ember, lighting up his face with a suggestion of its former beauty.
He drew his sister and brother both to the couch, and sat between them, staring from one to the other.
"And you? You were not killed? What has happened? Where were you taken?"