Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/131

Rh to seize on an advantage, he had replied: "I came, as kinsman, to condole with thee and Martha."

Mary had looked up at Caiaphas for one moment. Something in the tone of Caiaphas had filled her with surprise. It was not like Caiaphas to recognise the kinship, or to do aught from kindness; nay, more, for many months they had been under a curse from him for harbouring the Nazarene.

As if to dispel her wonder, Nicodemus had taken the opportunity, while Caiaphas had walked towards the body of Lazarus, to whisper to her: "Methinks he came expecting to see Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead."

Mary had shaken her head sadly. "We too had hoped so much," she had answered. "We sent to tell the Lord, and the Lord did make reply that this sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God. Yet now the physicians all declare that this is no trance, but that our brother is dead indeed, and to-night we bury him."

Breathless, Nicodemus had asked: "Dost thou still believe, Mary, that Jesus is the Son of God, and hath power to raise the dead?"

Slowly, but with proud head and trustful eyes upraised to heaven, she had replied: "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God."

At her words, Caiaphas had turned round suddenly; then, shrugging his shoulders, he had replied: "Ye are all gone mad together. If thy Christ had raised thy brother Lazarus, I too would have believed; but now"

"He will raise him in the resurrection," she had replied with gentle sadness, fretting, as those do