ben-hur-第103章
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a place not so lonesome； she refused。 She would have had him take his own room again； which was just as he had left it； but the danger of discovery was too great； and he wished above all things to avoid inquiry。 He would come and see her often as possible。 Coming in the night； he would also go away in the night。 She was compelled to be satisfied； and at once occupied herself contriving ways to make him happy。 That he was a man now did not occur to her； nor did it enter her mind that he might have put by or lost his boyish tastes； to please him； she thought to go on her old round of services。 He used to be fond of confections； she remembered the things in that line which delighted him most； and resolved to make them； and have a supply always ready when he came。 Could anything be happier？ So next night； earlier than usual； she stole out with her basket； and went over to the Fish Gate Market。 Wandering about； seeking the best honey； she chanced to hear a man telling a story。
What the story was the reader can arrive at with sufficient certainty when told that the narrator was one of the men who had held torches for the commandant of the Tower of Antonia when； down in cell VI。； the Hurs were found。 The particulars of the finding were all told； and she heard them； with the names of the prisoners； and the widow's account of herself。
The feelings with which Amrah listened to the recital were such as became the devoted creature she was。 She made her purchases； and returned home in a dream。 What a happiness she had in store for her boy！ She had found his mother！
She put the basket away； now laughing； now crying。 Suddenly she stopped and thought。 It would kill him to be told that his mother and Tirzah were lepers。 He would go through the awful city over on the Hill of Evil Counselinto each infected tomb he would go without rest； asking for them； and the disease would catch him； and their fate would be his。 She wrung her hands。 What should she do？
Like many a one before her； and many a one since； she derived inspiration； if not wisdom； from her affection； and came to a singular conclusion。
The lepers； she knew； were accustomed of mornings to come down from their sepulchral abodes in the hill； and take a supply of water for the day from the well En…rogel。 Bringing their jars； they would set them on the ground and wait； standing afar until they were filled。 To that the mistress and Tirzah must come； for the law was inexorable； and admitted no distinction。 A rich leper was no better than a poor one。
So Amrah decided not to speak to Ben…Hur of the story she had heard； but go alone to the well and wait。 Hunger and thirst would drive the unfortunates thither； and she believed she could recognize them at sight； if not； they might recognize her。
Meantime Ben…Hur came； and they talked much。 To…morrow Malluch would arrive； then the search should be immediately begun。 He was impatient to be about it。 To amuse himself he would visit the sacred places in the vicinity。 The secret； we may be sure； weighed heavily on the woman； but she held her peace。
When he was gone she busied herself in the preparation of things good to eat； applying her utmost skill to the work。 At the approach of day； as signalled by the stars； she filled the basket； selected a jar； and took the road to En…rogel； going out by the Fish Gate which was earliest open； and arriving as we have seen。
Shortly after sunrise； when business at the well was most pressing； and the drawer of water most hurried； when； in fact； half a dozen buckets were in use at the same time； everybody making haste to get away before the cool of the morning melted into the heat of the day； the tenantry of the hill began to appear and move about the doors of their tombs。 Somewhat later they were discernible in groups； of which not a few were children so young that they suggested the holiest relation。 Numbers came momentarily around the turn of the bluffwomen with jars upon their shoulders； old and very feeble men hobbling along on staffs and crutches。 Some leaned upon the shoulders of others； a fewthe utterly helplesslay； like heaps of rags； upon litters。 Even that community of superlative sorrow had its love…light to make life endurable and attractive。 Distance softened without entirely veiling the misery of the outcasts。
From her seat by the well Amrah kept watch upon the spectral groups。 She scarcely moved。 More than once she imagined she saw those she sought。 That they were there upon the hill she had no doubt； that they must come down and near she knew； when the people at the well were all served they would come。
Now； quite at the base of the bluff there was a tomb which had more than once attracted Amrah by its wide gaping。 A stone of large dimensions stood near its mouth。 The sun looked into it through the hottest hours of the day； and altogether it seemed uninhabitable by anything living； unless； perchance； by some wild dogs returning from scavenger duty down in Gehenna。 Thence； however； and greatly to her surprise； the patient Egyptian beheld two women come； one half supporting； half leading； the other。 They were both white…haired； both looked old； but their garments were not rent； and they gazed about them as if the locality were new。 The witness below thought she even saw them shrink terrified at the spectacle offered by the hideous assemblage of which they found themselves part。 Slight reasons； certainly； to make her heart beat faster； and draw her attention to them exclusively； but so they did。
The two remained by the stone awhile； then they moved slowly； painfully； and with much fear towards the well； whereat several voices were raised to stop them； yet they kept on。 The drawer of water picked up some pebbles； and made ready to drive them back。 The company cursed them。 The greater company on the hill shouted shrilly； 〃Unclean； unclean！〃
〃Surely；〃 thought Amrah of the two； as they kept coming〃surely； they are strangers to the usage of lepers。〃
She arose； and went to meet them； taking the basket and jar。 The alarm at the well immediately subsided。
〃What a fool；〃 said one； laughing； 〃what a fool to give good bread to the dead in that way！〃
〃And to think of her coming so far！〃 said another。 〃I would at least make them meet me at the gate。〃
Amrah； with better impulse； proceeded。 If she should be mistaken！ Her heart arose into her throat。 And the farther she went the more doubtful and confused she became。 Four or five yards from where they stood waiting for her she stopped。
That the mistress she loved！ whose hand she had so often kissed in gratitude！ whose image of matronly loveliness she had treasured in memory so faithfully！ And that the Tirzah she had nursed through babyhood！ whose pains she had soothed； whose sports she had shared！ that the smiling； sweet…faced； songful Tirzah； the light of the great house； the promised blessing of her old age！ Her mistress； her darling they？ The soul of the woman sickened at the sight。
〃These are old women；〃 she said to herself。 〃I never saw them before。 I will go back。〃
She turned away。
〃Amrah；〃 said one of the lepers。
The Egyptian dropped the jar； and looked back； trembling。
〃Who called me？〃 she asked。
〃Amrah。〃
The servant's wondering eyes settled upon the speaker's face。
〃Who are you？〃 she cried。
〃We are they you are seeking。〃
Amrah fell upon her knees。
〃O my mistress； my mistress！ As I have made your God my God； be he praised that he has led me to you！〃
And upon her knees the poor overwhelmed creature began moving forward。
〃Stay； Amrah！ Come not nearer。 Unclean； unclean！〃
The words sufficed。 Amrah fell upon her face； sobbing so loud the people at the well heard her。 Suddenly she arose upon her knees again。
〃O my mistress； where is Tirzah？〃
〃Here I am； Amrah； here！ Will you not bring me a little water？〃
The habit of the servant renewed itself。 Putting back the coarse hair fallen over her face； Amrah arose and went to the basket and uncovered it。
〃See；〃 she said； 〃here are bread and meat。〃
She would have spread the napkin upon the ground； but the mistress spoke again；
〃Do not so； Amrah。 Those yonder may stone you； and refuse us drink。 Leave the basket with me。 T
