Still, with good food and care, the strength came back to her body.

But in mind Miriam remained sick, since during all these weeks she wandered in her talk, so that no word of reason passed her lips.
Now, many would have wearied of her and thrust her out to take her chance with hundreds of other poor creatures who roamed about the land until they perished or were enslaved of Arabs.

But this Roman did not act thus; in truth, as he had promised it should be, had she been his daughter, Miriam would not have been better tended.

Whenever his duties gave him time he would sit with her, trying to beguile her madness, and after he himself was wounded, from morning to night they were together, till at length the poor girl grew to love him in a crazy fashion, and would throw her arms about his neck and call him "uncle," as in the old days she had named the Essenes.

Moreover, she learned to know the soldiers of that legion, who became fond of her and would bring her offerings of fruit and winter flowers, or of aught else that they thought would please her.