bearded hermits," she added with point, "were not suitable as
sole companions to a little maid."

Thereon followed much debate and consultation with the doctors, who
agreed that friends of her own years should be found for the child.
This, however, proved difficult, since among these Essenes were no other
girls. Therefore those friends must be of the male sex. Here too were
difficulties, as at that time, of the lads adopted by this particular
community which they were destined to join in after days, there was but
one of equal birth with Miriam. Now so far as concerned their own
order the Essenes thought little of social distinctions, or even of the
differences of blood and race. But Miriam was not of their order; she
was their guest, no more, to whom they stood in the place of parents,
and who would go from them out into the great world. Therefore,
notwithstanding their childlike simplicity, being, many of them, men
experienced in life, they did not think it right that she should mix
with those of lower breeding.

This one lad, Caleb by name, was born in the same year as Miriam, when
Cuspius Fadus became governor on the death of Agrippa. His father was
Jew of very high rank named Hilliel, who, although he sided from time
to time with the Roman party, was killed by them, or perished among the
twenty thousand who were trampled to death at the Feast of the Passover
at Jerusalem, when Cumanus, the Procurator, ordered his soldiers to
attack the people. Thereon the Zealots, who considered him a traitor,
managed to get possession of all his property, so that his son Caleb,
whose mother was dead, was brought in a destitute condition by one
of her friends to Jericho. There, as she could not dispose of him
otherwise, he was given over to the Essenes, to be educated in their
doctrine, and, should he wish it, to enter their order when he reached
full age. This lad, it was now decreed, should become the playmate of
Miriam, a decision that pleased both of them very well.

Caleb was a handsome child with quick, dark eyes that watched everything
without seeming to watch, and black hair which curled upon his
shoulders. He was clever also and brave; but though he did his best to
control his temper, by nature very passionate and unforgiving. Moreover,
that which he desired he would have, if by any means it could be
obtained, and was faithful in his loves as in his hates. Of these hates
Nehushta was one. With all the skill of a Libyan, w