it seemeth clear. Is not his wisdom a
banquet? Are not the wondrous beauty of his words and the tones of his
voice like sweetest fruit and is not his banner of love over us?"

"That shouldst thou know, for since the first time he crossed our
threshold thou hast made thy dwelling place at his feet. And his
banner of love methinks is large enough for all sorts of women to find
place under, even such kind as would pollute thee by a touch."

"What meanest thou, Martha?"

"No more than I did say. Did not Joel attend a feast where Jesus had
been bidden? And lo, as they sat at meat did not a woman make her way
to the feet of Jesus and there sit--aye, a woman of the town? And did
he not look into her eyes when she was spoken harshly to, even as he
looketh into thine? And did he not say comforting words to her and
excuse her, saying she had loved much--aye, loved even to her own
damnation?"

"For this alone could I love Jesus," Mary answered, "even this--he
pities womankind, nor thrusts them beyond the circle of his kindness
because they have been weak. Not of evil cometh woman's confidence,
which, betrayed, maketh her an outcast. But of goodness cometh
confidence."

"Thy speech soundeth well, but it stirreth not mercy in my heart for
she who sins against the Law."

"Hard and often cruel is the Law. Dost thou ever think, Martha, that
in the sight of God, to sin against love may be a greater sin than to
sin against the Law?"

"I know not the meaning of thy question. Dost think I am a Rabbi?"

"Thou hast a right to think on these things even if thou art not a
Rabbi."

"Nay--no right have I, for doth not the Law say a woman shall not be
taught?"

"What the Law denieth, the Master doth allow. Doth he not ever bid me
sit at his feet and learn?"

"Far be it from me," Martha said, "to say aught against the teachings
of the Master, yet a woman's place is not with Rabbis. To serve is her
lot."

"Methinks thou didst make this speech once to Jesus."

"Yea," Martha answered, "and thou needst not remind me he said thou
hadst chosen the better part. Yet have I noticed that neither thy
desire for wisdom, nor his for imparting it, did satisfy his belly.
Even as Lazarus and Joel, doth he take his meat and wine."

Voices in the garden announced the coming of Lazarus and Joel. Martha
leaned over the parapet and called, "A new skin bottle is missing."

"Hath it been stolen?" Joel asked.

"I greatly fear it hath,