"Harvest and winnow on the Sabbath?" Martha asked in surprise.
"Yea, and this is not all. He is a friend of publicans."
"Publicans? Those vile wretches who filch from the pockets of Israel to pay for the pageantry of Rome?" It was Anna who questioned.
"Yea, and this is not all. He is also a friend of the defiled Samaritan, friendly as a brother is he with these heathen—and—and—" she whispered, "he keepeth company with harlots."
"Harlots!" exclaimed the maidens under their breath.
"Yea—what manner of prophet thinkest thou this be?"
"Hast thou thyself seen the evil things of which thou beareth witness?"
Debora asked of Huldah.
"Nay, but such are the reports."
"Our guest Debora hath both seen the face of him and heard his voice,"
Mary observed.
Huldah laughed. "And what so easy for a false prophet to deceive with smooth speech and searching eyes, as a maiden's heart? But enough of such talk as doth vex the Rabbis. See thou my cloth of gold? With my needle I shall make it gay with crimson pomegranates." Huldah took her embroidery from her bag, and the young women stood around admiring her work when voices were heard outside. Martha turned to the lattice window and looked out.