a driver of oxen," was
Huldah's emphatic reply.

"Was not our glorious David a keeper of sheep before the crown was put
upon his head? Not whence he cometh, but the kind he is, doth decide
the quality of kings," Mary observed thoughtfully.

CHAPTER VI

HARD SAYINGS

The table was set for the evening meal in the home of Lazarus. Martha
was in the kitchen urging Eli to more speed in final preparations, and
Mary was arranging a bowl of vari-colored lilies on the table.
Entering the room Martha paused to look at her sister. "Mary," she
exclaimed, "thou dost spend time as though lilies made fit eating."

"Fit eating? Nay, but Zador Ben Amon doth sup with us to-night. From
the splendors of Rome hath he come. Shall we not set forth for him the
better splendors of lilies in all their glory? And should I not help
make joyful the coming of Joel who hath been away two weeks?"

"It is wine in the cup and meat well seasoned that doth delight the
heart of man."

"The perfume of flowers doth breathe of giving. So do they breathe of
love which doth ever give, until a woman giveth herself to be loved of
a man as thou art promised to Joel. How strange and holy a thing is
love!"

"Mayhap it is strange; mayhap is [Transcriber's note: it?] is holy.
But get thou the sop bowls. Joel and Lazarus are coming."

"Ha! ha! ha!" The laughing voice sounded just outside the door. "The
face of him was like--ha! ha!--it was like--like--" and again the words
ended in laughter.

"Like what was the face of him?" a second voice asked.

"A mild ass well beaten,--ha--ha!"

"Lazarus is in a merry mood to-day," Mary said to Martha.

"It taketh not much to gladden his heart," was Martha's answer, as the
two men entered the room. When Joel had kissed Martha and exchanged
greetings with Mary, she said to Lazarus, "Thou comest in good spirits,
my brother."

"Yea," replied Joel, "a bit of wit doth make him to bubble over like
sour wine in a kid skin, and thrice doth he bubble at wit from the lips
of a prophet."

"Is there a prophet given to wit?" Mary inquired.

"Nay, not to wit," Lazarus answered. "To wisdom he is given, yet in
his wisdom doth often sparkle wit."

"Who is this prophet that causeth thy pleasure?" Mary asked.

"Another Jesus--Jesus of Nazareth this one is."

"Is there none other at the Passover Feast than he to talk of?" was
Martha's question. "Naught have we heard from our guests to-day save
of him. No