"But you must not slight your night prayer," said their father, soberly.
Esther's and Miriam's eyes winked and blinked a good many times before they got through the prayer.
"It never seemed so long before, except when I was sick," Esther told her adopted sister, when they were at last stretched on their beds. "And, do you know, Miriam," she added, sleepily, "I believe Solomon doesn't always repeat it all. He says our people have so many prayers he gets tired of them sometimes. Isn't that dreadful?"
But Miriam was already sound asleep, and did not answer.
CHAPTER VII.
THE CAVE
"Which way did you come?" asked Levi, as he helped the two little girls down from the ass's back. Solomon had walked by their side all the way.
"We passed through the Jaffa gate and then took the shortest way down here into the valley," said Esther.