"It would have ended
just the same. Heard ye not what he said concerning a husband? But
let me go! Let Rachel hide ere the serving men return!"
She undid their arms and ran back toward the quarries. For a moment
the children hesitated and then they pursued her, crying in an
undertone as they ran. Past the stone-pits, up the winding valley she
fled until she reached the encampment and her own tent.
The women saw her come and old Deborah, who was preparing vegetables
for the noonday meal, left the fires and hastened to the shelter.
There, Rachel, choking with terror and tears, gave the story of the
morning.
Deborah made no interruption and after the disjointed and unhappy
recital was complete, she sat for some moments, motionless and silent.
Then she arose and made as if to leave the tent, but Rachel caught at
her hand in affright.
"Nay, be not so frightened," the old woman said soothingly. "I go to
look for Atsu. He will come in a little while."
With that, she went forth. After a time--more than two hours, in
truth, but infinitely longer to Rachel, the voice of the taskmaster was
heard without, talking with Deborah. He was permitting no curb to the
expression of his rage.
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