ewed. She kept
looking out of the window, for she would not go to bed till Jesus
returned. When he had gone out of the door two days ago, he had turned
to her again, looked at her, and said:

"Mother, I go to my Father."

She thought he was going to the cemetery to pray at Joseph's tomb, as
he often did. For in the city of the dead solitude may be found. When
he returned neither on the first day nor on the second, she began to
feel anxious. She waited up the whole night.

The next morning the little town rang with the news: "The carpenter has
been seen with the preacher. He has been baptized."

"That's just like him. One enthusiast keeps company with another."

"It would be more correct to say with false prophets. For what else is
it when a man declares that he can wash away sin with a dash of water?"

Thereupon a Sidonian donkey-driver, who had come down the street;
"That's excellent! You Israelites can do so much with your ablutions.
That would be a capital thing!"

"Ah! what things one hears! Everything points to the speedy
destruction of the world." And one whispered in his ear, "I tell you,
frankly, 'twould be no great misfortune."

"Now John has caught it. Do you know what he's always shouting?"

"The young carpenter, his apprentice? He's never said anything that
matters."

"Do you know what he's always exclaiming? He strides through the
streets, and his hair flies in the wind. He spreads out his hands
before him, and says: 'The word has become flesh!'"

They shook their heads.

But Mary sat at the window and waited and watched.

CHAPTER XII

A very short time after these events there came two soldiers to the
Jordan, not to have the water poured over their heads, but to arrest
the desert preacher and take him to Jerusalem to Herod. Herod received
him politely, and said: "I have summoned you here because I am told
that you are the preacher."

"They call me preacher and Baptist."

"I want to hear you. And, indeed, you must refute what your enemies
say against you."

"If it was only my enemies, it would be easy to refute them."

"They say that you insult my royal house, that you say the prince lives
in incest with his brother's wife. Did you say that?"

"I do not deny it."

"You have come to withdraw it?"

"Sire," said the prophet, "I have come to repeat it. You are living in
incest with your brother's wife. Know that the day of reckoning is at
hand. It will come