wn, it was held that his judgment might be warped.
Seeing that he smiled, and evidently was well pleased, she knew her
cause was won.

"Woman," said the President, "by a great majority of this Court we
have come to an irrevocable decision upon the matter that has been laid
before it by our brother Ithiel. It is, for reasons which I need not
explain, that on this point our rule may be stretched so far as to admit
the child Miriam to our care, even though it be of the female sex, which
care is to endure until she comes to a full age of eighteen years, when
she must depart from among us. During this time no attempt will be made
to turn her from her parents' faith in which she has been baptised. A
house will be given you to live in, and you will be supplied with the
best we have for the use of our ward Miriam and yourself. Twice a week
a deputation of the curators will visit the house, and stay there for
an hour to see that the health of the infant is good, and that you are
doing your duty by it, in which, if you fail, you will be removed. It is
prayed that you will not talk to these curators on matters which do not
concern the child. When she grows old enough the maid Miriam will be
admitted to our gatherings, and instructed also by the most learned
amongst us in all proper matters of letters and philosophy, on which
occasions you will sit at a distance and not interfere unless your care
is required.

"Now, that every one may know our decision, we will escort you back to
your house, and to show that we have taken the infant under our care,
our brother Ithiel will carry it while you walk behind and give him such
instruction in this matter as may be needful."

Accordingly a great procession was formed, headed by the President and
ended by the priests. In the centre of the line marched Ithiel bearing
the babe Miriam, to his evident delight, and Nehushta, who instructed
him so vigorously that at length he grew confused and nearly let it
fall. Thereon, setting this detail of the judgment at defiance, Nehushta
snatched it from his arms, calling him a clumsy and ignorant clown only
fit to handle an ox. To this Ithiel made no answer, nor was he at
all wroth, but finished the journey walking behind her and smiling
foolishly.

Thus was the child Miriam, who afterwards came to be called the Queen of
the Essenes, royally escorted to her home. But little did these good men
know that it was not a house which they were giving her, bu