As he returned, he saw his mother standing a little apart from the other Christians and gazing toward the northwest, in the direction of Egypt, as she had often gazed since the Christians took refuge here.
"She misseth her home," thought the young man sadly.

"It is but a rough abiding-place here for her.

And yet Severus hath not found us.
I would that she had come here for the love of Christ, and not for love of her two sons, only! Then she would feel, as the others of us do, that there is no one who hath left house or lands for our Lord's sake, but receiveth a hundred-fold in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Oh, I would that my mother might know how near our Lord can be, even in this desert!" His mother had ceased to speak of Egypt's gods.

She had even read somewhat in the Christians' Book.