he said.
Judith touched the mezuzah fixed to the right lintel of the doorway as she entered. The servant, seeing the gesture, smiled with sudden warmth and led her into a small room on the right.
"Rest a moment, while I tell the master you are here," he said. "Your name, please?"
"Tell him that I am from Lewes in Sussex, and I bring news of his son’s betrothed," said Judith. "My name and news are for his ears alone."
The servant bowed and withdrew. Judith sat down beside the fire which was blazing in the hearth and threw back the hood of her cloak. In the silence and warmth, she sat thinking about the events of the day. Her head nodded forward and she jerked upright again. The door opened suddenly, startling her awake, and a small man bustled in. His beard was streaked with pure white and his hair fell to his shoulders. He wore a yarmulke perched on the back of his head, its shape almost hidden in the mass of hair which flourished around it. His energy radiated into the room and he almost ran to Judith.
"Judith, it is you!" he said, gleefully. "I was almost sure it was, before I came in."
His expression changed to one of anxiety, as he took in her obvious tiredness and the travel-stained cloak and dusty hose.
"Come, come," he said, his arm around her as he raised her gently from the chair in which she sat. "you are worn out. Come and eat, then some sleep, and in the morning you can tell us your story."
"I must tell my story now," said Judith, weakly, as she was helped to her feet. She leant heavily on Benjamin’s arm, despite the difference in height.
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"No, not now," said Benjamin, waving away the very idea with his other arm.
"Sleep eat explain , in that order!"
To her mortification, Judith burst into tears. Benjamin soothed and patted her, as he led her upstairs and into another room as warm as the first. Here was a bed, with a chest at the end of it. Another fire burned brightly, and heavy shutters barred the window.
She was set gently down on the bed, while Benjamin disappeared, leaving the door open. She could hear him calling for Dorcas, his wife, and a woman’s voice answered faintly. A conversation between the two was carried on, in voices too low for Judith to hear what was said. In any case, her weariness would not be denied this time. With a sigh, she collapsed sideways and was asleep immediately.
Downstairs, Dorcas and Benjamin continued their conversation.
"It is Judith, I assure you my dear," he said.
"But how does she come to be on our doorstep alone?" said Dorcas. "I had no word she was coming."
Benjamin’s face creased into a frown.
"I cannot tell," he said. "She was exhausted and in no condition to tell her story. She burst into tears as soon as I spoke kindly to her."
Dorcas sighed in sympathy.
"The poor girl!" she said. "I must go to her..."
She left the room and went up to where Judith lay sleeping. Seeing the utter exhaustion in that sleep, Dorcas gently lifted the girl’s legs onto the bed. Judith groaned slightly, but did not stir. Dorcas covered her with a fur from the chest and left her to wake in her own time.
Downstairs, she returned to Benjamin, her face full of concern.
"You were right, she is worn out," she said. "We must wait for her story."
"Whatever has happened to her, she is safe here with us," he said. "we can send a message to Belaset and tell her..."
He broke off and listened intently. There was the sound of hooves outside, and shouting. Even muffled by the thick stone walls, it was clear that there was some kind of disturbance going on. He went to the window and peered out cautiously.
Two houses away, there were soldiers at the door, struggling with an elderly man, who was obviously trying to prevent them entering his house. Another man sat astride a horse, urging them on. Finally, the old man was pushed aside and reeled back against the doorpost, as the soldiers forced their way past him. Benjamin turned back to Dorcas.
"There is a search going on!" he said. "It might be Judith they are seeking we must hide her!"
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"How can it be?" said Dorcas. "What can Judith have done that involves soldiers? She is a woman!"
"And travelling in men’s clothes!" said Benjamin, grimly. "We cannot take a chance. She