ciples in the city."

"Disappointment? Would to God it were no more. But, Lazarus, when the
alabaster vase of thy sister was broken, then was her heart broken also
and as the rich perfume was spilled, so was hope spilled from her heart
because of the saying of the Master that she had anointed him for
burial. Aye, Lazarus, the signs are full of portent."

"Where is thy sister Mary?" Lazarus asked of Martha who had joined them
by the pool.

"She is in the house bending over the Scriptures. Yet her heart doth
not go out to the songs of David. A burden she would hide."

"Knoweth she aught of Jesus?" Joseph asked.

"I know not. Until the cock crew she was in the garden with him yester
evening. And in the night as she lay beside me in her bed, methought I
heard a moan that traveled not far from the heart where it was born.
Mary lay awake and I did question her. 'It is but the tamarask leaves
against the casement,' she said. Again I heard a sob quickly
smothered. When I did speak, and bid Mary listen, she declared it
naught but the night wind lifting the pomegranate branches. When
morning cometh, from her carved chest she took her alabaster box of
very precious ointment which she did cherish to make sweet her wedding
veil. Her face was glad as if she had been a bride and joyous her
words as she said, 'Lo, the darkness is gone! In the night, fear of
shadows and losses trouble me, but with the morning cometh light. Look
thou! Was ever a sun so golden? I go to Simon's to the feast. One
there is among the guests who is a King. Yea, Martha, by the words of
his own mouth he is my King--_mine_, my sister. Thus, after the manner
of the feast, the guest of honor I will anoint with my oil of roses and
iris, because so soon he goeth on a long journey.'"

"Ever will my heart be glad to think on the joy of her face," Lazarus
said, "as she did break the seal and scatter the first drops of her
perfume on his hair."

"Did ever such fragrance make thy breathing glad?" Martha asked with
smiling face. "Like the balm of Gilead, like forests of frankincense,
it filled the room. Was it not even so, Father Joseph?"

"Great was the fragrance and precious the joy on thy sister's face.
But straightway my pleasure was turned away by the words of Judas."

"Yea, great concern doth he show for the poor!" And there was
indignation in the voice of Lazarus. "'Here is great waste,' said he.
'Are not two hundred dinars sufficient