"And wilt thou lead me across?"
"Dost thou love me, Mary—more than all these?"
"Yea, my master, thou knowest that I love thee."
"Wilt thou drink the cup given me to drink?"
"The cup, though I know not what thou meanest, with thee will I drink."
"Ho! Ho! Ho! The new wine cometh," called Lazarus on the steps, and laughing voices told the two on the housetop that the hour for words of wisdom was at an end. Lazarus and Joel brought the wine and the cups. Anna and Martha followed, carrying trays with sweetmeats and fruit. In the moonlight they set a table for a feast and after they ate and drank, Mary made music on the harp and they sang psalms.
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in," their voices sang in unison. Then the women sang "Who is the King of Glory?" and the rich bass of the men's voices answered "The Lord strong and mighty!" Ever and again they sang, until Jerusalem lay dark and the red fires in the valleys had burned out.
"The night is far spent for one who hath come the way from Ajalon,"
Lazarus said at last.
"Bearing orange boughs," Joel added.
"Yet a sweet burden," laughed Anna as the three men turned to the stairs.