pay me; but I shall
expect that, when the novelty of affecting the wifely obedience,
which is enjoined upon the females of our race, is past, you will
be quite ready to take up that equality which is, after all, the
rule in practice."

"I shall remember your words," Mary said, saucily, "when the time
comes. It may be you will regret your expressions about equality,
some day."

So, during the winter, Mary tried to be bright and cheerful; and
Martha, whose heart was filled with anxiety as to the dangers and
trials which lay before them--Jerusalem and the Temple threatened,
and John away, engaged in desperate enterprises--often wondered to
herself, when she heard the girl's merry laugh as she talked with
John, and saw how completely she seemed to put aside every sort of
anxiety; but she did not know how Mary often spent the entire night
in weeping and prayer, and how hard was her struggle to keep up the
brave appearance which was, she knew, a pleasure to John.

He was not much at home, being often absent for days together.
Strangers came and went, frequently. John had long conversations
with them; and sometimes went away with them, and did not return
for three or four days. No questions were asked, by his parents, as
to these visitors or his absence. They knew that they had reference
to what they considered his mission; and as, when he returned home,
he evidently wished to lay aside all thought of other things, and
to devote himself to his life with them, they asked no questions as
to what he was doing.

He spoke, sometimes, of these things to Mary, when they were
together alone. She knew that numbers of young men were only
waiting his signal to join him; that parties of them met him among
the hills, and were there organized into companies, each with
officers of their own choice over them; and that, unknown to the
Romans at Scythopolis, there were daily held, throughout the
country on both sides of the Jordan, meetings where men practiced
with their arms, improved their skill with the bow and arrow, and
learned to obey the various signals of the bugle, which John had
now elaborated.

John was resolute in refusing to accept any men with wives and
families. There were other leaders, he said, under whom these could
fight; he was determined to have none but men who were ready to
sacrifice their lives, and without the care of others dependent
upon them. He was ready to accept youths of fifteen, as well as men
of five-a