"For this hope I treasure it. And yet—"
The words were stayed by a knocking at the door and the voice of Lazarus shouting in excitement, "Mary! Mary! Open to me the door. I have great news!"
"Yea—yea, we open," Mary answered. "Even the tomb door doth open to thee, my brother."
"Aye, but I have great news—great news!" he exclaimed as he crossed the threshold.
"But thou bearest a sword," Mary said, drawing back. "A sword! What of this sword?"
"Yea, what of the sword?" Martha repeated. "And what is the news?"
"Israel hath a King!" The words were shouted rather than spoken and the hand of Lazarus trembled with excitement against the hilt of the sword he carried.
"Israel hath a King? What meanest thou?" and the tone of Mary's voice showed that she had caught the spirit of excitement from her brother.
"Is the throne of David to be established?" and Martha tucked her jeweled girdle hastily into the chest as she asked the question.
"It is even so, Mary—Martha—and him whom we love hath been acclaimed
King of the Jews!"