Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/156

144 Magdalene presently. "It is late to return to my dwelling; and thou, thou canst not sleep for thinking of thy Son. We will talk and pray together till the morning. Methinks that, when near to thee, I am closer to the Lord."

Then, in tones of deepest reverence, and stroking the thin, fair hands of the mother of Jesus down to the pointed finger tips, she murmured: "His mother, His mother, the mother of the Lord. The living witness of the greatness of the Lord, who hath visited His handmaiden to bring glory and salvation into the world."

As she spoke, the Virgin raised her face instinctively towards heaven.

"When thou dost gaze upwards thus, thou dost bring to my remembrance a lily looking towards the dying sun, expectant of the dews of heaven," said the Magdalene, and once more, with deep devotion, she kissed the Virgin's hands. Then, taking a clean napkin from the table, she proceeded to pour water into a basin.

"Be seated," she said in tenderest voice, "and I will wash thy feet, thou holy one! It will rest and refresh thee during the night watch." The virgin mother raised a hand in deprecation.

"Call me not holy, Mary; none is holy, save God alone. Who am I that thou shouldst wash my feet? Even a poor sinner, like thyself."

"Thou hast no sin," replied the Magdalene; "and to wash each other's feet, in deep humility, is the commandment of our Lord."

At her words, meekly and modestly, with deprecating gesture, as if not desiring such attention, the