Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/41

 reposing from the heat, in the inner apartments. Michal alone was not on her couch. She reclined beside the fountain in the court. The coolness of the water was more refreshing, and its rippling in the marble basin more soothing to her than sleep. With her was a little child, the first-born of one of the servants of the household. Sadoc gazed on them for a moment from the porch, before he came forth to greet his sister. A smile was upon her lips as the child sported beside her. Her hand grasped him while he dipped his foot in the marble basin, and she laughed silently while she sprinkled him with drops from the fountain. When he began to shout aloud in his mirth, she lifted up her finger and hushed him lest he should awaken the sleepers. His tongue could not yet speak the accents of men, but the murmurs of his infant voice were sweet, as he sprang upon her bosom, and hid his face in the folds of her garment. When she saw some one moving within the porch, she hastily drew her veil over her face, and arose.

“The blessing of Jehovah be upon thee,