Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/288

276 "Surely 't is a wonderful thing," said Lazarus to his sisters, "this union of the man and God; for, when He willeth, He can command angels for signs and wonders, and He knoweth all things; yet by His power will He escape none of the troubles of this world; for, methinks, if now He did but command a legion of angels to defend Him from the High Priest, they would descend."

"Verily, verily thou speakest truth," said Mary.

" 'T is marvellous that this God, for love of us, should deign to suffer sorrow, as though He were but man."

Evening had come, and Jesus, accompanied by Lazarus and the twelve apostles, started for the Passover Feast. The two women watched them go with tightening hearts.

"Who knoweth," said Martha, "whether they will ever return? My heart misgiveth me, and Jerusalem doth fill my soul with terror."

But Mary said nothing; only raised an inward prayer that if they should be taken that night they might not suffer long.

And then the two women turned back to their solitary house, from which all sunshine seemed to have departed, as it had when Lazarus had died.

"Mark thee," said Martha to her sister, "there are terrible days in store for us; for if Jerusalem do this wicked thing, to slay the Son of God, surely the curse of God will be upon her, and the nations will trample upon her and slay her people."

"Pray God that our faith fail not," murmured Mary.

Presently, Mary Magdalene, whom they had