Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/491

Rh certain he is a man as I am, not less certain am I that he is something more.&quot;

&quot;What more?&quot; asked Simonides.

&quot;I will tell you—&quot;

Some one coming into the room interrupted him; he turned, and arose with extended hands.

&quot;Amrah! Dear old Amrah!&quot; he cried.

She came forward; and they, seeing the joy in her face, thought not once how wrinkled and tawny it was. She knelt at his feet, clasped his knees, and kissed his hands over and over; and when he could he put the lank gray hair from her cheeks, and kissed them, saying, &quot;Good Amrah, have you nothing, nothing of them—not a word—not one little sign?&quot;

Then she broke into sobbing which made him answer plainer even than the spoken word.

&quot;God’s will has been done,&quot; he next said, solemnly, in a tone to make each listener know he had no hope more of finding his people. In his eyes there were tears which he would not have them see, because he was a man.

When he could again, he took seat, and said, &quot;Come, sit by me, Amrah—here. No? then at my feet; for I have much to say to these good friends of a wonderful man come into the world.&quot;

But she went off, and stooping with her back to the wall, joined her hands before her knees, content, they all thought, with seeing him. Then Ben-Hur, bowing to the old men, began again:

&quot;I fear to answer the question asked me about the Nazarene without first telling you some of the things I have seen him do; and to that I am the more inclined, my friends, because to-morrow he will come to the city, and go up into the Temple, which he calls his father's house, where, it is further said, he will proclaim himself. So, whether you are right, O Balthasar, or you, Simonides, we and Israel shall know to-morrow.&quot;

Balthasar rubbed his hands tremulously together, and asked, &quot;Where shall I go to see him ?&quot;

&quot;The pressure of the crowd will be very great. Better, I think, that you all go upon the roof above the cloisters—say upon the porch of Solomon.&quot;