Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/284

272 "What will the proud Rebekah say?" asked Mary, leaving her brother's arguments unanswered, while she followed her own thoughts into other channels; "for I hear that, since thy resurrection, she is like one mad with joy. Thinkest thou she will believe, for she did say, 'If He raiseth Lazarus, I too will believe'?"

"God will it so," said Lazarus, musingly, and somewhat doubtfully. "I would not judge her; but I fear she would believe only if I did love her; yet, if I should wed the Magdalene, methinks she would strain every nerve to get our Master and ourselves into the power of Caiaphas. Still we know not."

"Hast spoken to the Magdalene of thy love?"

"Nay, I will say naught to that loving heart till I know what the Lord wisheth me to do. This is no time for marrying or giving in marriage; yet, if I could protect the Magdalene from the world's taunts, I would gladly do it. To-night we sup with the Master, and my heart is in great heaviness; for thereafter He will be betrayed, and then, who knoweth all the grief that will come to pass? Oh that Jerusalem would believe," he went on, wearily, his mind passing to more serious things. "That surely is the greatest doubt of all, that He doth not make them to believe."

"Because they will not. Each one hath had his chance. Aye, a thousand-fold, and they will not, they will not."

A few hours later, the little band of disciples met once more. All were sad to-night, for all felt a terrible catastrophe impending. Mary and Martha had