y feet have the hours most precious to my heart been
spent."

"Hath my teaching meant this to thee, Mary?"

"Yea. It hath meant all in life worth living for."

"Yet didst thou stand at the wall with bowed head."

"Yea. As the olive branches crossing the moon's light throw shadows
over thy shoulders, so doth fear ofttimes coming across my faith, throw
shadows on my heart. As I stood by the wall looking down the pathway
thou dost often tread, the words of our servant Eli came to me, and
fear for thy safety like a burden fell upon me. At other times the
continual changing, maketh my heart sick and my soul to long for that
which changeth not. To-night thou, Jesus, and I, Mary, sit beneath the
olive shade. Strong is thy step and in thy voice is mastery. Abundant
is my hair and dark, and my body is supple and full of life. Yet will
Time make of thy strength, weakness, and the frost of many winters will
thin my hair and whiten it. In that day the keepers will tremble, the
silver cord be loosened and the pitcher be broken at the fountain.
Strange feet will tread the paths of Olivet and strange eyes look back
on Jerusalem. Yet to-night we are here, thou, Jesus, and I, Mary.
To-morrow--and then we shall be no more. Like feet ever fearful of the
way and reaching for the solid rock, so the heart reaches for that
which changeth not. Ever thou teachest 'God is love.' Doth love
change?"

"Nay, Mary. Love remaineth the same, yesterday, to-day and forever.
Yet the manner of its expression oft changeth. This knowest thou. The
child that presseth its lips to her breast and fondleth her cheek, doth
the mother love. So also doth she love the man that the child groweth
into. And though he be hanged on the highest tree of Calvary, will she
stand by and cover the hisses of the rabble with her sobs, for she doth
love him though he is no longer at her breast. The lover doth love his
love in life's springtime with wild passion. Then her form is round
and her cheek fair and his strength is in the making. When life's
evening cometh--the flame hath given way to the soft glow. Then her
shoulders stoop and her cheek is pale and his strength is in the
garner, yet he doth not love the woman less, but differently. Love is
the soul of the Universe and showing itself in _service_ doth _fulfill
all law_. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work also."

"Aye, my Master, I know thou lovest. In a tone akin to reverence hast
thou o