O Mother of Sorrows, hide me! my father! my father!" she
wailed.
Under the combined weight of her griefs, she dropped on the carpeted
pavement and wept without control. All of Rachel's fear and horror
were swept away in a wave of compunction and pity. She lifted the
little Egyptian back upon her cushions again and, kneeling beside her,
took the bowed head against her heart. Her hair fell forward and
framed the two sorrowing faces in a shower of gold.
"Lo! I have been a guest under thy roof and at thy board, a pensioner
upon thy cheer, and now, even while my heart was full of gratitude,
have I encroached upon thy happiness and broken thine overburdened
heart. Forgive me, Masanath. Let me not come between thee and thy
father, sister! Let me return to my people, for Israel shortly goeth
forth. Doubt it not. Then shall I be out of his reach, and the Lord
will not lay up the sin against him. Furthermore, dost thou not
remember Deborah's words while the spirit of prophecy was upon her?
Promised she not peace for us, and happiness and long tranquillity to
follow these days of sorrow? Do thou have faith, Masanath. Cease not
to hope, for the forces of evil have never yet triumphed wholly.
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