Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/157

Rh Virgin allowed Mary to wash first one foot and then the other.

With tender reverence, Mary laved each slender foot, kissing it when she had finished. Then she cast from her the cloth that she had bound around her waist.

"Nay, naught wrought with human hands shall touch thee, mother of my Lord"; and, catching hold of her own luxuriant golden tresses, she wiped the Virgin's feet till they were dry. Then, touched by strong emotion, she fell to the ground at Mary's feet and cried out: "Oh, would that I were pure and holy as thou, thou queen amongst women. Woe is me that I have sinned. Would that I were pure, would that I were pure! "And, with face bent down, she wept as though her heart would break. At sight of her abandonment, the Virgin lifted her heart heavenwards and prayed silently that comfort might be sent to the poor patient soul.

Then, as if in answer to her prayer (for whose prayer would be answered, if that of Mary were not?) a moonbeam shot straight through the window, lighting up the opposite wall; and, in dark relief, the shadow of the window frames stood out, its form a cross; and a voice of sweetest music murmured: "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

At that moment, the clatter of horses' hoofs rang on the silent night, sounding hollow and resonant on the stony street.

The Magdalene sat up, and pushing her hair from her eyes with one hand, held out the other to clasp the Virgin's.