Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/34

22 thou, whom, hitherto, all men have sought, dost follow now one man? What is love, that strange, subtle fire that eateth out the heart and bringeth the mighty low? "Oh, I would that Lazarus did feel for me as I for him! That stern, sweet face, how beauteous must it look when melting into love! O Lazarus, Lazarus!"

The afternoon wore on. The streets grew silent, and day slid back, as it were, from the gaze of men. Yet still dreamed on the maiden of the man who cared not for her, pondering, the while, how she could bring him to her feet.

"He shall be mine. He shall," she said at last. "Women are stronger far than men, and I am beautiful." She held a mirror to her face. "Oh, I am very beautiful," she murmured.

"Yet, if this Nazarene should bewitch him? If he should take the vows of a Nazarite and follow ever after good! Oh, that would be dreadful! No, no, it shall not be that the Nazarene shall come between Lazarus and me. I will not suffer it, I will not suffer it." Then she clapped her hands, that the attendants might bring lights, and left the room to begin her preparations for the night's adventure.

It was almost dark when the three girls issued from the house. They had arranged to go first into the garden at the back, and thence to pass on to the Jericho road, which led to Bethany.

Rebekah looked anxious, and every now and then she bit her lips. Her maidens had learned that the Nazarene would preach that evening from the top of a mountain. The multitude would probably be very great, because, as yet, the novelty of His presence