gravely advising him; treating him, sometimes, as if she had been
the elder.

She would have treated him now, if he would have let her, with
something of the deference and respect which a Jewish maiden would
usually pay to a betrothed husband--one who was shortly to become
her lord. But the first time he detected this manner, John simply
laughed at her, and said:

"My dear Mary, do not let us have any nonsense of this sort. We
have been always equals, you and I; friends and companions. You
know, just as well as I do, that in all matters which we have had
in common, you have always had quite as much sense as I and, on a
great many matters, more sense.

"Nothing has occurred since then to alter that. I have grown into a
young man, you into a young woman; but we have advanced equally. On
matters concerning warfare, I have gained a good deal of knowledge;
in other matters, doubtless, you have gained knowledge. And if,
dear, it is God's will that I pass through the troubles and dangers
that lie before us, and we become man and wife, I trust that we
shall always be the friends and comrades that we have been, as boy
and girl together.

"It is all very well, when young men and maidens have seen nothing
of each other until their parents bring them together as man and
wife, for the bride to affect a deep respect--which I have not the
least doubt she is generally far from feeling, in her heart--for
the man to whom she is given. Happily, this has not been the way
with us. We have learned to know each other well; and to know that,
beyond the difference in strength which a man has over a woman,
there is no difference between us--that one will rule the house,
and the other will rule the farm, but that in all things, I trust,
we shall be companions and equals. I do hope, Mary, that there will
be no change in our ways, the few months we have to be together,
now.

"In the spring, I go up to help to defend Jerusalem; and it is no
use hiding the fact from ourselves that there is but little chance
of my returning. We know what has befallen those who have,
hitherto, defended cities against the Romans; and what has happened
at Jotapata, and Gamala, will probably happen at Jerusalem. But for
this reason, let us have no change; let us be as brother and sister
to one another, as we have been, all along. If God brings me back
safe to you, and you become my wife, there will be plenty of time
to settle exactly how much deference you shall