Of the entire speech she had heard but that. It had entered perhaps into thoughts of her own with which it was in unison, and she repeated the phrase mechanically, as a child might do. But now as he ceased to speak, perplexed, [pg 137]annoyed too at the inappositeness of her reply, she came back from the infinite in which she had roamed, and for a moment both were silent.
At the turning of the road a man appeared. At the sight of Judas he halted, then called him excitedly by name.
“It is Mathias,” Judas muttered, and got to his feet. The man hurried to them. He was broad of shoulder and of girth, the jaw lank and earnest. His eyes were small, and the lids twitched nervously. He was out of breath, and his garments were dust-covered.
“Where is the Master?” he asked; and at once, without waiting a reply, he added: “I have just seen Johanna. Her husband told her that the tetrarch is seeking him; he thinks him John, and would do him harm. We must go from here.”
Judas assented. “Yes, we must all go. Mary, it may be a penance, but it is his will.”
Mathias gazed inquiringly at them both.
“It is his will,” Judas repeated, authoritatively.
Mary turned away and caught her forehead in her hands. “If this is a penance,” she murmured, “what then are his rewards?”