She went out and raised a
piercing cry, but did not unclose the barrier. Several men had come
along the road, and were standing there; the woman demanded the toll.
A little man with a bald head stepped forward. It was the fisherman
from Bethsaida. He confessed that they had no money. Thereupon the
woman was very angry, for it was her secret intention thenceforth to
keep the toll money herself in order to buy the Greek purple stuff like
that worn by Rebecca and Amala.

When Levi heard her cry, he went out and said: "Let them pass, Judith.
You see they are not traders. They won't do the road much damage. Why
they've scarcely soles to their feet."

Then Judith was quiet, but she took a stolen glance at one of the men
who stood tall and straight in his blue mantle, his hair falling over
his shoulders, his pale face turned towards her with an earnest look.
"What a man? Is something the matter with me? Perhaps he misses the
Greek mantle that he sees other women wear?"

"How far have you come?" the toll-keeper asked the men.

"We've come from Magdala to-day," replied Simon, the fisherman.

"Then it is time that you rested here a little in the shade. The sun
has been hot all day."

When Judith saw that they were really preparing to avail themselves of
the invitation, she hastened to her room, adorned herself with
gay-coloured stuffs, a sparkling bracelet, and a pearl necklace that
she had lately acquired from a Sidonian merchant. She came out again
with a tray of figs and dates. The tall, pale man--it was
Jesus--silently passed on the tray, and took no refreshment Himself.
His penetrating glance made her uneasy. Perhaps He would let Himself
be persuaded. She placed herself before Him, more striking and bold in
her splendour.

"Woman," He said suddenly, "yonder grows a thistle. It has prickles on
the stem and the flower, it is covered with the dust of the highway and
eaten away by insects. But it is more beautiful than an arrogant child
of man."

Judith started violently. She rushed into the house, and slammed the
door behind her so that the walls echoed. The tax-gatherer gave the
speaker an approving glance, and sighed.

Then Jesus asked him: "Are you fond of her?"

"She is his neighbour!" observed a cheerful-looking little man who
formed one of the band of travellers. The jesting word referred to the
Master's speech of the day before on love of one's neighbour.

Levi nodded thoughtfully and sai