r。
In the beginning； the site of the Macedonian Castle was separated from the site of the Temple by a narrow but deep cliff somewhat in shape of a wedge。 The workmen； wishing to hew out a series of chambers； made their entry in the north face of the cleft； and worked in； leaving a ceiling of the natural stone； delving farther； they executed the cells V。； IV。； III。； II。； I。； with no connection with number VI。 except through number V。 In like manner； they constructed the passage and stairs to the floor above。 The process of the work was precisely that resorted to in carving out the Tombs of the Kings； yet to be seen a short distance north of Jerusalem； only when the cutting was done； cell VI。 was enclosed on its outer side by a wall of prodigious stones； in which； for ventilation； narrow apertures were left bevelled like modern port…holes。 Herod； when he took hold of the Temple and Tower； put a facing yet more massive upon this outer wall； and shut up all the apertures but one； which yet admitted a little vitalizing air； and a ray of light not nearly strong enough to redeem the room from darkness。
Such was cell VI。
Startle not now！
The description of the blind and tongueless wretch just liberated from cell V。 may be accepted to break the horror of what is coming。
The two women are grouped close by the aperture； one is seated； the other is half reclining against her； there is nothing between them and the bare rock。 The light； slanting upwards； strikes them with ghastly effect； and we cannot avoid seeing they are without vesture or covering。 At the same time we are helped to the knowledge that love is there yet； for the two are in each other's arms。 Riches take wings； comforts vanish； hope withers away； but love stays with us。 Love is God。
Where the two are thus grouped the stony floor is polished shining smooth。 Who shall say how much of the eight years they have spent in that space there in front of the aperture； nursing their hope of rescue by that timid yet friendly ray of light？ When the brightness came creeping in； they knew it was dawn； when it began to fade； they knew the world was hushing for the night； which could not be anywhere so long and utterly dark as with them。 The world！ Through that crevice； as if it were broad and high as a king's gate； they went to the world in thought； and passed the weary time going up and down as spirits go； looking and asking； the one for her son； the other for her brother。 On the seas they sought him； and on the islands of the seas； to…day he was in this city； to…morrow in that other； and everywhere； and at all times； he was a flitting sojourner； for； as they lived waiting for him； he lived looking for them。 How often their thoughts passed each other in the endless search； his coming； theirs going！ It was such sweet flattery for them to say to each other； 'While he lives； we shall not be forgotten； as long as he remembers us； there is hope！〃 The strength one can eke from little； who knows till he has been subjected to the trial？
Our recollections of them in former days enjoin us to be respectful； their sorrows clothe them with sanctity。 Without going too near； across the dungeon； we see they have undergone a change of appearance not to be accounted for by time or long confinement。 The mother was beautiful as a woman； the daughter beautiful as a child； not even love could say so much now。 Their hair is long； unkempt； and strangely white； they make us shrink and shudder with an indefinable repulsion； though the effect may be from an illusory glozing of the light glimmering dismally through the unhealthy murk； or they may be enduring the tortures of hunger and thirst； not having had to eat or drink since their servant； the convict； was taken awaythat is； since yesterday。
Tirzah； reclining against her mother in half embrace； moans piteously。
〃Be quiet； Tirzah。 They will come。 God is good。 We have been mindful of him； and forgotten not to pray at every sounding of the trumpets over in the Temple。 The light； you see； is still bright； the sun is standing in the south sky yet； and it is hardly more than the seventh hour。 Somebody will come to us。 Let us have faith。 God is good。〃
Thus the mother。 The words were simple and effective； although； eight years being now to be added to the thirteen she had attained when last we saw her； Tirzah was no longer a child。
〃I will try and be strong； mother；〃 she said。 〃Your suffering must be as great as mine； and I do so want to live for you and my brother！ But my tongue burns； my lips scorch。 I wonder where he is； and if he will ever； ever find us！〃
There is something in the voices that strikes us singularlyan unexpected tone； sharp； dry； metallic； unnatural。
The mother draws the daughter closer to her breast； and says； 〃I dreamed about him last night； and saw him as plainly； Tirzah； as I see you。 We must believe in dreams； you know； because our fathers did。 The Lord spoke to them so often in that way。 I thought we were in the Women's Court just before the Gate Beautiful； there were many women with us； and he came and stood in the shade of the Gate； and looked here and there； at this one and that。 My heart beat strong。 I knew he was looking for us； and stretched my arms to him； and ran； calling him。 He heard me and saw me； but he did not know me。 In a moment he was gone。〃
〃Would it not be so； mother； if we were to meet him in fact？ We are so changed。〃
〃It might be so； but〃 The mother's head droops； and her face knits as with a wrench of pain； recovering； however； she goes on〃but we could make ourselves known to him。〃
Tirzah tossed her arms； and moaned again。
〃Water； mother； water； though but a drop。〃
The mother stares around in blank helplessness。 She has named God so often； and so often promised in his name； the repetition is beginning to have a mocking effect upon herself。 A shadow passes before her dimming the dim light； and she is brought down to think of death as very near； waiting to come in as her faith goes out。 Hardly knowing what she does； speaking aimlessly； because speak she must； she says again；
〃Patience； Tirzah； they are comingthey are almost here。〃
She thought she heard a sound over by the little trap in the partition…wall through which they held all their actual communication with the world。 And she was not mistaken。 A moment； and the cry of the convict rang through the cell。 Tirzah heard it also； and they both arose； still keeping hold of each other。
〃Praised be the Lord forever！〃 exclaimed the mother； with the fervor of restored faith and hope。
〃Ho； there！〃 they heard next； and then； 〃Who are you？〃
The voice was strange。 What matter？ Except from Tirzah； they were the first and only words the mother had heard in eight years。 The revulsion was mightyfrom death to lifeand so instantly！
〃A woman of Israel； entombed here with her daughter。 Help us quickly； or we die。〃
〃Be of cheer。 I will return。〃
The women sobbed aloud。 They were found； help was coming。 From wish to wish hope flew as the twittering swallows fly。 They were found； they would be released。 And restoration would followrestoration to all they had losthome； society； property； son and brother！ The scanty light glozed them with the glory of day； and； forgetful of pain and thirst and hunger； and of the menace of death； they sank upon the floor and cried； keeping fast hold of each other the while。
And this time they had not long to wait。 Gesius； the keeper； told his tale methodically； but finished it at last。 The tribune was prompt。
〃Within there！〃 he shouted through the trap。
〃Here！〃 said the mother； rising。
Directly she heard another sound in another place； as of blows on the wallblows quick； ringing； and delivered with iron tools。 She did not speak； nor did Tirzah； but they listened； well knowing the meaning of it allthat a way to liberty was being made for them。 So men a long time buried in deep mines hear the coming of rescuers； heralded by thrust of bar and beat of pick； and answer gratefully with heart…throbs； their eyes fixed upon the spot whence the sounds proceed； and they cannot look away； lest the work should cease； and they be returned to despair。
The arms outside were strong； the hands skillful； the will good。 Each instant the blows sounded more plainly； now and then a piece fell with a crash； and liberty came nearer and nearer。 Presently the workmen could be heard speaking。 ThenO happiness！through a crevice flashed a red ray of torches。 Into the darkness it cut incisive as diamond brilliance； beautiful as if from a spear of the morning。
〃It is he； mother； it is he！ He has found us at last！〃 cried Tirzah； with the quickened fancy of youth。
But the mother answered meekly； 〃God is good！〃
A block fell inside； and anotherthen a great mass； and the door was open。 A man grimed with mortar and stone…dust stepped in； and stopped； holding a torch over his head。 Two or three others followed with torches； and stood aside for the tribune to enter。
Respect for women is not all a conventionality； for it is the best proof of their proper nature。 The tribune stopped； because they fled from himnot with fear； be it said； but shame； nor yet； O reader； from shame alone！ From the obscurity of their partial hiding he heard these words； the saddest； most dreadful； most utterly despairing of the human tongue：
〃Come not near usunclean； unclean！〃
The men flared their torches while they stared at each other。
〃Unclean； unclean！〃 came from the corner again； a slow tremulous wail exceedingly sorrowful。 With such a cry we can imagine a spirit vanishing from the gates of Paradise； looking back the while。
So the widow and mother performed her duty； and in the moment realized that the freedom she had prayed for and dreamed of； fruit of scarlet and gold seen afar； was but an apple of Sodom in the hand。
SHE AND TIRZAH WERELEPERS！
Possibly the reader does not know all the word means。 Let him be told it with reference to the Law of that time； only a little modified in this。
〃These four are accounted as deadthe blind； the leper； the poor； and the childless。〃 Thus the Talmud。
That is； to be a leper was to be treated as deadto be excluded from the city as a corpse； to be spoken to by the best beloved and