Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/19

Rh "Surely 't were better far to be the sister of some poor man," said Nicodemus, smiling, "than to be so troubled."

Then, when they entered the house, Mary advanced to meet them.

"We heard a wondrous story to-day from Cana," she said to the two men. "We cannot credit it, but our kinsman, Nathaniel of Arimathæa, the cousin of Joseph the Counsellor, doth write how that they were all at the wedding of a friend, and Mary was there with her amazing son, this strange Man of whom all speak; and, when they entered, Mary did say to the servants, 'Whatever He saith unto ye, do it.' And there were set there six waterpots of stone, containing water; and this Jesus said unto them, 'Fill the waterpots with water'; and they rilled them to the brim; then He said unto them again, 'Draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast.' And when they did so, behold it was all wine, and of such choice flavour as Nathaniel saith he never before did taste, for he too was there; and all were full of wonder at this thing, which they do term a miracle. What think ye, noble rulers, can this thing be true?"

But the two men, full of new, strange thoughts, half formed and wholly inexpressible, looked at each other in surprise, and Nicodemus answered: "If 't is true, 't is surely a God who hath come among us."

And, all that evening, they talked much of the Nazarene, and of the strange acts of Annas, and of the new High Priest Caiaphas.