ing-room, everywhere, to see that all was
in order, if need be to lend a helping hand herself. The children of
the servants were playing about in the courtyard, and a contented,
homelike feeling pervaded everything. Suddenly the slender form of
Lazarus hurried up, and lay down at the Master's feet. He recognised
him, and said: "Lazarus, you have your life in order to stand upright."
The youth got up. And then, hesitating and half afraid, Magdalen
approached. He greeted her in silence.

She, too, said nothing. But when they were at table she knelt before
Him, and anointed His feet. She dried them with her hair and wept.
The pleasant odour of the oil filled the room, and Peter whispered to
his neighbour: "Such ointment must cost a mint of money! If she had
given it to the poor, He would have been better pleased."

Jesus heard what he said. "What is wrong, Peter? She is kind to Me so
long as I am here. When I'm no longer with you, you'll still have the
poor. She has shown Me a mark of love that will never be forgotten."

Peter was ashamed, and said softly to his neighbours: "He is right. It
often happens that people leave a good deed undone, and say, 'We'll
give something, therefore, to the poor.' That's what they say, but
they do neither one nor the other. He is right."

They ate and drank amid the pleasant, homely surroundings, and were
very cheerful. Magdalen wanted to sit quite at the lower end of the
table, but the Master desired her to sit on His right hand. Her
enthusiastic glance hung on His face, and it seemed as if she drank
from His mouth every word which He spoke. Jesus was indefatigable in
narrating legends and parables, every one of which contained some great
thought. If He dealt harshly with human foolishness before the people,
He treated it as earnestly now, but with a warm sympathy that went to
the hearts of all His hearers. The invalid host was delighted, and
signed to his wife to listen to the Master's words. But Martha was
continually occupied in looking after the various courses and dishes,
in seeing that everything was as perfect as possible, and in serving
her guests. She was vexed with her sister Magdalen who sat there by
His side, and troubled herself about nothing. When she again brought
in a dish, Jesus put His hand gently on her arm, and said; "Martha, how
busy you are. Do leave off for a little, and come and sit down. We've
had more than enough with all these daintie