Chapter 6

‘Her name is Esther,’ explained Hannah, rather wistfully, as if hoping that Simon might overlook the girl’s deception; and, when he had offered no comment, she said, ‘The dress is Abigail’s. You don’t object to Esther’s wearing it?’

‘Sit down—both of you,’ commanded Simon huskily, ‘and tell me whether I am losing my mind.’ This was said with such sober sincerity that Hannah laughed until she had to pat the tears from her eyes. Esther smiled shyly.

‘There is a great deal about it, Simon, that Esther hasn’t had time to tell me’—Hannah glanced at her encouragingly, as if to say that she expected to have the full story out of her by nightfall, at the latest—’but this much she wants us to know: her home was broken up by the loss of her parents, and now she is on her way to find her uncle, who lives somewhere in Galilee; not far from the lake, she thinks. It would have been unsafe for a young woman to travel alone in a strange country; so she cut off her hair, put on a boy’s clothing, and—well—here she is.’

‘You were lucky not to have got into trouble,’ commented Simon, munching his bread. ‘Risky business, I’d say. Anybody would know at a glance that you’re a girl.’

‘She fooled you,’ said Hannah.

‘I didn’t look at her closely,’ retorted Simon. ‘I had other things on my mind…Haven’t you any relatives, down there in Idumea, who might have objected? Maybe you ran away.’

‘Yes, sir,’ the girl admitted. ‘They would have detained me. I ran away.’

Simon devoted himself to his breakfast, frowning thoughtfully.

‘Her story sounds reasonable enough,’ said Hannah.

‘So did her other story,’ muttered Simon ungraciously. ‘You think this uncle of yours lives in this vicinity, eh? What’s his name?’

‘Joseph, sir.’

‘We have a number of Josephs hereabouts. What is your uncle’s occupation?’

‘He is a stone-cutter.’

‘Think he will be able to support you—on a stone-cutter’s wages? They are not very well paid.’

‘My uncle is not a common labourer,’ ventured Esther. ‘He is skilled.’

‘In that case,’ said Simon, ‘he is probably in the employ of the Tetrarch. They are rebuilding the stables at the palace.’