Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/225

Rh details. Could she get this or that to set before her Lord? The finest table linen must be brought out, the oldest wine made ready. Jacob, the old servant, must be sent early to the market, to see whether ortolans were to be got; yet, in her heart, she knew that the Lord would partake only of the simplest fare.

"He cometh not here," said Magdalene, "lest His enemies should search for Him, but will lodge in the house of Simon, thy father." And, all the while, Magdalene looked not towards Lazarus—although she longed to gaze on those much-loved features, to see whether death had changed them lest her gaze should betray the wild joy that filled her heart.

"Wilt not speak to me ?" said Lazarus to her gently. "Hast forgotten how thou didst see me die and comfort me?"

Mary's pale face flushed to the very temples, to where the fair tresses rose in crested wave around her head; but she answered not.

Then, half reproachfully and half inquiringly, Lazarus went on: "Thou didst not see me rise again? Where didst thou hide?"

Magdalene blushed again, but, in the dim light of the lamp, the blush was not observed. None knew better than herself how she had longed to rush and see him, but she had feared two things: to betray her joy, and to leave the Virgin Mary.

"I did not like to leave the mother of our Lord," she answered; "for she is in daily torment lest the Jews do kill the Christ, and every night she mourneth, and every morning dreadeth that that day be come."