Further, and perhaps this was the best part of her education, she lived in the daily company of Nature.  But a mile or two away spread the Dead Sea, and along its melancholy and lifeless shores, fringed with the white trunks of trees that had been brought down by Jordan, she would often walk.  Before her day by day loomed the mountains of Moab, while behind her were the fantastic and mysterious sand-hills of the desert, backed again by other mountains and that grey, tormented country which stretches between Jericho and Jerusalem.  Quite near at hand also ran the broad and muddy Jordan, whose fertile banks were clothed in spring with the most delicious greenery and haunted by kingfishers, cranes, wildfowl, and many other birds.  About these banks, too, stretching into the desert land beyond, the flowers of the field grew by myriads, at different periods of the year carpeting the whole earth with various colours, brilliant as are those of the rainbow.  These it was her delight to gather, and even to cultivate in the garden of her house.

Thus wisdom, earthly and divine, was gathered in Miriam’s heart till very soon its light began to shine through her eyes and face, making them ever more tender and beautiful.  Nor did she lack charm and grace of person.  From the first, in stature she was small and delicate, pale also in complexion; but her dark hair was plenteous and curling, and her eyes were large and of a deep and tender blue.  Her hands and feet were very slender, and her every gesture quick and agile as that of a bird.  Thus she grew up loving all things and beloved by all; for even the flowers which she tended and the creatures that she fed, seemed in her to find a friend.

Now of so much learning and all this system of solemn ordered hours, Nehushta did not approve.  For a while she bore with it, but when Miriam was about eleven years of age, she spoke her mind to the Committee and through them to the governing Court of Curators.

Was it right that a child should be brought up thus, she asked, and turned into a grave old woman whilst, quite heedless of such things, others of her age were occupied with youthful games?  The end of it might be that her brain would break and she would die or become crazy, and then what good would so much wisdom do her?  It was necessary that she should have more leisure and other children with whom she could associate.

“White-bearded hermits,” she added with point, “were not suitable as sole companions to a little maid.”

Thereon followed much debate and consultation with the doctors, who agreed that friends of her own years should be found for the child.  This, however, proved difficult, since among these Essenes were no other girls.  Therefore those friends must be of the male sex.  Here too were difficulties, as at that time, of the lads adopted by this particular community which they were destined to join in after days, there was but one of equal birth with Miriam.