"Yea, and she doth love him."
"Oh, that thou hadst heard his words, Martha."
"Rather that I might possess a chain of beads such as hung from her shoulder. But look thee down the roadway. There cometh Eli toiling up the path with no more speed than if he were not already two hours late."
When Martha and Mary entered the house, Eli, loaded with bundles, was coming in the door from the roadway.
"Thou art much loaded," Lazarus said, looking up.
"And thou art much late," Martha added.
"Behind a tomb black and stale have I tarried."
"Hast thou been near a tomb with thy meat?" Martha asked in alarm.
"I touched not the unclean thing though close was I driven. Yet did my tongue shake for fear of the plot."
"Plot?" quickly exclaimed Lazarus.