Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/82

70 whereon lay Lazarus, she sobbed as though her heart would break.

"We will leave her to weep awhile," said Martha, making a sign to all in the room to leave. Then the girl, whose prayers till now had been but empty words, poured out her aching heart to the dead body of the man she loved.

"O Lazarus, wherefore didst thou leave me thus? Where is now thy scorn and pride? Wilt thou still have none of me, even in death? for in the silent tomb I would lie near thee, if thou wouldst, so I might be with thee. O Lazarus, speak; tell me where I shall meet with thee again; whether there is Eternal Life, and what it is; and how to find thy God, if God there is."

Long the maiden mourned and wept. At last, a gentle voice behind her murmured: "He will surely rise again."

Rebekah lifted her head. "Ye do all cry that he will rise again. Yet He cometh not who, ye say, can cause it. What manner of friend is this who hasteneth not to raise, if raise He can?"

Then, drawing her cloak around her and casting one long, despairing look at the dead body of Lazarus, she strode from the house, her maidens following; and as she passed between the throng they all fell back and did obeisance to the daughter of the dreaded Caiaphas.