Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/79

Rh "They say the Nazarene will yet bring him back to life," said one maiden, at her wits' ends how to comfort the impetuous Rebekah in her grief.

Rebekah raised her head and gazed at them with eyes all red and swollen beyond recognition.

"What say ye ?"

"They say the Nazarene hath the power even to raise the dead," replied the maiden; "and that He will raise up Lazarus, for He greatly loved him."

"Thinkest thou this?" said Rebekah, sitting up, for the moment oblivious of her grief.

"We cannot tell, but 't is so rumoured among the multitude."

"If Lazarus be raised, then I, too, will believe," she muttered; "but I fear me it is not to be. No, death hath been stronger than Caiaphas's daughter. There are yet some things I understand not, though for a woman I have learned overmuch; one is, why Lazarus loved me not, the other, what is death? If the Nazarene doth conquer death, then surely is He, as 't is said He claimeth to be, the Son of God. But I must know for sure that Lazarus is dead; for in these days none speaketh the truth, and ye do but give me rumours, that themselves were gossip retailed from mouth to mouth by gabbling servants; I would see, therefore, for myself whether Lazarus is dead. Bring hither my cloak, and habit me, that I may go to Bethany; order my mule to be in readiness at once."

It was indeed an unexpected guest that forced her way through the gates into the very room where Lazarus lay, oblivious of the presence of the inquiring crowd. Various nationalities and creeds were represented there, haters of the Pharisees and open