Yet I will not do so, for she is very fair and gracious, and with the wealth that I can give her, may fill some high place in the world.

Also--and this is more to me--I am old and draw near my end and she alone has my blood in her veins.

Therefore I will agree to all your terms, and take her home with me to Tyre, trusting that she may learn to love me." "Good," said the President.

"To-morrow the papers shall be prepared and signed.

Meanwhile we pray you to be our guest." Next evening signed they were accordingly, Benoni agreeing without demur to all that the Essenes asked on behalf of her who had been their ward, and even assigning to her a separate revenue during his lifetime.
Indeed, now that he had seen her, so loth was he to part with this new-found daughter, that he would have done still more had it been asked of him, lest she should be spirited from his sight, as, did he refuse, might well happen.
Three days later Miriam bade farewell to her protectors, who accompanied her by hundreds to the ridge above the village.