Small matter that this Jehovah whom she named was little known and probably much less powerful than she believed. He had long suspected—and who would not among so many gods?—that latent abilities sometimes resided in the most unlikely. In favorable circumstances who could tell? Nevertheless, it was a long journey to Israel and in his condition a painful one. Besides, there were other plans, suggested by people for whose judgment he had the greatest respect, which could not be discountenanced in favor of one so vague. Nay, he would try remedies closer at hand.
Isaac bowed and withdrew, dreading the message he must carry to Miriam. He told her with compassion in his face, his voice, his manner, yet with an attempt at cheerfulness which deceived neither of them.
After a little she turned the head which had been averted. “Isaac, believest thou?”
He hesitated, then hit upon a happy expedient. “I believe thee, little maid.”
“Wouldst thou be pleased to do whatever thou canst for me, Isaac?”
There was a flash of amusement on the young man’s countenance. “Knowest thou, Miriam, thou wilt soon be a woman? Already thou art akin to her thou shalt be.” He reached into the flowering tree above their heads and broke off a small branch. “Even as this beauty is the delight of our eyes, so art thou the delight of my heart. I swear it. See, I bind these flowers upon that heart in token of my fealty. There shall they remain, and though they wither, that for which they stand shall never die. Needst thou other assurance?”
But she was not laughing. “Believest thou in Jehovah, Isaac?”
“Was I not taught so to believe, Miriam?”
She sighed. “If Eli were only here to make thee understand! But when thou believest Jehovah as thou believest me, then wilt thou speak to thy master with boldness and insistence and he will hear.”
Isaac patted her cheeks. “I am not sure, Miriam, but that I have known Jehovah, at least as long as I have known thee. Be very courageous, little maid. Thy plea shall yet save thy master,” but neither knew how long a time must first elapse, nor that this same unselfish entreaty would some day cause international complications.