Why, there, there, there! You’ve done it now! Reuben, ’twas your fault to allow A little child like him to play With anything so sharp as they! (MARY _comes forward and kneels by the child’s side. She takes his hand and tries to staunch the blood_) Has it gone far? MARY.-- The wound is deep. Stay, I will bind it! See you keep Your hand up, child. Quick, mother, bring Yon water fresh-drawn from the spring To wash it clean, for there was rust. (ANNA _brings the water bowl, while_ REUBEN _draws forward a low bench at one end of which she sets it down_) Maybe, upon the iron, or dust To cause a festering in the wound. (MARY _bathes his hand and binds it. The child closes his eyes and sinks against her breast._) ANNA.-- Oh! See, he has already swooned For loss of blood. MARY.-- Nay, nay, ’tis sleep! Aye! saw you not how at the leap Of first sharp pain his face lit up, And how he bowed as to a cup His lips, and drained it to the lees? So to this spirit now comes ease And rest; for surely here he tastes Of that dark vintage of the wastes Whereto, for mortal need, he hastes. CARPENTER. Strange words! MARY.-- But stranger than all words The peace which holds him now and herds My lamb’s life with the blessed dead. (_She moves to lay him along the bench._ ANNA _spreads a cloak across it_) Lift off the bowl, and let his head Rest so, even so. CARPENTER.-- There! Let him lie Quiet awhile. Ah! he won’t die Of that! (_He lays his hand kindly upon his wife, then turns away. Evening has begun to close in_) Now, Reuben, you and I Must stir while daylight yet allows! This door is for the High-Priest’s house, And should already be in its place For now Passover comes apace; And last night they sent word to say ’Twas to be up before the day, So that the lintel beam might bear The blood-marks for the coming year. MARY. Look! There are stains already there! CARPENTER. I’ll wash them off! MARY.-- Nay, let them stay! This blood, I trow, was shed to-day To take some mortal’s guilt away. (_The two men have lifted the door and set it to stand against the middle post of the doorway where it makes the form of three crosses standing together._) CARPENTER.-- Soon through this door the holy feet Of Caiaphas in service met Shall pass each day to do God’s will. MARY.-- And, what he hath ordained, fulfill. And some day they shall bring a Lamb And slay, and lo, upon the jamb And lintel of this self-same door, Where blessed blood has been before, More blessed blood shall then be spilt To take from Caiaphas his guilt. (_The men having put away their tools lift the door and carry it away._)